Cheapest top case!? Or home made!?

[Tazman2]

Most METAL racks list max weight as 5 lbs I believe its to cover them selves!

[CB700SC]

Even the GL1500 Goldwing has a 20 pound limit for its top box. Even a small amount of weight high up like would be in a top box can have a dramatic effect on how a bike handles.

[Tazman2]

I'm at 5 lbs max right now if that. With soda or a liquor pick up will barely hit 15 lbs!

[CB700SC]

The point is, yes, a little static weight high up and far back, even as little as a pound, can affect your handling adversely. So, yes, the people saying headshake is possible are right.

[YoDoc]

My connie had an 11lb limit for the tiny rack, even though it was supported by huge chunks of angle iron. Same brace that holds the passenger and 22lb per side saddlebags... 11lbs? Hmmmm.... sounds like a handling or liability issue to me...

[Tazman2]

Like I said I'm not worried about the headshake as much as the case flying off as I ALWAYS keep both hands on the handle bars!

[Liteitup]

I read some of those horror stories too. Never had any problems, before or after shimming. And I carried a lot more than 5 lbs.

[tshelfer]

I've just recently carried a Jeep battery in my Givi. You definitely don't want that kind of weight shifting around. But with it blocked so that couldn't move, I wasn't bothered by the weight.

[achesley]

When I first installed my Givi PLX bags and Cooscase top box, I loaded them up pretty good with assorted junk about the shop to simulate my touring load plus. Slowly pushed my bandit up to 115 gps / corrected speedo readings, pushing about on the handlebars and moving about on the seat. Even did a few curves at pass the 100 mark checking stability. Didn't want any surprises on tour. Found everything to be rock solid. Way better than my old DL1000. But, once in awhile I'm running my KLR with semi knobbies at 80 on pavement, you wanta feel unstable? Try that.

[Tazman2]

Originally Posted by Liteitup

I read some of those horror stories too. Never had any problems, before or after shimming. And I carried a lot more than 5 lbs.

Shimming!?

Originally Posted by achesley

When I first installed my Givi PLX bags and Cooscase top box, I loaded them up pretty good with assorted junk about the shop to simulate my touring load plus. Slowly pushed my bandit up to 115 gps / corrected speedo readings, pushing about on the handlebars and moving about on the seat. Even did a few curves at pass the 100 mark checking stability. Didn't want any surprises on tour. Found everything to be rock solid. Way better than my old DL1000. But, once in awhile I'm running my KLR with semi knobbies at 80 on pavement, you wanta feel unstable? Try that.

So basically your saying the Bandit 1250 is a well balanced machine!? And I believe your point about the KLR. If you recall I learned on a 250 and she had knobbies!

[hizzo3]

I will admit, I've low sided twice and my givi monokey top casr was still firmly attached....

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[Tazman2]

I'm starting to wonder if most of the stories I've read from other bikes was from older weaker designs of the mount and also maybe from play that wasn't taken care of and small "vibrations" constantly wore things out and thus broke! I just found Givi E21 side cases. Small but cheaper and top loading! I sense another purchase coming!

[whitesands]

I need to get a rack so I can take the bike to the store more often instead of the car.

[hizzo3]

From owning a top rack, if its just occasionally, a top rack works. But if its gonna be perma mounted on the bike (as in rarely off) I strongly advise side bags.

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[YoDoc]

Originally Posted by hizzo3

From owning a top rack, if its just occasionally, a top rack works. But if its gonna be perma mounted on the bike (as in rarely off) I strongly advise side bags.

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+1

Lower center of gravity = less effect on handling. Realistically, the BEST place to put your shtuff is in a tank bag, to keep all the load in the triangle and on center line. If you don't carry too much junk, that is. There's even a few companies that make tank bags that turn into backpacks, or at least have a decent tote strap so you don't look so much like you are carrying a piece of motorbike luggage around. Some of them can get expensive, but it's probably worth it, and not much more than a half-decent trunk. SW Motech (I think) makes bags that mount to the fuel fill ring (Not sure if that's a good idea or not) and several companies make bags with power connections in them, for cell phones, gps, and the like. If you're crafty, Powerlet sells pieces and parts to do the same to any tank bag. It all starts with an SAE (battery tender) lead...


just an option.

[tshelfer]

Originally Posted by Tazman2

I'm starting to wonder if most of the stories I've read from other bikes was from older weaker designs of the mount and also maybe from play that wasn't taken care of and small "vibrations" constantly wore things out and thus broke! I just found Givi E21 side cases. Small but cheaper and top loading! I sense another purchase coming!

There are big differences. My last bike was a '79 Honda. When I put a top case on the luggage rack, both the case & the rack shook themselves apart. I replaced the rack & put a lot of reinforcement on it. But I could tell it would only last a year or 2.

My modern rack with a much heavier top case - solid as a rock!

[Squid4Life]

Sorry for the noob question but ...let's say i wanna buy that jc whitney topcase....which type of rack will i need?

[CB700SC]

Originally Posted by Squid4Life

Sorry for the noob question but ...let's say i wanna buy that jc whitney topcase....which type of rack will i need?

You would need a Givi Monokey or a rack that is compatible with the Givi Monokey system - which is pretty common.

[achesley]

Originally Posted by Squid4Life

Sorry for the noob question but ...let's say i wanna buy that jc whitney topcase....which type of rack will i need?

I've been running this rear luggage rack set up for the last 50K miles, Have had a soft luggage bag on it then went to Cooscase in 2010. A JC Whitney would set up the same way. You need that aluminum plate to push the set up futher back from the seat for passenger comfort and helps getting the bike on the centerstand for me I've got about 20K miles with the PLX Give / Cooscase set up on everything from interstate to pretty beat up gravel roads. No problems. That's an SW Luggage rack by the way. Think from Twisted Throttle.

[Squid4Life]

Thanks... I think i will order the rack from twisted throttle and then the topcase from jc whitmey....(sorry for the thread hijack)