Unlike a car, where you can dump a couple of sacks of spuds in the boot and it have little affect on the handling, 5kg of extra weight in the wrong place on a bike will have it bobbing and weaving all over the road.

Sitting on your bike, imagine a triangle that runs from the top of your head, down to the front wheel spindle, along to rear wheel spindle and back to the top of your head. Inside that triangle is where you can safely put the most weight on the bike. The further you stray outside the triangle the more it will affect the bikes handling.

When loading up your bike keep the heaviest items as close as possible to this triangle, ideally inside it. Tank bags are the best, if not the most convenient place for the heaviest items followed by side panniers. If you're travelling without a pillion strap a tailpack to the pillion seat and as close to you as is comfortable. A top box has the most potential for ruining a bikes handling so only use one for the lightest items such as sleeping bags.