A typically unhelpful mcatrophy comment.
I have an OEM 50 litre topbox on my 2018, it was on my 2014. It stays there all the time, usually empty. Never had a passenger or rear seat luggage to break the airflow. I've never noticed any of the wobble issues several others have talked of, but I think the bike’s more sensitive to blustery winds with it on.
Parameters that might be relevant:
Suspension is the OEM electrically adjustable (AE in the USA; ES, and on the AS in the UK), almost invariably set for rider only, no luggage, standard damping;
Windscreen: Yamaha touring (no issues at any height setting, though never set high enough that I can't see over it);
Rider weight: 140 pounds (that's in my birthday suit, though I usually ride in a full motorcycling suit);
Rider height: 5'7" when last measured (was 5'8.5" for most of my life);
Tyres: BT023 or T32, pressures 39-40/42-43, though a few psi under doesn't cause wobble, just affects handling);
Speeds: often in the 80s (must be on private roads), occasionally a few minutes at nearer jail speeds, though in that case I usually have maybe 20 pounds in the topbox.
Head bearings: I’ve never checked them, they are as they came from the factory, the bike is serviced at my dealer, I don't know if he has ever adjusted them. With the front wheel off the ground, the bars flop side-to-side with no friction other than cables. Since I get no symptoms of head bearing issues (I don't consider handlebar wobble when decelerating through the 40mph area an issue) I leave them alone.
I do understand how the topbox might add eddies from round the rider (you've only got to look at a flag fluttering in a steady wind to visualise that possibility), just never experienced it.
I am thinking rider bulk in particular might be something to do with it, I am smaller than most riders.
As I say, probably of no help at all, maybe just some sort of data point.
This is the second one I've bought because of the whole self destructing thing. Could anyone tell me if this one is any better?
