side cases and top box

dadsafrantic · March 26, 2009, 08:42:39 AM

does anyone use them?
is the cost high?
are they going to cause poor handling?
do they decrease mpg?

Cal Price · March 26, 2009, 09:09:02 AM

I use a Givi top-box on the bandit pretty much all of the time and I find it extreemly useful - I can put a helmet and a screwed-up bike jacket in it if required which is handy especially in warmer weather. I also use it for carrying my day-to-day shopping. When "on tour" and I've done a few good ones, I use soft panniers.

I have never noticed any difference in the mpg but I suppose the drag factor must count for something.

I find Iget better MPG when touring anyway probably because of longer steady runs than I get day to day so I can't really make a comparison. They are bloody usefull though.

Here she is geared up for my trip following the French coast all the way round from Calais across to Normandy, Brittany and into the Pyreneese and the Spainsh basque country. I only used the tank bag for maps, drinks and snack bars but now i have a good satnav I don't use it, having got better and more selective i now find I can carry enough for a couple of weeks away in the box and panniers.

Roadstergal · March 26, 2009, 09:51:44 AM

Can you get side cases for a GS500?

I am a big fan of lockable hard luggage. It's very, very useful for commuting, errands, touring, camping, you name it. I like my side bags to be a little narrower than my handlebars for lanesharing. I've never had a problem with the handling, even when they're stuffed full. I do prefer sidecases to topboxes, but I've used both and haven't had a problem with either (Givi or factory BMW bags being the only ones I've had).

The cost on Givi bags? Some might consider it high; I think it's well worth it.

joshr08 · March 26, 2009, 09:58:11 AM

can you carrie a passenger with the saddle bags? I want to get a set for the gs when we take road trips but we ride 2 up so thats one thing thats holding me back from getting the saddle bags.

gsJack · March 26, 2009, 10:13:08 AM

I've had a Givi top box on mine since spring 04 and never noticed any difference in handling or mpg. It's weight pales in comparison to mine.

It was about $90 plus ship back then and I mounted it to a Suzuki rack I already had.

Kerry had top and side cases using the Five Star mounts. Check twistedthrottle.com for availability. Also check for Shad cases/mounts here: http://www.binetto.com/default.aspx Givi and SWMotec make top mounts only.

fred · March 26, 2009, 10:22:19 AM

Quote from: Roadstergal on March 26, 2009, 09:51:44 AM
Can you get side cases for a GS500?

I am a big fan of lockable hard luggage. It's very, very useful for commuting, errands, touring, camping, you name it. I like my side bags to be a little narrower than my handlebars for lanesharing. I've never had a problem with the handling, even when they're stuffed full. I do prefer sidecases to topboxes, but I've used both and haven't had a problem with either (Givi or factory BMW bags being the only ones I've had).

The cost on Givi bags? Some might consider it high; I think it's well worth it.

You can get side cases for a GS. If you have an F model, it is a lot easier, and Twisted Throttle could probably hook you up no problem. If you have an older E model, like I do, you're either going to have to make one, or go through Shad. Shad is a European company that makes topracks and sideracks for the GS and has a US distributor, but they haven't ever imported a E model side rack. I sent them email a while back and they said they'd be happy to do it, you just have to go find a Shad dealer that is willing to make a special order to the US distributor who will get it from Spain. Seems like it would take a while, but I'm seriously considering it because I'd love to be able to carry more stuff on my GS and the idea of locking stuff to the bike when I get where I'm going is very attractive. Another cool thing about the Shad racks: from the diagrams on their website, the rack mounts to the frame rails without relying on the grab bar mounting point. I hear those things are prone to tearing and it is cool that they figured out a way to avoid using them... Here's the web bike world article about them: http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-luggage/shad-luggage/ If you go to the Binetto website you'll only see a toprack for the E, but if you go to http://www.shad.es/ you can find the part number for the E model rack that includes mounting points for side cases. The shad site also has instructions detailing how to mount the rack, so you can see what it looks like before buying one...

Cal Price · March 26, 2009, 11:02:08 AM

joshr08...
I have seen two-up riders with hard luggage and soft. You do need to be a bit careful when you make your choice. The way I mount my soft luggage would not make things easy for a pillion rider but I could do it differently so it would be OK.

ANYTHING is better than asking your passenger to tote a backpack!

joshr08 · March 26, 2009, 11:05:28 AM

lol...actually right now when we ride if we need to take anything my wife does wear a backpack with whatever we need. we even put a new guitar hero game and guitar in the back pack when we went to walmart for a ride and seen they had the neest one in stock...

Cal Price · March 26, 2009, 03:48:35 PM

Pillion + Backpack = tears and divorce or at least a very uncomfortable passenger. be kind to her and get some luggage, the soft stuff is pretty cheap if you can't run to hard side boxes.

fred · March 26, 2009, 03:52:51 PM

Also, if you get a top box, you can add a back rest to it. Then you can add comfort as well as getting rid of the backpack. Total win-win.

caliswangin916 · March 26, 2009, 04:03:16 PM

i don't recomend the shad case. i have the shad sh-42. the quality is crap. i'm not sure how it compares to givi and others but i would have been better off saving my money and using an igloo cooler.

fred · March 26, 2009, 04:33:27 PM

Quote from: caliswangin916 on March 26, 2009, 04:03:16 PM
i don't recomend the shad case. i have the shad sh-42. the quality is crap. i'm not sure how it compares to givi and others but i would have been better off saving my money and using an igloo cooler.

Good to know. I know they're new to the US and I've never actually met anyone who has one. I wonder if it would be possible to adapt their rack to take another type of mount. I'm sure it could be done eventually, but would it be any easier than just making a whole rack from scratch? Perhaps I'll get a rack first and look in to modifying it...

TonyKZ1 · March 27, 2009, 07:08:49 AM

I was reading about the shad luggage over on another site, as it turns out webbikeworld has done a review and they seemed to like them, the biggest one better than the smaller ones. http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-luggage/shad-luggage/

Roadstergal · March 27, 2009, 08:39:55 AM

Ja, top box with backrest is definitely the way to go for pillion comfort. I've ridden pillion on my own FZ6 with the side bags with no problem.

Best is to have the pillion get his/her own bike, thoug.

fred · March 27, 2009, 01:28:34 PM

Quote from: Roadstergal on March 27, 2009, 08:39:55 AM
Ja, top box with backrest is definitely the way to go for pillion comfort. I've ridden pillion on my own FZ6 with the side bags with no problem.

Best is to have the pillion get his/her own bike, thoug.

Yeah, my girlfriend just left me. I guess that means by the time I get another, my project bike will be running and I'll be all set to let the girl ride her own GS if she so chooses...

mister · June 14, 2009, 07:28:45 PM

Quote from: joshr08 on March 26, 2009, 09:58:11 AM
can you carrie a passenger with the saddle bags? I want to get a set for the gs when we take road trips but we ride 2 up so thats one thing thats holding me back from getting the saddle bags.

Josh,

I don't have a GS but am Seriously in the market for one. For one of my purposes it needs to be able to handle two-up comfortablly - not struggle like a 250 would, for example.

Can the GS handle two-up without too much grief?

Michael

Critter · June 14, 2009, 07:47:42 PM

I have a givi top box and I highly recomend them. I have the maxia 52, I think that is the biggest they make, and it makes the bike so much more versitile especially if you ride the bike as a daily driver going to work running short erands ans such.

fred · June 14, 2009, 10:27:30 PM

Quote from: Critter on June 14, 2009, 07:47:42 PM
I have a givi top box and I highly recomend them. I have the maxia 52, I think that is the biggest they make, and it makes the bike so much more versitile especially if you ride the bike as a daily driver going to work running short erands ans such.

Can you post a picture of it on your bike? I'd like to see how the huge case fits on a GS..

purplepeopleeater · June 15, 2009, 11:31:45 AM

Had a top box on a ninja650, handy thing to have but bad image if you're that way inclined. Limited storage whatever the size and expensive. Never had side boxes so unable to comment. Textile saddlebags are ok but have to keep checking them to make sure they're not gonna chuck you off after snaggling the rear wheel or chain.
Best i've used is to stuff your kit in a bag secured with cargo net and bungees onto pillion seat- tight!! Small motorbike rucksack for extra storage if required www.forthgear.co.uk/product/Lid_Lugger_Rucksack_464

Critter · June 15, 2009, 02:45:20 PM

Here you go fred

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side cases and top box