Top Box regrets?

[mattiesettlement]

Does anybody regret buying too small a top box? The hondaline is a little smaller than the Givi E52 top box. Does the extra size make any difference? Or is the intregal look of the Hondaline more important?
Thanks

[mattiesettlement]

Hey RC
Is your Top box the flat black with the light?
How does your helmet fit? Lots of room?
Thanks!

[eddiemack]

I bought the Hondaline top box over the Givi mainly for the better backrest. I find
enough storage space in the side bags (which easily holds a full face helmet).
My only regret is having to install it twice ... I had a brain fart and left off the plastic
rack piece on the first round. It's a easy install though.

[mattiesettlement]

That's great to hear that the Aerostich will fit in the top box. I think I will be doing the same thing.
Thanks!

[Bones]

I don't really like the look of any top box on an ST, but they are highly functional. I only take mine on trips. It's usually empty or nearly so while I ride. My helmet, gloves, and jacket fit easily, and if I pack carefully my riding pants fit, too. Holds two full face helmets and more quite easily.

I have the Givi E52 with brake light, matte black finish. The grain on the plastic matches the ST and the silver strip goes well with the '03 silver. I like the non-painted finish since I often remove the top case at camp sites, b&b's (no worries about scratching paint). It's bigger than the Honda box and the shape is more useful in my opinion.

I could not imagine spending nearly three times as much for the Honda box with brake light, especially since I think any top case takes away from the visual appeal of the bike.

No regrets.

[Kennedy]

I have the Honda one and love it, never take it off the bike and just added the rear spoiler but have to agree that the price is high. Just like the looks of the honda one more.

[beastie]

Bones,

You lack imagination.

How about this? I bought the Givi, sold it at a loss, then bought bought the Honda including spolier. Imagine that. Talk about an expensive experience.

But - to me - the Givi looked like an add-on, while the Honda looks like it belongs. And I love the spoiler light with it's low-intensity taillight / high-intensity brakelight.

[Kennedy]

Agree with you Don and that is what I was afraid of doing and have done in the past so in this case the Honda one got bought first. It just matches the bike so perfectly.

[NormanPCN]

I got the Honda, because it just like like it was designed to be there. Of course it was. I did not give the size a second thought. 45 liters is quite large. If a 45 liter topcase plus the saddlebags is not enough you need to get a trailer. 52 liters (extra 7) is not going to make a difference.

[Chris Parker]

52 liters (extra 7) is not going to make a difference.

Uh, it does if you are going to carry your 17 inch Powerbook plus carrying case along for the ride and your bike is your only means of transportation. :)


Chris

[Mellow]

I have a Dell M60 with a wide screen and it fits in the Honda Top Box with extra space on both sides for gloves, phone, pager.. etc etc.

[NormanPCN]

Uh, it does if you are going to carry your 17 inch Powerbook plus carrying case along for the ride and your bike is your only means of transportation. :)
Chris

Disagree. The shape of the volume is what matters in this situation. In other words, you need to ignore the volume measurement and look at the width/height first to make sure it meets your minimum needs.

[Chris Parker]

Sorry, but I disagree with your disagreement ;)

Actually, I have my Powerbook in a Brenthaven 17" carrying case which is pretty bulky. I know that it would not fit in the Honda Case as I have someone who has one and I tried. Also, need room for other computer equipment. So, the bigger the better. Always better to have more than not enough.

Chris

[Bones]

Chris, does the Givi have room for the extra $600 you didn't spend on the Honda box? ;)

[eddiemack]

There you have it,.. eclectic is in. Anyone know how to mount a mini fridge on the back rack?...

[dond]

I have the perfect top box.




FREE!!!!!! 8)



A trade-in take off from my dealer. :03biker:

[basco]

I did that stuff, but I worried about someone just rippin it off. Don't need that.

[Don-STOC237]

Topbox wisdom:

If you insist on using one of those butt-ugly topboxes (before you get all upset, I do too, it came with the bike, bought used), here's a few suggestions, based on my experiences in taking one on a highly stressed, 9000 mile trip from MN to Alaska and back again.

1) DO NOT, put your computer and all your other heavy **** in the topbox.
2) DO, put all your light ****, such as your spare jacket, your two-ounce camera, your hat, your spare gloves, and any other bulky things that don't weigh anything in your topbox. It's also handy for stuff you want to get to in a hurry, like your beef jerky or your Doritos.

Pack your computer in a padded pack and put it in your sidebag. Most notebooks will fit in those, believe it or not.

The more weight you put in that topbox, the worse off you are, for a couple reasons; If you examine how that topbox is mounted, you'll see that all the stress for it is placed on the c-bracket in the tailcone. If, for some reason, a couple of the bolts under there that go thru and hold the Givi rack in place loosen up, you WILL suffer a failure in that C-bracket eventually. It will crack in two and then you'll have a very wobbly Givi trunk, just what you need in the middle of the big trip. Secondly, the more weight you place up high on the bike, the poorer handling your STeed will be in the curves (come to think of it, that's a great reason to leave the S.O. at home as well.) Thirdly, the more weight you place rearward of the rear wheel, the more unweighted the front end of the bike will be, and the more you'll suffer from maladies like headshake, squirrly handling in crosswinds, etc.

All of this information comes to you courtesy of the school of hard knocks.

So, the word is; Keep your weight low, and keep weight out of the topbox.

[Chris Parker]

Bones,

Yes, but I have spent it on other farkles! :D

[Chris Parker]

Don,

I appreciate the advice and I try to follow that when I can, however, my computer will not fit in the side case. Wish it would. In the top case, its about 8 pounds max with gear. One note, I haven't noticed much in the way of handling poorly issues, but that could just be me being used to a top box for the last 5 years on my bikes. Never had a bike that did not have one. Guess I gots to gets me a Uni-Go. Or four wheels (not).

Chris

[farblue1]

OK ... I can't stand it any longer so I'll have to jump in with my 3 cents .
I have the Givi E52, the color matches the 04 blue perfectly . The Honda box looks like a box, has less carry capacity and costs way too many sheckels .
I pondered the choice at first but the price and styling of the Givi won me over. Standing side by side I really like the look of the Givi and did I mention the price difference ...... :04biker:
Really enjoying the ride
:D Dan

[Austin city limits]

ME???

I am just a poor Illinois farm boy :rolleyes: and I have the T-Bag "Universal Helmet Bag" installed... It has a pouch that slips over the Sargent Backrest and built in stealth straps to keep it snug... I loved a smaller version for over 20,000 miles before and I will do with this bigger version now... :cool:

[Roo]

Hiya. I bought the Honda part. It seems well made, and it's easily big enough for two full face helmets. It seems to do the job, and it looks like it belongs there. I guess it does the job, but it's pretty pricey for a plastic box!

[Roo]

Hmm.... the computer into the pannier problem can be resolved...... so long as you are not talking about a desktop! I had the same problem, but in my case it was the bag, not the computer that didn't fit. With care and some inserts, you can turn a Honda pannier bag into a laptop bag.....

Roo
-If the non-stick coating is as good as they say, how do they stick it to the pan?

[Kennedy]

Chris, does the Givi have room for the extra $600 you didn't spend on the Honda box? ;)
I like that one.

[NormanPCN]

Topbox wisdom:
1) DO NOT, put your computer and all your other heavy **** in the topbox.
2) DO, put all your light ****, such as your spare jacket, your two-ounce camera, your hat, your spare gloves, and any other bulky things that don't weigh anything in your topbox. It's also handy for stuff you want to get to in a hurry, like your beef jerky or your Doritos.


Agreed. Most of the time I use the topbox as lockable storage for my helmet and tankbag so it is empty. If not empty then I carry the things you mention.

[Don-STOC237]

Hmm.... the computer into the pannier problem can be resolved...... so long as you are not talking about a desktop! I had the same problem, but in my case it was the bag, not the computer that didn't fit. With care and some inserts, you can turn a Honda pannier bag into a laptop bag.....


I agree. I got a padded computer bag at a camping store (REI, I think), that is like a padded envelope, just perfectly fits the computer and nothing else. It also has a mesh zipper portion on the front to put cords and stuff into. Fits the pannier with room to spare. Eagle Creek is the brand name. Here's a link. http://www.eaglecreek.com/40272.html

Look for "laptop cache," several models. Also they have "component cache" which can be used to carry extra junk.

[nm6r]

"does the Givi have room for the extra $600 you didn't spend on the Honda box?"

That method of thought can be taken a step further.

About $7000 could have been saved by buying a Concours instead of the ST1300.

Ray

[Fireball18]

About $7000 could have been saved by buying a Concours instead of the ST1300.

Ray[/QUOTE]

OOOOO--Heresy!

[Mellow]

"does the Givi have room for the extra $600 you didn't spend on the Honda box?"

That method of thought can be taken a step further.

About $7000 could have been saved by buying a Concours instead of the ST1300.

Ray


LOL

:ban1:

[Killtimer]

Nobody's mentioned the biggest benefit of the Givi cases, portability, in the sense of moving the cases from bike to bike. My flat black 46 ltr. looked good on both my ST1100 and my ST1300. I also use it alot on my KLR.

Steve

[Big Al]

Topbox wisdom:
The more weight you put in that topbox, the worse off you are, for a couple reasons; If you examine how that topbox is mounted, you'll see that all the stress for it is placed on the c-bracket in the tailcone. If, for some reason, a couple of the bolts under there that go thru and hold the Givi rack in place loosen up, you WILL suffer a failure in that C-bracket eventually. It will crack in two and then you'll have a very wobbly Givi trunk, just what you need in the middle of the big trip. Secondly, the more weight you place up high on the bike, the poorer handling your STeed will be in the curves (come to think of it, that's a great reason to leave the S.O. at home as well.) Thirdly, the more weight you place rearward of the rear wheel, the more unweighted the front end of the bike will be, and the more you'll suffer from maladies like headshake, squirrly handling in crosswinds, etc.

All of this information comes to you courtesy of the school of hard knocks.

So, the word is; Keep your weight low, and keep weight out of the topbox.Hi Don,
No Doubt your wisdom is sound. - It should be pointed out that the ST's manual states no more than a 10 lb limit.
I'm sure that the topbox and c-bracket is cabable of safely handling a little more weight.
- I'm curious if the 10 lb limit is more for the handling side-effects one would get for being too top heavy.

[tricky_micky]

Honda UK did stress some time ago about this subject.

Do not overload your top box, in particular on the ST1100. To much weight in the top box could cause stress on the frame and eventually cause problems of cracking parts on the rear end due to stress.

I have not seen any mention of top boxes on the St1300, but there was certainly something with the 1100 and the amount of weight in the rear box, if you load more than the recommended loading, you may be asking for problems.

I cant remember where I read it, but it was a fact from Honda UK.

Mick

[Medicine Bear]

Does anyone have access to Givi or Honda to ask them what they think? My wife won't ride very far without the top box on.

Fred :03biker:

[sherob]

Does anyone have access to Givi or Honda to ask them what they think? My wife won't ride very far without the top box on.

Fred :03biker:

Big yellow warning stickers all over my Hondaline about not packing more than x amount in it... don't remember... 35lbs if I was guesstimizng, probably less ;) I have it in the garage somewhere.

--------------------------------

Update... I was right... 12lbs!

[MidLife]

Topbox wisdom:

The more weight you put in that topbox, the worse off you are, for a couple reasons; If you examine how that topbox is mounted, you'll see that all the stress for it is placed on the c-bracket in the tailcone. If, for some reason, a couple of the bolts under there that go thru and hold the Givi rack in place loosen up, you WILL suffer a failure in that C-bracket eventually. It will crack in two and then you'll have a very wobbly Givi trunk, just what you need in the middle of the big trip.

So, the word is; Keep your weight low, and keep weight out of the topbox.

Glad to read that. Was wondering about the same.

Have had the box for a few weeks and was planning to add a rack on top of it. But looking closely at the mounting of the box, I came to the same conclusion as you.

Light loads only, and therefore no rack.

Thanks.