Yeah I know but I have a reason for asking....

[Dogbad]

Assume you're on the bike on a bimble out camping with all the gear laoded up. You have a lot of weight on the top of the tank and some more weight high up in a topbox. I know the answer is "Organise better! " but if you're on a nice twisty B road, not a familiar one, Does the weight being high affect handling on the bends and corners?  (Assume an "Above the tank" weight of around 40lbs or so)  Does it increase flop on cornering?

[Richard]

I would be most worried about the weight in the top box as these are often outside the wheel base and can seriously upset the handling.

The tank bag weight is fairly well centralised so not so bad.

Richard

[Dogbad]

I'm actually thinking about my own weight! 
Out today on the good XBR and I was nervous on the bends and it felt like I wasn't controlling too well. The thought hit me that I am now as wide as I am high   weighing in at 21 stones and just
 5' 8" tall.  I'm about 85lbs heavier and that is mainly on my torso so I wonder if it could be that which makes me feel nervy?

[beeman]

Dogbad think of the positives, there is plenty of weight on the tyres to give better grip.
It might be worthwhile increasing the tyre pressures a bit more. That often tightens the handling when a vehicle is heavier. Also suspension may need tweaking.
 beeman

[el vencejo]

as beeman says, suspension tweaks needed.
F & R springs may be a bit tired and saggy by now.
Go for near-maximum preload on the back, fresh fork oil in the front and perhaps an extra 1cm spacer on top of the fork springs.
Should make it a little more nimble through the bends 

[Dogbad]

You know.... I never thought of tyre pressures   I don't even know what they should be for that size tyre and the XBR 500.  Come to think of it I don't achooly know the tyre sizes either!!!

When I was 8 years old I knew more about my Villiers 250 than I do about bikes in general thses days!!

Shame me