I have an oem Honda top box. I rarely (if ever) ride 2-up. I would like to move the top box forward, maybe even far enough to cover the rear pillion seat. Has anyone bought or made a bracket to move the oem box forward? Any tips or suggestions to make this happen would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Want to move top box forward... need help
- Thread starter dlim
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For "what" purpose, may I ask ?
Reduce wind catch ?
Reduce wind catch ?
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
Someone on here made a bracket, or was contemplating same, that allowed the top case to slide forward and aft depending on need. I don't know if it was ever seen through to fruition.
That would be nice. However, if there was a way to simply move it forward I would be happy with that. The reasons are wind and aesthetics. I hoping maybe better stability at speed, improved aerodynamics and fuel economy (maybe), and I think it would simply look better. If there were simply a bracket that could be made to shift the box forward I would try it.
I've seen it done once years ago.. looked really strange to me.. I think the rider wanted a backrest and wanted to use the top box for that.
I say just take it off if you don't like it or go for a corbin smuggler.
I say just take it off if you don't like it or go for a corbin smuggler.
I'd think a bracket moving the box forward would make it almost impossible to remove the rear seat (and thus the front one) if you needed to get at fuses etc.
I know getting the rear seat off would require removing whatever plate/bracket I build or buy. I'm okay with that. I use the bike as a commuter every day. I need the storage so taking the top box off is a no-go. Any ideas or tips would be appreciated. I'm suprised no one hasn't experimented with this.
Honda kind of did in the 80's with the Silverwing.
Corbin did a Smuggler trunk, but it's much smaller and supposedly you can't use it with a top box.
Here's an aux fuel tank mounted over the pillion seat, so it's feasible to move the box forward.
Corbin did a Smuggler trunk, but it's much smaller and supposedly you can't use it with a top box.
Here's an aux fuel tank mounted over the pillion seat, so it's feasible to move the box forward.
If I wanted to move it forward I'd get some flat bar.
I'd run 2 bits forward from the OEM location and attach the case top mount to it.
To prevent bounce (and flex) in the flat bar I'd either put some padding between the bottom of it and the pillion seat and/or I'd build a bracket like a "C" to attached to the case mount, go out around the rear seat sides and mount to the bolts under the seat that hold the side grab handles.
I'd run 2 bits forward from the OEM location and attach the case top mount to it.
To prevent bounce (and flex) in the flat bar I'd either put some padding between the bottom of it and the pillion seat and/or I'd build a bracket like a "C" to attached to the case mount, go out around the rear seat sides and mount to the bolts under the seat that hold the side grab handles.
Might not look ideal though
Slotted shallow Unistrut may work. And there is a good variety of strut hardware. Check the electrical department of your local Home Depot and Lowe's stores.
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I was thinking square stock, unistrut looks good too. Building something that can slide back to the original position so you can remove the seat when needed. Short pieces at the stock location for rails, twice as long pieces for the moving part. Although I have been known to have less than smart ideas.
Well, yes you can make a rail where to anchor your box, with a locking hinge at the edge of the original length in order to lift it when you need to do something under the passenger seat.
Go to bed and sleep over it and you will come up with some ideas.
This will be a try-and-error project.
Go to bed and sleep over it and you will come up with some ideas.
This will be a try-and-error project.
Or maybe just use a large pillion bag?
Looks like the Police bikes carry load on the back seat area? Maybe switching to a P bike subframe could provide good mounting points for a box rack? But then you'd no longer have a back seat.
One advantage of carrying the load closer by is that weight on the seat doesn't upset the suspension quite as much as out there in the box. There is a lot of leverage on the shock with weight in the box all the way back there. Dynamically, the load back in the box moves up and down and higher speeds also (on a longer radius) which has implications on the suspension as well.
One drawback is ease of getting on and off the bike.
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That's kind of funny since many Silverwing owners added a kit to ride 2up:Honda kind of did in the 80's with the Silverwing.
View media item 498Mine, not pictured, had one.
That isn't entirely true @Andrew Shadow is able to use a top box with his. I think you specifically can't use the Honda OEM or Givi. Others may work.Corbin did a Smuggler trunk, but it's much smaller and supposedly you can't use it with a top box.
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
I added supplemental brackets and re-drilled the original ones to relocate the top-box mounts to where I wanted them and to make it work with the smuggler.
I'm sure that the same can be done with any top-box mounts.
I have seen a picture of some ones ST with a slide that took the box from the rear normal place to over the rear seat. I can picture it in my mind made from tool box drawer slides on the rear luggage rack to the box. Then when you need the rear seat you can slide it back since the slides remain under the box, just like a tool box drawer
