Luggage capacity question

[Eric_NB]

I just got a 2019 GoldWing Tour and it is a fantastic bike, went up from a 2007 VTX 1300c, which I really enjoyed for the 12 years i had it. The Wing has plenty of storage capacity for me, but travelling with someone, it leaves a bit to be desired. I am debating a number of options,
1. Trailer
2. Pakit Rak
3. Trunk bag.

My question is anyone have experience with the Pakit Rak or similar products? Is it worth the roughly $1 000 Canadian investment?

Has anyone put a bag on the trunk without a rack? I have looked at the Kuryakyn Momentum Hitchhiker bag, would it work without the rack? Or do i need to invest in a rack?

Thanks all this is my first question and first post on the site.

[nwkwinger]

This is how I see it. It's lacking for two people. If you're going very far, or will be gone for very long, I think I'd want a trailer. Of course I haven't pulled one with a bike yet. It just seems like you could take along plenty of things for both of you.

[tfdeputydawg]

1. Don't care for a trailer behind a 2 wheeler!
2. To many posts on several forums of cracked lids from racks with to much weight on them.
3. With no rack and the bag on the lid, probably ruin the paint.
4. Had a packitrak on my 2 wheel Wing and loved it

[Rednaxs60]

Have used all three.

Trunk bag only holds a bit more than you carry in your saddlebags and trunk, doesn't give a lot of extra space and as tfdeputydawg mentions you should reinforce the trunk lid.

Always said I'd never tow a trailer, but have done so. Have an N-line trailer, uni wheel, and first trip with it was from Victoria, BC to Dawson City, round trip was 7400 Kms. It is the same width as my 1995 GL1500. It tracks very well, does what the bike does. Did not see any affect on fuel consumption. It is 85 lbs dry, and has a recommended capacity of 100 lbs. 11 cu ft of space. Very pleased with the performance and additional space. It is well made. Trailers are not for everyone.

The Packit rack is a good option. I have had two racks made for my bikes. The latest is a 15 by 25 inch aluminum rack. I bought and fitted the rack pieces together and had a local welding shop do the welding. Total price for aluminum, welding and lights approximately $300.00. Made it so a Canadian Tire Mastercraft heavy-duty tinted tote - 64.7 litre - sits nicely in place. I estimate that you can easily have up to 30 lbs in the tote, and tote and aluminum rack is less than 50 lbs. I will be using this for shorter trips of a week or for solo touring depending on destination where and what the plan is. This fits my '95 GL1500 and '85 LTD.

Good luck

[AZgl1800]

I have a trailer which I like, I cannot even tell that it is behind me, except for the initial take off is slightly slower if it is loaded heavily ~400 lbs.

I have a small trailer hitch rack that I use for small loads, usually an ice chest for my Phase Change Ice Vest.... a wonderful product.

with the trailer hitch rack, you don't even know it is there.

Depends on your situation, but I for one, will never put a load on the Trunk Rack, it is only there to look pretty. 10 lbs will break out the mounting points.

[C-dub]

I have one small hint regarding hitch racks. I would advise to get your hitch and it mounted first. Then measure from the inside back of it so that you would be measuring from the back of the upward part of the rack that goes into that square hole. Measure from there out to the fender of the bike below the license plate. Then add an inch or two and make sure that any rack you get will clear that fender.

I bought the Add-On hitch rack that is supposed to fit my 2016 Wing, but comes up about 0.5-1.0 inches short and the front lip/edge of the rack is underneath the fender. This means I don't get full use of the rack surface. I ordered my rack and hitch at the same time and did not get the hitch mounted for at least a couple weeks or months. I'm not sure which now. Then after getting the hitch mounted I still had tried the rack out yet because I was still looking for a tool box that would fit onto it that I could bolt to it. Anyway, lesson learned and I can still use it with a small box to carry a few extra things. I think I'll find someone that can weld aluminum and see about designing my own rack and get them to make it for me.

BTW, a friend of mine with another 2016 Wing has a trunk rack on his. He doesn't put anything on it and says he only uses it as a handle to open or close the trunk with.

[Stew]

Have you seen the new extended capacity saddlebag doors for the new Goldwings by Corbin? They aren't inexpensive and don't add a whole lot of extra capacity but could be an option.
http://www.corbin.com/honda/h18gwdoor.shtml

[Rednaxs60]

Took some pics of the rack I had put together for my bikes. All aluminum. Put together with bolts then welded at a local shop. Still have to install signal lights. Here are three pics:

Has a RotopaX gas can attachment.

Cheers

[rbrauner@cfl.rr.com]

We have taken several 2 - 3 K trips. If you have waypoints or family or friends or vacation spot (hotel/resort) along the way, we sent extra items, clothing and other needed items to that location for use upon arrival. Then shipped what we did not need to the next location.

This assumes that you can carry on the bike the essential items you need along the way. How much do you really need between significant way points. The cost is minimal and certainly cheaper than trailers at thousands of dollars, let alone loosing your warranty and putting you and your passenger in some jeopardy. Otherwise, pull a motorcycle trailer on the back of your 1000 cu.ft SUV or Motor home and ride tours along the way. LOL

Now if you are camping or towing a pop up tent, you will need the trailer option and incur the benefits and risks accordingly, not unlike riding a motorcycle.

[Lennynj]

I have a 2005 and find that one saddle bag is used for tools, air pump etc so that is taken out of the storage picture for clothing. So I added the Kuryakyn luggage rack and also bought a Momentum bag. I have the Hitchhiker bag but there is a larger one that would better suit two people. So that would give you the trunk, one saddle bag and the luggage bag. I am not sure if there are helmet clips on the new bike but I have two helmet locking rings on the bottom of the trunk.

[Sharon2665]

I would not go with a bag on the lid rack or no rack. Without a rack I think you would have difficulty protecting your paint and finish. With a rack you are very limited on what weight you can carry and it is super easy to overload a bag thinking the rack can handle “one more thing”. You risk ripping the whole rack off your trunk lid or at the least damaging your trunk lid and then needing to replace that. I think most folks use trunk racks just for the looks! I have one and only got it so I have a place to hook up my rear camera for the video system I have on the bike. Worst case scenario on a longer trip I may use it to hold rain gear and make it easily accessible.
I have never driven a two wheeler with a trailer but a lot of folks have them and don’t seem to mind them at all. I think it gives you the most space to store things and allows the most weight. Of course the more space the more stuff you take!
The Pakit rak looks like a fair solution. You still have to watch the weight you put in it because you cannot go over the total weight allowed in all saddlebags, trunk etc which I think is 71lbs per Honda. I can see where it would be good for bulky items such as cold weather gear storage.
I personally like the minimalist routine when on our bikes. Take small amounts of clothing and stay places that have laundry machines. Tools, comb, toothbrush, deodorant, phone chargers, rain gear and camera. After that say do I really need it. Becomes a problem on longer trips through varying climates where you need cold and hot weather gear or your buying stuff. You can always stop and mail those T-shirt’s home that you’ve gotten along the way. Honda did themselves a big disservice in cutting down space on the new bikes.
Of course your lady could always get her own bike and then you each have your own space!

[bizwizld]

https://www.goldwing-case.com/nos-produ ... wE&lang=en

[Lennynj]

Everybody is entitled to an opinion. I have had the luggage rack on the trunk for over 10 years, no issues with paint what so ever. I ususally pack underwear, shirts, toiletries and a pair of sneakers. Weight is about 15-20 lbs which does not overload the trunk cover. It's whatever you decide to do. Doing this give you the trunk, one saddlebag and the bag on the luggage rack.

[rbrauner@cfl.rr.com]

Take a look here for a possible luggage rack solution. Safety is a bonus and waterproof and tidown points.
borleni bags On Amazon et al.

[quake5423]

I have a 2016 wing that I pull a Unigo trailer with. One wheel trailer. It goes where the bike goes. Light weight and low profile. Carries enough clothes for two for six days plus case of water. I have about 45000 miles on it. Eighty miles an hour down the freeway.

[Roypaul]

My wife and I have taken 3 LONG trips on our 2005 wing. We have a top box wrack and my wife’s clothes go on the wrack. She has a bag that is 24 x 12x 16 with all her clothes- it weighs 25 lbs. We have travelled 3 times for 6 months each time- no problem at all. Air shocks are at 23 lbs. when travelling with the extra weight and 19 lbs. without it.
If you are going to do a trailer- do a single wheel one- you won’t even know it’s there- MUCH safer. Best advice- train your wife to take less and buy less . I have told my wife- “it’s a motorcycle , not a **** lorry”.

[Rednaxs60]

Took an N-Line single wheel trailer on a 7400 Km road trip, works well.

[Camer]

Have a look at Corbin. They've been working on larger saddle bag doors to increase the volume of the saddle bag.
It will keep the weight low on the bike. I run a trunk rack(keep rain gear and things like that that are bulky but light)
60,000km no issues so far.

[Osen]

I have towed a trailer behind my 1985 Goldwing 1200 Interstate for about the last 10 years and 80,000 miles without any problem. I don't even know it is behind me unless I look in the mirrors. I have been on many 6000 mile trips to many GWRRA Wing Dings, (the last was 3 years ago from Illinois to Billings Montana, Yellowstone, etc.) I have done the Dragons Tail twice with the 1200 and the trailer with no problems.

I bought a new 2018 Goldwing DCT Tour in May 2018 and love it overall. I have taken two trips with it towing the trailer, including the Wing Ding last year to Knoxville, TN and the Smokey Mountains. It pulled the trailer with no problems and I seen no loss in gas millage. I rode solo with 8 other bikes and averaged 48 MPG pulling the loaded trailer with my DCT. I am 220 pounds so I am not a light person. I love the trailer when I am on long trips. My trailer only weighs about 85 pounds, but works great for me and my wife.