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
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0053.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0051.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0050.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0049.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0048.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0047.jpg)
(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m253/jjr_az/SSPX0046.jpg)
Do those light up, or are they just reflectors?
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.
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
Great bike !!! :thumb:
Great looking bike! :thumb: How do you like the hand guards on it? I'm thinking about picking up those same ones for this winter.
Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! :thumb:
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)
WooHoo!! Another one comin' to the SF Bay Area!!! :thumb:
There are another couple of local sites to check out.
My local fave is SBR (http://www.southbayriders.com)
A younger crowd is on BARF (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com)
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. ;)
Inventive use of a bike rack! :thumb:
GSJack, which set of FiveStar racks did you use to mount your side and top cases?
El Noobo
Quote from: pandy on September 11, 2006, 09:29:08 AM
Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! :thumb:
OMG...Pandy is turning GREEN! :o
I love the bike! not so hot on the box though... :icon_confused:
Quote from: pandy on September 11, 2006, 09:29:08 AM
Awesome pics!! Yanno....I never thought green would do it for me on a GS, but that actually works for me! What a beauty! :thumb:
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>
Quote from: starwalt on September 11, 2006, 03:40:51 PM
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> :kiss3: starwalt! :icon_mrgreen: <End jack>
Aaahhh you missed me! :oops:
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.
Quote from: pandy on September 11, 2006, 09:36:04 AM
WooHoo!! Another one comin' to the SF Bay Area!!! :thumb:
There are another couple of local sites to check out.
My local fave is SBR (http://www.southbayriders.com)
A younger crowd is on BARF (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com)
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.
Quote from: scratch on September 11, 2006, 04:15:29 PM
And, you're moving in this weekend and we have a group ride scheduled the same weekend. We coulda helped you move in.
:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: www.internatrix.com for a decent budget alarm. Scorpion for a GREAT alarm (I'm sure others have suggestions, too).
Quote from: starwalt on September 11, 2006, 03:54:29 PM
Aaahhh you missed me! :oops:
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 :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: :icon_mrgreen: ...but....of course...missing ya' is the main reason.... ;) :kiss3: :laugh:)
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. :thumb:
I still have the shipping information. :)
Quote from: gsJack on September 11, 2006, 07:56:11 AM
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.
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.
El Noobo and silver_rider, I mounted my E33 Givi case on the standard Suzuki luggage rack that mounts to the two holes that normally hold the passanger grab handle:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/99950-70267.jpg)
The Givi Monolock cases, their lower priced lighter weight models, come with that mounting plate incuded and it clamps right to the Suzuki tubular rack with the 4 clamps that come with it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GiviRackPics.jpg
The bikes frame cross member where it mounts was not heavy enough and began to crack a bit and the case began to bounce up and down some. So I bought a 3' piece of 3/4" aluminum angle and cut a foot long piece and attached it with a couple 1/4" stove bolts to the little flat at the top of the rear fender. I used the remaining length of angle to make the two bracing struts that rigidly brace the luggage the rack. Conected the struts top and bottom with short pieces of the angle. Rack, bag, and quite a bit of load at times haven't budged a bit in the 3 years since. :thumb:
PS: That's exactly the same kind of aluminum angle I used to fabricate the homemade rack I mounted to the passanger grab handle on my old 97 GS to carry mostly soft luggage and clothing type loads and it has survived the many years and miles I rode the 97:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/gsrackpics.jpg
Thank you for the details. I can't wait to start taking longer trips on the bike and I'm sure a good set of bags and a rack will come in handy.
El Noobo
Quote from: gsJack on September 12, 2006, 08:41:14 PM
El Noobo and silver_rider, I mounted my E33 Givi case on the standard Suzuki luggage rack that mounts to the two holes that normally hold the passanger grab handle
So you can buy that rack from Suzuki? If you don't mind me asking, what is the price and would you know the part #? I found a GIvi case for a pretty good price ($130 CAD) and would love to have it on the bike if just to be able to store my helmet in, rather than lugging it with me everywhere I go since I communte to work on my bike every day, rain or shine (don't do snow :o).
Thanks for your reply,
Doug.
Hi all,
Just a note...
Actually, even though many of you think this rear box idea is cool, that happens to be the worst place to mount luggage on a motorcycle because of its location.
When adding luggage, you want to keep it as close to the bike's center of gravity and as low as possible to avoid negative effects on its handling while riding.
That's why tank bags are a good way to carry items, as well as lower-mounted saddlebags.
If you put a bunch of heavy stuff in a top box, your bike's handling will be negatively effected, including the possibility of wobbles at high speed because the front end is unweighted by the high, heavy and rearward-mounted load at the rear.
Use your discretion and ride safe.
yours,
Todd
Quote from: silver_rider on September 13, 2006, 06:27:39 AM
Quote from: gsJack on September 12, 2006, 08:41:14 PM
El Noobo and silver_rider, I mounted my E33 Givi case on the standard Suzuki luggage rack that mounts to the two holes that normally hold the passanger grab handle
So you can buy that rack from Suzuki? If you don't mind me asking, what is the price and would you know the part #? I found a GIvi case for a pretty good price ($130 CAD) and would love to have it on the bike if just to be able to store my helmet in, rather than lugging it with me everywhere I go since I communte to work on my bike every day, rain or shine (don't do snow :o).
Thanks for your reply,
Doug.
Part Number: 99950-70267
Description: GS500 01- LUG.
Source: SUZUKI
Price: $79.68
From Ron Ayers parts fiche.
Thank you sir.
Very good point Trwhouse. I think a lot of us are mainly interested in having lockable storage on the bike. I know in my case I wouldn't usually haul anything in there, but I'd love to have a place to stash my helmet, gloves and jacket while I'm off the bike.
Quote from: Trwhouse on September 13, 2006, 07:10:06 AM
Hi all,
Just a note...
Actually, even though many of you think this rear box idea is cool, that happens to be the worst place to mount luggage on a motorcycle because of its location.
When adding luggage, you want to keep it as close to the bike's center of gravity and as low as possible to avoid negative effects on its handling while riding.
That's why tank bags are a good way to carry items, as well as lower-mounted saddlebags.
If you put a bunch of heavy stuff in a top box, your bike's handling will be negatively effected, including the possibility of wobbles at high speed because the front end is unweighted by the high, heavy and rearward-mounted load at the rear.
Use your discretion and ride safe.
yours,
Todd
lol...looks like a grill on the back.. :laugh: