accessories » Top Case Bag?

This post is just for curiosity's sake.

I've got the stock luggage on my bike and am toying with ways to keep a few belongings of multiple size better organized.

What I WAS doing: big, cheap bag full of mess
What I WANT: a bag that's "almost perfect" for the top case in terms of dimensions, with a good many pockets & storage locations (some large, some small).

Now, I'm not *trying* to be snide here but people might want to chime in and say "what I do is" [options a, b, c] but I've already made things slightly better with a small tail bag that fits right in and an ultra lightweight hiker's backpack (tiny).

So, my hope is for that "holy $$$$, this thing fits perfect!" kind of bag that someone accidentally stumbled upon.

aaaaand ... DISCUSS!

I have the BMW RS top case inner bag and it has little in the way of exterior pockets or interior dividers. I also have an RKA inner bag for my BMW expandable top box installed on my F650GS. Finally, I bought a pair of inner bags (2 for only $50) for my SHAD side cases, which also have a zippered slit that can hold a small magazine or book on each side. I can't ever recall seeing a hard case inner bag with "a good many pockets and storage locations" as you would like. However, I have seen a lot of seat/tail bags and soft luggage rack cases that have these features and they are available from most soft luggage manufacturers. But hard case inner bags? Not so much. I think your current solution is likely your best solution to your request.

I think you've already hit on the solution. A backpack that fits, so not only can you be organized, you can throw it over your shoulder and take it in the house. Then it becomes easy on your next ride, grab the pack, it's already organized. Need to grab something on the way home? Wear the pack and put additional stuff in the top box.

I have purchased a light weight backpack that folds and zips into its own pocket, so that packs in the top box along with all my loose items and I then use the backpack to carry the items i want. Works for me.

I do have a very good 3 bag set of inner bags, but while the pannier bags are perfect for travelling, I don’t use the one for the top box as I usually have such an assortment of stuff in there every day that the pukka inner bag just doesn’t suit.

I like to leave space to park my gloves and GPS when I park, and for “supplies” (beer) at the end of a long day trip before arriving at my accommodation.

There are tools and dusters.

Bottles of water.

Maybe a a map

Maybe snacks.

Some stuff is neatly arranged in bags.

Some stuff is just loose for easy access.

All depends what you want/need to carry.

From plastic carrier bags to more sturdy shopping bags to mini rucksacks to old laptop cases - all do the job in a flexible way.

True, true ... and I neer really thought about it that way: one larger "parent" bag to encompass multiple containers of varying purpose.

My own final solution is a geometrically similar soft tail bag with an ultra-lightweight collapsable backpack for grab and go whatever. The tail bag has a netted lid pocket + one large storage area below. The backpack remains uncollapsed for smaller items and a lot of pockets. Water bottle + visor microfiber + helmet lock fall freely into the top case.

Not bad.