Hard topside givi, or soft saddlebags?

[mjm]

I found this no name topside box at JC Whitney for approx $60.00...I assume this is the box that MJM is talking about...

MJM - can you tell us about the quality of this box?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-4329/c-10111

That is the one I have - although I usually leave it off (I have Givi sidecases that I use day to day).  It was a bit of a pain to get the mounting platform adapted to both the Suzuki rack I used to have and the current 5 Star rack - the metal piece(s) is intended to be placed under the bottom of the rack with bolts through to the platform - you need to be careful of the clearence to the tail or you will have some nice scuffs/scratches there.

The case itself comfortably holds a full face helmet - with a decent rack it has good cargo capacity.  I have ridden in the rain and used a spray type carwash with it on and never had any water in the case.  Franlkly it seems to be pretty good quality - certainly for the money it is a bargan.

But - unless you add extra bracing to the Suzuki rack I would not use the combination.

[iisan7]

Thanks for the link, Taki ~ and SteveC for the reminder that bigger is better!
So... does your Renntec rack only attach to the two bolts like the stock handle or the Suzuki rack? Or does it attach to the chassis as well like the Givi racks? I've been considering the Suzuki rack but if I don't have to build a support for the Renntec... I like that

[iisan7]

and yes that Krauser system looks good... but $450 bucks for a box is  

[taki]

I have a 2000 GS500 - the Renntec rack for this bike (and older GS500s) comes with a grab handle integrated into the rack, and bolts to the exiting grab handle location - it also bolts to the bracket that has the seat latch mechanism...there are two tubes that are part of the luggage rack that run along the seat to the seat latch bracket...i did not have to strengthen or modify  the Renntec rack, i think its sturdy...however, they put a ridiculous weight limit on it (5 lbs.), but it can handle more than that...

I believe the Renntec rack for 2001+ is exactly like the one in Cal Prices pictures in the 5th post of this thread...

I also asked a friend of mine to custom fab some aluminum brackets to attach the JC whitney box plate to the rack....that way the box sits fairly horizontal, not angled on the rack...because the grab handle is integrated into this rack, it blocks a good portion of the actual rack...not really a good design for mounting a box, unless you build some aluminum brackets like my friend did...

if you email Russell at Revs Performance (info@revsperformance.com), he should be able to email pictures of the rack....i deleted the ones he sent me already...

i would be glad to post some pictures, but photobucket apparently isnt taking any new free members...