Top-Box

Does anyone have a top-box fitted to their SV? If so, how does it affect the handling? My dad dosnt recoomend fitting a top-box, but then the last bike he rode with one wasnt a great handling bike (some old big naked musclebike thing). Im tempted to get one that I can lock for when I commute to university in my final year. Are they big enough to hold a couple of A4 binder folders (i.e. width and length)?

Matt

i bought one of these tailsafe and its excellent. Its secure at 120, locks very securely (i left my laptop in mine without worrying), and as it secures using a cable i can lock my helmet to it when i'm in uni. Best price is on ebay. Best of all - i can take it off easily when i don't fancy it. I'll get a pic of it on if you want

Please god no!

A topbox... on an SV?!?!? Are you insane?

Save some money (you're a student remember!) buy a decent sized rugsack & a bungee net. £25 tops & job done.

Takes me a few seconds to strap things to my pillion seat, and another few seconds to take them off again!

LOL i know, a top-box isnt that great. But I just want something I can leave my work, lunch and lab coat in while I bugger off to a lecture. And to leave my helmet in if I have to be on the lab (the lockers are too small I think to hold the arai). I've seen an SV with a top box on, and it didnt look too bad!

I got a good rucksack, but i dont want the weight of it on my back; the SV is heavy enough on my shoulders as it is (I have no muscles )

gettin2dizzy - some pics would be cool

Matt

Nothing wrong with a topbox on an SV. Unless you're riding everywhere at 100+ you won't notice any real handling issues (except maybe in very strong winds)
There are a variety of sizes to choose from.

I had to get a topbox because the girlfriend would be a bit precarious if I made her sit on top of a rucksack that I'd strapped to my pillion. I do regularly need to fit two people and a weekend's worth of luggage on the bike and unless I make the girlfriend carry a big backpack then that's only possible with a topbox.

Don't let people criticise you for what you do with your bike. Whatever it takes to make the thing useful to you.

[Lissa]

Top boxes aren't cool, that's true, but we use one when we go away touring. Having somewhere safe, secure and waterproof to keep important documents etc in is invaluable. Like Carsick, we travel two-up, and I will NOT wear a rucksack. For day's out we use a tank bag.

I hate rucksacks personally. It's laughable really................people spend a fortune on the best protective gear they can afford, then wear a rucksack stuffed with all manner of things. If I'm unfortunate enough to have an off, I don't want to be landing on a rucksack filled with hard, bone-breaking objects.

Its completely waterproof, locks to the bike with one of those bike cables (it stays locked until you need to remove it) which i also use to chain the helmet on the seat, its huge! and takes 2 mins to fit. Was great at the motorcycle show, i rode their in full gear, had space to put it all in the bag and lock it and the helmet to the bike, then spend the day walking around in jeans and t shirt. The oxford panniers in these pics people rate- but they're **** in comparison.

I have a top box on my SV - one of the largest Givi ones - 46L.

Yes it looks big
Yes it's very useful and I never take it off the bike anymore
No it doesn't upset the handling, not on windy days or at higher speeds
Yes it does updet people who don't like top boxes

It holds loads - two helmets and gloves - more than enough for a large rucksack/A4 binders. Cost about £160 for the box and the rack and took about 30 mins to fit it. The box unclips easily (though only with the key) and the rack isn't that noticeable without the box on it (mine's a black SV so the black rack/frame is less noticeable)

Loads of people will tell you how secure/waterproof/easy to get on and off their soft luggage is. It isn't - it gets wet, it falls off (or tries to) it looks awful after riding in dirty conditions and is hard to clean and it takes a lot longer to get it on and off, especially if it's not always the same size.

The box has made the bike a genuinely more usable vehicle - I can stop off and pick up shopping, carry some spare tools around if I need to, all much easier than struggling with a rucksack.

Make your bike into what you need, don't struggle just to fit into some stereotyped biking ideal.

[northwind]

It all depends on the weight- lots of weight behind the back wheel = comically uncontrollable wheelies But more negatively, bad weight distribution, weight off the front when cornering, etc. Like the effects of a pillion really, but magnified as the weight's behind the wheel.

I just bought a top box rack Once I get a case for it, I'm going to stripe it like my bike, it'll be the hottest topbox out there. And then, I'll use it as little as is humanly possible, because while they're stunningly useful things to have, they're still ****.

alpinestarshero

topbox

come on your far too yong to have a topbox, you will be the larfing stock at college/uni