What is up with all the TOP BOXES? - Page 2

krellheat · 07-16-2008, 06:31 PM

I have one on my 650GS. yes its Ugly but so am I. Its main purpose is function over beauty.

Thoug, on special occasions I do remove it.

Chromer · 07-16-2008, 06:32 PM

I have a top box because... I need to carry stuff, and I'm just not gonna ride a scooter.

High speed stability? Meh. I never go over 80 or so for more than a few seconds at a time anyway. As soon as the road straightens out I slow down again...

And besides, I ride a Strom. The only thing I could to do make it look better on the road is put it inside an enclosed trailer...

PacWestGS · 07-16-2008, 06:33 PM

Forget the helmet, look at the pretty face inside the helmet.

JustKip · 07-16-2008, 06:34 PM

You're completely wrong about the "High speed wobble inducing..." part. I had the same questions before I got mine but at 125 mph (indicated, but who cares?) I can't tell it's back there. Unlike a drybag, I can lock my helmet in it. And it don't affect lane splitting. If I bought it to look at I wouldn't have gotten a GS.

grae313 · 07-16-2008, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

Does not match your helmet so I've got to go with Oh so ugly

Ouch!

Well, at least it's not fugly...

DAKEZ · 07-16-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grae313

Ouch!

Well, at least it's not fugly...

I want to thank you for only putting one of your eyes as your avatar. I would not be able to turn away from both

And thank you for your AK ride report

grae313 · 07-16-2008, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

I want to thank you for only putting one of your eyes as your avatar. I would not be able to turn away from both

And thank you for your AK ride report

Shucks

thanks

[/hijack] I'm sure someone out there can beat me for the "ugliest top box" award

C'mon, give it your best shot

iridefar · 07-16-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAKEZ

How do they effect the handling (ride) of the bike?

Don't you know those things are ugly? I know they can be handy and all... I am not trying to pick a fight or anything...but I just witnessed an HP2 with one and wanted to.

When did adventure riders start caring what their bikes look like?

Isn't that only for cruisers?

Repeat after me: "It's all about function"

I carry $8K worth of camera gear in my top case. I certainly wouldn't be sticking that in a dry bag. I really don't care what it looks like. It protects my stuff!

Skyclad · 07-16-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacWestGS

Forget the helmet, look at the pretty face inside the helmet.

big ol' +1

JBSmith · 07-16-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chromer

I have a top box because... I need to carry stuff, and I'm just not gonna ride a scooter.

High speed stability? Meh. I never go over 80 or so for more than a few seconds at a time anyway. As soon as the road straightens out I slow down again...

And besides, I ride a Strom. The only thing I could to do make it look better on the road is put it inside an enclosed trailer...

And I say that as a Strom owner myself.

I have Givi side cases and a top box (which is actually a third side case) on Happy Trails SU racks. Sometimes I'll use the side cases, other times the top box, occasionally all three together. I carry a lot of crap, and I like having a safe place for it when I park the bike.

The top box alone has the least effect on handling. With 20 pounds of stuff in it, I barely know it's there. The side cases have a larger effect, especially when they're full, because their mass is so far outboard of the bike's centerline. This is why I use the top box by itself more often.

In windy conditions all bets are off. Any combination of bags exaggerates the effects of sidewinds.

And for the record I don't give a red rat's ass what it looks like. As the man said, if I wanted pretty, I wouldn't have bought a V-Strom.

Luke · 07-16-2008, 10:51 PM

Does not ruin handling; among other things it holds a laptop, passport, and other documents. The bungee net on the top is also good for holding water bottles and drying wet laundry.

DAKEZ · 07-16-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke

Does not ruin handling; among other things it holds a laptop,....

Damn dood that thing looks like it's made for your bike. A definite Not so on the scale. Love the photo. What kind of trees are those Birch, Aspen...?

rocker59 · 07-16-2008, 11:28 PM

Never any problems from my 40-litre H+B box...

bongodave · 07-16-2008, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyclad

I usually leave my top box on my Uly when in the commuter mode. It is just too damn handy for carrying lunch to work, tossing the helmet and gloves into and all that.

I do however agree that it is not the best looking arangement. Then again, when ya get right down to it, ADV bikes are not usually all that pretty to begin with, so it not not a case of making the bike ugly. It is more just changing the degree of ugliness. If I wanted a pretty bike, I would have bought another cruiser.

Form over function. They are ugly. So what?

jesse · 07-17-2008, 01:00 AM

They don't look that bad. There is room for two full face helmets in our cases. It makes any bike so much more practical. You can still haul serious ass so I don't see what the problem is.

07-16-2008, 06:31 PM	#16
krellheat Devil's Advocate Joined: Nov 2007 Location: Central CT Oddometer: 1,293	I have one on my 650GS. yes its Ugly but so am I. Its main purpose is function over beauty. Thoug, on special occasions I do remove it. __________________ Just remember, once you're over the hill, you begin to pick up speed. Devil's advocate. Hell conscientious and informed and downright argumentative dissenter.

07-16-2008, 06:33 PM	#18
PacWestGS Life Is The Adventure! Joined: Aug 2005 Location: A Worldly Traveller Oddometer: 9,956	Forget the helmet, look at the pretty face inside the helmet. __________________ Russ The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it. (Albert Einstein)

07-16-2008, 11:28 PM	#28
rocker59 diplomatico di moto Joined: Mar 2004 Location: The Trans-Mississippi Oddometer: 14,315	Never any problems from my 40-litre H+B box... __________________ Rocker59 (aka guzzimike), Aux Arcs (NW Arkansas) Moto Guzzi: LeMans 1000 CI, Sport 1100, V11 LeMans Nero Corsa IBA #24873, MGNOC #21347 “Just keep playing, no matter how weird it gets.”

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07-16-2008, 06:32 PM	#17
Chromer Not going gentle Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Into that good night Oddometer: 880	I have a top box because... I need to carry stuff, and I'm just not gonna ride a scooter. High speed stability? Meh. I never go over 80 or so for more than a few seconds at a time anyway. As soon as the road straightens out I slow down again... And besides, I ride a Strom. The only thing I could to do make it look better on the road is put it inside an enclosed trailer...

07-16-2008, 06:34 PM	#19
JustKip Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Fresno, CA Oddometer: 2,942	You're completely wrong about the "High speed wobble inducing..." part. I had the same questions before I got mine but at 125 mph (indicated, but who cares?) I can't tell it's back there. Unlike a drybag, I can lock my helmet in it. And it don't affect lane splitting. If I bought it to look at I wouldn't have gotten a GS.

07-16-2008, 10:51 PM	#26
Luke GPoET&P Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Idiotville, OR Oddometer: 3,758	Does not ruin handling; among other things it holds a laptop, passport, and other documents. The bungee net on the top is also good for holding water bottles and drying wet laundry.

07-17-2008, 01:00 AM	#30
jesse lol Joined: Sep 2007 Location: California, USA Oddometer: 6	They don't look that bad. There is room for two full face helmets in our cases. It makes any bike so much more practical. You can still haul serious ass so I don't see what the problem is.