| Author | Message | ||
     1324 |
I've seen some similar approaches done, but not quite what I had in mind. I wanted something to add more storage to the bike while also being quickly and easily removed with no traces of its installation when off the bike. I bought one of those inexpensive top cases from JC Whitney (the Givi knockoff), but this would work for any top case with a Givi style adapter plate.     The adapter plate mounts to a passenger seat (cover and foam removed); I reused the mounting holes for the seat bracket to bolt the adapter plate. All three fasteners are 1/4-20 and are effectively 'double nutted' (since the stock seat bracket holes are threaded) with lock washers and loctite. The plate and the seat are separated by some spacers I made out of 1/2" steel tube cut to length.    Upon installation and road testing with 13 lbs in the case, it was readily apparent that Buell's sloppy pillion seat fitment wasn't going to be up to the task. So, I installed some nutserts in the mounting plate and used two bolts to take up the slack between the mounting plate and the subframe. Install seat as normal, lift to remove 'slack' between the latch and clasp, then finger tighten bolts. Install top case, and then tighten two thumb screws (underneath) to take up play between top case and mounting plate. This might be avoided by using a higher quality top case. Not sure, since I don't have one. Regardless, the setup is rock solid once adjusted....no tools required, can be installed/uninstalled in under a minute.  | ||
| Xnoahx |
Looking good. Ive seen people use the passenger seat mount to mount cases and I have always liked the simplicity of it. | ||
| V8killr |
Looks good - so when do you start production hahaha  | ||
| Ron_luning |
How difficult is it getting on the bike with the top case installed? I'm thinking about doing something similar, and that's pretty much my only concern. To allow others to estimate their own ability to thread a leg over the seat, what is your inseam? | ||
| Ccryder |
They make a bigger one, don't they? | ||
| 1324 |
Inseam is 30" barefoot...just measured because I can never remember. Isn't hard to swing a leg over it, but admittedly, I am relatively flexible. CC, no. Well, maybe. At the time I bought this last winter it was the largest they offered. Do my pods make my butt look small? lol... | ||
| Toona |
http://www.jcwhitney.com This is the 31 liter truck, it's $59. They make a 33 ltr also, $79. Hmm, this looks like it might be a nice winter project. Kudo's for the idea and effort! | ||
| Ccryder |
No my V35s make my butt look small LOL. Good design execution. IMHO there are some other top cases that may look a little more integrated. That's what I went after with the V35 bags. BTW look at admorelighting.com. they make some nice LED lights that could probably use with the Givi look-a-like. Neil S. | ||
| 1324 |
Yep, this is the 31 liter, LARGE on the link. Didn't realize they had a 33 liter. I used this last Friday when I rode out to happy hour after work and it allowed me to store my jacket, riding pants, gloves, and vest. No room for the helmet, but this is a start. I'll admit it isn't the most integrated kit out there, but I have less than $100 into the project and it looks like stock when not in use. Maybe one day I'll upgrade the trunk, if need be. |
