Cheap top boxes - any experience with them? Recommendations?

[DrDonnyBrago]

Afternoon comrades,

Anyone have any experience with cheap (<£50) top boxes?

This sort of thing:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOPBOX-Universal-Motorcycle-Rear-Luggage-Box-TOPBOX-37L-/150479766797?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item23094b050d

I am after some recommendations, size is irrelevant atm so anything is a possiblity. I am after something lockable (doesn't need to be uber secure) with a universal fitting kit as I am going to get creative when it comes to attaching it to the bike.

So - what top boxes do you have BCF, links appreciated along with comments. The one in the link I posted seems a bit too cheap to be any good, anyone tried it?


Thanks, will be applied liberally .

[jjdugen]

These used to be about £40, a bit too flimsey for that kind of money, but, £25, how wrong can you go? I generally put a box of some description on the back, just so i dont have to lug a helmet around and its a place to keep wet weather gear, baccy etc.
I'd buy one at this price, but prefer a used Givi or Kappa for serious work.

[AL-]

I don't think I would trust something that cheap, but you never know may be worth a punt

I've got a GIVI E45 one for the Fazer - GIVI also own KAPPA top boxes as well if I remember correctly

I got the 45 as I wanted it big enough to store mine and the other halfs helmets () in securely

[pinkyfloyd]

Looks ok. But as the above posts say. It'll probably be thin plastic and as flimsy as buggery. When its closed might not be a problem but opening and closing it you might just end up with that inferior quality feeling that leaves you treating it with kid gloves incase it snaps.

But for the price, worth a punt.
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[G]

I got one of the cheap givi ones (mine has an integrated rear light) - called mono lock or something, as one lock to open top box as well as take the box off and on.
Seemed to work well - been using it on and off for four year now and still doing fine.

[DrDonnyBrago]

Cheers for the input fellas - my concerns were that it would be flimsy and shit and I might as well put the £25 towards something better, was hoping someone had tried that or something similarly cheap

Tef's bird snowtigress said that she had bought a cheap one recently, dunno if they have tried it yet but I'd be interested in their thoughts if they see this thread.

[fiveus]

Just under £50. My dad uses one and recommends it
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIVI-E300-MONOLOCK-MOTORCYCLE-TOP-BOX-CASE-30L-E300N-/190564663637?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c5e8a0155

[Sam_Y_93]

Another vote for Kappa here, got mine with my bike but can't fault it really, the mono-key thing is handy. It is supposed to be able to fit two helmets, I've not tested it but with one in there I think it would be a tight squeeze. I believe the racks are made by Givi too.

Here is a link to some of there stuff, not really looked into prices against others but they seem fairly reasonable.

Only thing I don't like is how the kebab smell lingers in them
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[iooi]

Got the self same on on the back of my old Divvy. Been on there over 2 years and is fine.
Only thing I would say with ANY cheap box. Don't rely on the quick release base to keep box on the bike. Use some proper bolts and fix onto the rack.
had one pop the quick release and fly off the back of the bike.... Only good point was it survived with nothing more than a few scratches.
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[Robby]

I've had a few cheap top boxes. Once broke the hinges on one from constantly overloading it (stuffing too much in then squeezing the lid closed).

I had a big, cheap top box on the CB500. Lots of space, but it rattled and bumped up and down, too much flex in the box and plate.

[G]

[Polarbear]

I have 2 cheap ones, Tech something I think. Both a small and a large. They have done me OK. No, they aint Givi but they aren't 300 quid for all the bits either.
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[neil.]

Used a Givi E30 Tour for 3 years every day all year round and it was fine apart from one of the screws holding the little rubber strap that keeps the lid at 90 degrees when open coming loose and having to be glued back in to the hole in the lid (self-tapper). One of the keys snapped off in the lock as well whilst I was locking it - I wasn't using much force either - must have been worn out after hundreds of uses. Adding the extra brake light to it was worthwhile as well, but I wouldn't rely on the scotch-block connectors they supply to splice it into the bike's brake light wiring - use piggy-back spade connectors instead. The E30 also survived a 15-20mph crash with just scuffs along the side.

[ms51ves3]

[jimbothe]

Lextek is a typical cheap chinese make but it seems to do what it says on the tin. As above I would look into a secondary way of fixing but it doesn't look that bad quality.
I used to have a Givi monokey set up and that was very good but it was mega bucks too!

At the end of the day you just want something to lock and keep your stuff dry, regardless of cost. Theoretically, as long as the top lid closes OVER the bottom lid, as in a lip then it should do just that.


Try this site (their own website as opposed to ebay) if you are interested as they do all the fixings as well and different sizes.

https://www.chinesemotorcyclepartsonline.co.uk/search.php?name=jk2001
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[Teflon-Mike]

[SnowTigeress]

[Serendipity]

I had a mono rack with Givi E45 years ago on my Diversion and sort of always regretted selling it after I sold the bike. After that I had about 14 years of riding without hard luggage until I bought an old CB500 last year. That came with a full Givi Wingrack already fitted so I lurked around Fleabay until I came up with some bargain boxes.

I first picked up an old grey E45 for under £50. It’s a bit tatty, but solid as a rock and still completely waterproof. A few months later I grabbed a pair of near mint E36 boxes for under £30 each. I also stumbled across a “new old stock” Wingrack fitting kit for my CBR600 so I have the option of putting the rack on that if I need.

I like the Wingrack compared to the Monorack because it feels totally solid and doesn’t wobble about as much when you have a fully laden box on board. It does however weigh about 10+ Kg before you even connect a box to it. Once I added a full top box it made the front of the bike a bit light and prone to gentle wobbles. Bumping up the rear preload cured that.

If you get a second hand Givi box from Ebay it’s unlikely to be significantly broken and there are online retailers selling spare parts if you need any new bits. I broke the only key for my E45 off in the lock a few weeks ago so bought a new set of 3 matching lock barrels for £20. I can now open all my boxes with one key.

I’ve got an old Rickman box that came with my spares donor RXS and the difference in quality is massive. The Givi boxes are made of much thicker plastic that seems indestructible. When I first got the top box for the CB500 I accidentally closed the garage door on it with some force. It mashed part of the metal door mechanism yet the box was barely marked.
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[Teflon-Mike]

Just thought; four bolts and two bars are used to bolt the base plate to the rack, which Snowie already had, elce you have to buy seperately.

Two bars and bolts seem solid enough, and slots in base plate and bars, give some versatility in how you can clamp them, depending on rack you are fitting to.

Guess how easy it goes on, is all pretty dependent on the rack you get!

Bolts are a bit 'long' though, so you may want to measure up and make sure you have clerance under rack above bodywork or anything, and brackets dont obscure tail light or anything... but that's same for all luggage, I guess.

Can take pics of fitting & plate tomorrow if you want.

Its a bit 'lumpy' with a couple of buttons at the back to clip box to, and catch at the front for the lock down, and has four small rubber bungs to stop it rattling too much.

Not as 'nice' as the arrangement for my non-fango, where dedicated base is actually a rack bed; take the box of it, completely flat, and can use it to strap a tent & bed roll to; but the few noggins on this, wouldn't stop you doing that, though it doesn't look as 'neat' with the plate not quite covering the whole rack bed.
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[Easter Bunny]

Most top box locks can be broken with one sharp whack with a hammer on a stubby flat screw driver I know I've done it twice, I wouldnt leave a helmet in a top box longer than 10 minutes!
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[DrDonnyBrago]

Cheers guys (and girls) - exactly what I had in mind .

They seem pretty good considering the price, once I have worked out a rack I will probably go for it or one of the cheap givi boxes.


Thanks again .

[pinkyfloyd]

[Gazdaman]

I think I had that same top box. I never trusted the catch, so I bolted it through the box into the base plate and it was fine until I sold the bike.

https://www.gaz-racing.co.uk/images/vehicle_356.JPG

Gaz

[SnowTigeress]