My new topcase - lots of pix

[jjr_vw]

I took a few pix yesterday of the a topcase I just bought (notice the bike rack I used to install it on the moto).  The photo quality is not the best as I used my cell phone

[annguyen1981]

Do those light up, or are they just reflectors?

[Cal Price]

If that is a Givi or derivative box they will be reflectors, it's a Givi "feature" on all their boxes, they also do a kit for many of them to convert to a light and often people (here) fit an after market LED brake-light kit, one of those with a transmitting bulb in the regular tail light.

[gsJack]

Can't tell if that's a Givi or one of the current knock-offs, but just a WORD OF CAUTION on some of the Givi derivatives.  A friend bought one of the Givi copies and just recently while bouncing over the railroad tracks the trunk went flying and tumbling down the street.  Seems the lug on the mounting base where the sliding lock plate on the case engages it broke right off.  I looked at his base plate and it was of a thinner shinney black plastic that wasn't nearly as tough as the heavy flat black plastic used on the Givi base.  My bottom line E33 Givi Monolock has been on my GS for 3 summers and well over 30k miles now and remaions solid as a rock.  It's flat black finish is dulling and fading in appearance but it's been and remains totally functional and dependable.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GiviRackPics.jpg

[scottpA_GS]

Great bike !!! 

[SeriousGeorge]

Great looking bike!    How do you like the hand guards on it? I'm thinking about picking up those same ones for this winter.

[pandy]

Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! 

[jjr_vw]

Just like Cal P said, those are reflectors, and not very good ones I think.

It is a Givi derivative (i.e. knockoff, the actual manufacturer of this box is "Kappa", which seems to also be based in Italy).. I bought it in Mexico when I was down there a weekend ago... it was all of 70 bucks.  It looked pretty well put together, so I figure I could take a risk for only $70.  Thanks for the tip about the flimsiness of the knock offs, I'll take a close look at the mounting base and see if it is going to hold up or not.

The handguards are good enough.  I bought them to take off the edge of cold winter mornings in southern AZ, and they work just fine for that.  However I'm thinking of upgrading to the std "CA lane splitters handguards" which have a metal bar backing the  handguard.  The only thing I didn't like about the handguards was that the black piece of aluminum, after a few months of exposure to AZ sun, faded into a gold color.

Thanks for the compliments, I'll let my bike know...

===================================

So when I originally posted this, I meant to ask the question, which I guess gsJack sort of answered... How reliable are this boxes in an urban setting?  It is prone to get stolen,  or "broken into" if I leave it parked all day in, let's say, downtown San Francisco?  (I'm moving to San Francisco this weekend so I am a little concerned)

[pandy]

WooHoo!! Another one comin' to the SF Bay Area!!! 

There are another couple of local sites to check out.

My local fave is SBR

A younger crowd is on BARF

I think there's an east-bay group, too.

Have you considered an alarm for your bike? I know there are a lot of folks on BARF who work in downtown SF, so you might be able to pick their brains, too!

Now we need to have a "Welcome to the Bay Area" ride for jjr....paging scratch to the GSTwin white courtesy phone.

[Chilly Willy]

Inventive use of a bike rack!

GSJack, which set of FiveStar racks did you use to mount your side and top cases?

El Noobo

[dgyver]

Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! 

OMG...Pandy is turning GREEN! 

[plusultra]

I love the bike!   not so hot on the box though...   

[starwalt]

Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! 

Here, here! Probably one of the best make-overs of a GS we've seen in a while. The fact that is a later model with the "air intake" frame panels works very well.

<Thread jack>  Hey Pandy! 
<End jack>

[pandy]

Here, here! Probably one of the best make-overs of a GS we've seen in a while. 

+1! I think that's what strikes me, rather than the colour, per se.

<Thread jack>  starwalt!  <End jack>

[starwalt]

Aaahhh you missed me!   

Two classes this semester, too much work, and very few questions I could contribute to.

Been lurking though....and working on vtxstar.com...when I can.

[scratch]

WooHoo!! Another one comin' to the SF Bay Area!!! 

There are another couple of local sites to check out.

My local fave is SBR

A younger crowd is on BARF

I think there's an east-bay group, too.

Have you considered an alarm for your bike? I know there are a lot of folks on BARF who work in downtown SF, so you might be able to pick their brains, too!

Now we need to have a "Welcome to the Bay Area" ride for jjr....paging scratch to the GSTwin white courtesy phone.

Yes?

A new rider in SF, great!

While security for your bike is an understatement, and cannot be stressed enough, I think the crackheads will be more interested in your sparkplugs for the porcelan for their crack.  You do have a most beautiful bike.  And, beautiful enough to keep secure.  I hope you move into a safe neighborhood, and a garage.

And, you're moving in this weekend and we have a group ride scheduled the same weekend.  We coulda helped you move in.

[pandy]

And, you're moving in this weekend and we have a group ride scheduled the same weekend.  We coulda helped you move in.

www.internatrix.com for a decent budget alarm. Scorpion for a GREAT alarm (I'm sure others have suggestions, too).

Aaahhh you missed me!   

Of COURSE I missed you!! But I knew you were around....or I'd have had to hunt ya' down to make sure you were ok (and to make sure you still have my address in case your wife bakes  ...but....of course...missing ya' is the main reason....  )

[starwalt]

As a matter of fact -- she finishes her in-class Master's program stuff tonight, just online classes now. She does have the ingredients for what we spoke of previously AND she is in the frame of mind to bake. 

I still have the shipping information. 

[silver_rider]

Can't tell if that's a Givi or one of the current knock-offs, but just a WORD OF CAUTION on some of the Givi derivatives.  A friend bought one of the Givi copies and just recently while bouncing over the railroad tracks the trunk went flying and tumbling down the street.  Seems the lug on the mounting base where the sliding lock plate on the case engages it broke right off.  I looked at his base plate and it was of a thinner shinney black plastic that wasn't nearly as tough as the heavy flat black plastic used on the Givi base.  My bottom line E33 Givi Monolock has been on my GS for 3 summers and well over 30k miles now and remaions solid as a rock.  It's flat black finish is dulling and fading in appearance but it's been and remains totally functional and dependable.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GiviRackPics.jpg

Where did you get that mounting plate for the box? I would love one of those.

Cheers,

Doug.

[jjr_vw]

Thanks for all the linkies Pandy. 

I will be moving into an OK neighborhood, the Excelsior, alas no garage or
driveway for the bike.  It will be parked in an extended sidewalk right in
front of the house.  Sidewalks in this hood are usually 6 to 7 feet wide, but this one is
at least 13 feet wide.