Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
User avatar
horizon
Posts: 11275
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Cornwall

Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by horizon »

Just wondered how a motorbike compares with a loaded touring bike in terms of how much they can carry. I've actually no idea myself but have often seen motorbikes at campsites.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
tatanab
Posts: 5033
Joined: 8 Feb 2007, 12:37pm

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by tatanab »

Large panniers - 45L each side.
Top box - 30L
Tank bag - 16L
User avatar
Paulatic
Posts: 7804
Joined: 2 Feb 2014, 1:03pm
Location: 24 Hours from Lands End

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Paulatic »

At Oban earlier this year
Me ...bicycle 2 panniers tent and bar bag. 1 person
Next to me... motorbike 2 panniers and top box. Tent and everything else but for 2 people.
Whatever I am, wherever I am, this is me. This is my life

https://stcleve.wordpress.com/category/lejog/
E2E info
Galloper
Posts: 217
Joined: 6 Dec 2012, 2:21pm

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Galloper »

On a camping holiday in France, many years ago, on a Honda CX500, I had a set of throw over panniers across the tank, with a tank bag on top of that. A large set of panniers over the pillion seat and a large (army) duffel bag on the rear carrier. Two people, good size tent, air beds, sleeping bags and cooking gear along with clothes for 3 weeks. Jobs's a good 'un and I didn't have to pedal up hill. :)

Max load on my tourer - Altura Orkney small panniers on the front, large on the rear. A bar bag and a smaller duffel on the rear. 2 person tent, self inflating mat, sleeping bag, clothes and cooking gear. Enough space to carry plenty of food, waterproofs and a spare set of riding gear. Pedalling up the hills - :)
User avatar
cycleruk
Posts: 6065
Joined: 17 Jan 2009, 9:30pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by cycleruk »

Room for one. :wink:
(3 man tent.)
loaded.jpg

Vtwin.JPG
You'll never know if you don't try it.
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56359
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Mick F »

Trailer?
Mick F. Cornwall
Brucey
Posts: 44515
Joined: 4 Jan 2012, 6:25pm

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Brucey »

cycleruk wrote:Room for one. :wink:
(3 man tent.)
loaded.jpg
Vtwin.JPG


Ah, Mandello del Lario's finest "trattore a due ruote" :wink:

(I've had several myself BTW)

cheers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
User avatar
horizon
Posts: 11275
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Cornwall

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by horizon »

Do I take it that you can carry twice as much on a motorbike but that also involves one extra person so a motorbike with two people and all their gear would approximately equal two people on separate bicycles with all their gear?
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
tatanab
Posts: 5033
Joined: 8 Feb 2007, 12:37pm

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by tatanab »

horizon wrote:Do I take it that you can carry twice as much on a motorbike but that also involves one extra person so a motorbike with two people and all their gear would approximately equal two people on separate bicycles with all their gear?
Possibly, unless they are sharing a tent. If sharing, then extra kit amounts to a sleeping bag, a mat and some clothes, which if travelling light amounts to about 20L. Something to remember about motorcycle camping is that tents tend to be larger than for cycle camping, partly because they can carry it and partly because leathers are bulky and unwieldy for storing when not wearing them. For a long weekend away (staying with friends, not camping) I have used just a tank bag (about 16L) therefore comparable with a medium sized saddlebag - but as a cyclist I am used to travelling low bulk. When cycle camping all of my baggage space amounts about 45L which includes a tent.
Bmblbzzz
Posts: 6258
Joined: 18 May 2012, 7:56pm
Location: From here to there.

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Bmblbzzz »

I'd look at it slightly differently: you can carry twice as much luggage and if you want you can also carry a second person. Bear in mind that the pillion and potentially rider too can also carry a backpack (much easier than when cycling) which would further increase capacity.
User avatar
Tigerbiten
Posts: 2503
Joined: 29 Jun 2009, 6:49am

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by Tigerbiten »

You carry roughly the same on a motorbike vs a touring bike, but you don't need to go the ultra light route.
So something like a tent on the motorbike will probably be twice as heavy and pack in 50% more volume but only cost about a quarter of the price.
Or if it costs the same it will have twice the space inside.
You're willing to carry jeans and not ultra light weight slacks
So alterations like that will add volume/weight without increasing the number of items carried.

YMMV ....... :D
User avatar
mjr
Posts: 20308
Joined: 20 Jun 2011, 7:06pm
Location: Norfolk or Somerset, mostly
Contact:

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by mjr »

Doesn't carrying more still hurt performance and fuel consumption even if the two wheeler is powered? So is it worth it?

I've taken ideas from motorcycle tourers, notably the tail roll, which doesn't seem popular among cyclists for some reason.
MJR, mostly pedalling 3-speed roadsters. KL+West Norfolk BUG incl social easy rides http://www.klwnbug.co.uk
All the above is CC-By-SA and no other implied copyright license to Cycle magazine.
User avatar
horizon
Posts: 11275
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Cornwall

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by horizon »

So just to clarify this again (though lots of helpful info), a cyclist can carry:

55 litres in a large pair of rear panniers
5 litres in the form of a tent
20 litres in a pair of front panniers
2 litres in a bar bag
2 litres in bottle cages

TOTAL: 84 litres x 2 cyclists = 168 litres

(Significantly, I've estimated this in litres as I'm presuming that it is volume not weight that is important on a motorbike.)

So the motorbike will now have to carry two people and 168 litres to match the two bicycles. Could it carry more?

NB I'm happy to change any of these figures. BTW, I'm assuming that 1 litre of bicycle luggage weighs approximately .5 kg.
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
mercalia
Posts: 14630
Joined: 22 Sep 2013, 10:03pm
Location: london South

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by mercalia »

Once the panneris are one the back you have a very large surface to bunngy things onto?

Also not just bulk but weight. I have an old Conquest Polycotton/canva tent that beats any of your plastic silly things but is so heavy. When I was younger I once lugged it on my cycle, never again. No problem on my m/c

m/c camping is luxury camping compared to cycles
User avatar
horizon
Posts: 11275
Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Cornwall

Re: Bicycle versus motorbike luggage capacity?

Post by horizon »

mercalia wrote:
m/c camping is luxury camping compared to cycles


If we express luxury in terms of kg and litres, can you give me the maximum kg and/or litres that a reasonable motorbike can reasonably carry with two people on board (I've never had a motorbike so I've really no idea).
When the pestilence strikes from the East, go far and breathe the cold air deeply. Ignore the sage, stay not indoors. Ho Ri Zon 12th Century Chinese philosopher
Post Reply