Luggage rod - What does it do?

[Hax]

KTM has gone the same way with the Adventure (retrofit to existing as well).
I understand that the extra weight of fixed/loaded luggage to the rear of the bike can sometimes create some instability. With the bags moving slightly (and the top-box "floating" plate) this separates/isolates the mass.
  that's my understanding anyway.

[XCaTel]

That's my understanding too, it is a sound engineering principal to try and minimise forces through the bike from sudden shocks, like a hard sideways gust or other lateral forces. How effective it is only Triumph knows I guess. In the same vein this is why quite a lot of intelligently designed front windshields allow for an element of flex, say from a gust of wind saving the full sudden force being transferred to the bike.

[pcarnut]

When properly adjusted, it supports the two cases but still allows them to float from impact and wobble.

[Rockhopp3r]

Can anyone post a picture of the right bar end cap? I ordered one to replace the missing one and it looks different than the one I have on the left. Wondering if I made a mistake when ordering.

[Will Morgan]

According to the instructions (see here: http://www.triumphinstructions.com/ProdDocs/A9508185-US.pdf ) both end caps are the same.
But the part numbers for the Gen 1, Gen 2 & Gen 3 pannier kits are all different so maybe they have changed slightly?.
Is your replacement cap a newer version that looks different but does the same job?