The trunk of a Honda Pacific-Coast is the weirdest and most useful feature of the bike. (The other is chill… which I’ll discuss later.) For future adventures touring and (hopefully!) motocamping I need to know how much I can carry. (Image from a ten year old Rider article.)
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the luggage capacity of various motorcycles. I never got much of a straight answer. Maybe because camping ain’t a Goldwing thing? The data I have here came from some random internet location, I’ve verified nothing.
| Motorcycle | Saddlebags | Trunk | Total** |
| Honda Goldwing GL1200 (1984)* | 2 * 38 = 76 | 63 | 139 |
| GL1500 | 2 * 62 = 124 | 69 | 193 |
| GL1800 | 80 total (not symmetrical) | 60 | 140 |
| GL1800 (2018+) | 2 * 30 = 60 | 50 | 110 |
| Honda Pacific Coast 800 | 80 Bedonkadonk is not symmetrical. | Whatever I strap on? | 80 + ? |
First of all, I’ve always thought the GL1500 went a too little far on the “excess boxyness” axis. I just thought it was my bias. Turns out the GL1500 is indeed the mac daddy, imperial star-cruiser, of hauling shit. It feels like the GL1200 was about right and then the GL1500 went for it big time and got almost silly. With the GL1800, Honda’s engineers dialed back the madness (which did piss off some GL1500 owners who refuse to “update”.)
As for my PC-800, I was planning to bolt on a Givi trunk (assuming I can find the right bracket). A Givi case will add 30-50 liters and put the PC-800 in the 110 to 130 total liters carry capacity range. That puts me right in the sweet spot of non-1500 Goldwings.
However, I’ve started to rethink my plans. I’ve grown to like the PC-800’s simplicity. There’s hardly an ounce above belly button height on the bike and it just floats down the road so nicely. I’m having second thoughts about putting the weight and air resistance of a Givi trunk waaaaaay out back and high; it can’t possibly improve anything aerodynamics wise. Also, trunks and mounting hardware is expensive!
Since I ride solo, I’m thinking of a motorcycle drybag strapped across the pillion seat. I think a 30-40 liter drybag would ride nice and easy. I’m not sure about that. Cost would be anywhere from $120+/- to $250+/- which is well under half what a Givi costs. Also I could leave it off when I’m not motocamping.
There’s no rush. I’m sorting camping gear to see what I can use and what is optimized for Dodge and will never ride on a bike. I’ll let the camping gear make my decisions… all in due time.
Wouldn’t it be weird if I dropped $100 on a 30 liter drybag and my little PC-800 bounced into the modern GL1800 class? I’m thinking tent, sleeping bag, and pad… that can probably fit in 30 liters with room to spare?
Anyone know much about dry bags? They all look the same to me. I need something I can order on-line. I’ll probably strap it to the PC800’s pillion grab rails. (Everything else is covered with cladding.) If y’all know stuff about motocamping drybags, please shoot me a comment or private e-mail. I spent a lot of time thinking over bikes but I’d rather not reinvent the wheel over a drybag.
Anyway, I just love that bedonkadonk!
A.C.
*There was some variation in the GL1200 line).
** All volumes in liters.