top box issue! do you trust yours?

[DottyDuck]

I bought a top box for my bike and it is very secure! But when i pit my helmet and gloves in there when i go into town etc. I am constantly worried about it! So my question is: do you have a top box? And if so do you trust leaving things in there? Or are they easy to take off/ open? I am probably stressing over something daft... but hey i just need abit of reassurance!

(I hope i have posted in the right part?)

Thanks for any feedback

[BigDan1190]

They are indeed easy to open.

Frankly, ANYTHING is easy to open if someone really wants it.

I don't think anyone wants my sweaty XXL helmet, even if it was expensive.

[DottyDuck]

Too true Dan! I hope you dont take this the wrong way but if you are the guy in your pic (which im presuming you are lol) then i wouldnt want to get on the wrong side of you! Where as people would not be intimidated by me in the slightest! Lol so maybe that is why your helmet is safe! Lol

[BigDan1190]

Lol, I wish that was the case!

To be fair, no, its never happened to me - but no one knows who owns my bike when I'm not there, its just never happened. As I say, its a calculated risk.

It might happen once in a thousand times, and i'd sacrifice one helmet to save me carrying it round a thousand times!

Thats how I look at it anyway. My top boxes have either been givi, or triumph, and I trust the security on both brands to keep out the oppurtunist thieves.

Ultimately though, if someone wants it they'll get it. Its not exactly a regular occurence though is it, I can't remember ever seeing a "my top box got nicked/broken in to" thread!

[barrkel]

Top-boxes are relatively secure in my experience. No more secure than the bike itself, of course, but more secure than e.g. under the seat of a scooter - my GF had her helmet stolen from her Vity scooter while my scooter, with its topbox, parked right beside her was unmolested.

I wouldn't trust the rotating hook based latching mechanisms on the cheapest chinese no-name top-boxes, but I have used them in the past on cheap scooters. The double-hinged flap used by most of Givi, OEMs etc. seems better.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Jane]

When your talking secure I wondered if 'securely fastened on the bike' falls into this catagory?
I was following this guy with his son as passanger in a group run out, myself and several others noticed his top box was loose so once we stopped at the lights one of the guys informed him his top box was loose to which he replied "yes I know but it wont come off!"

3 miles on route it flew off and I was behind him the box fortunaly flew off to the grass verge, we stopped and all the prat was worried about was recouping his soddin top box.
All he could do was see the funny side of the incident and continued to do this on the bike forum the group belonged to that same evening.
Question, why was you riding behind him? unfortunatly due to the group drop off system I ended up behind him along a tight lane and wasn't able to get in front of him at the time.

[Vracktal]

I can open my topbox without the key using just my fingers. When I got it, I didn't even realise that i'd been opening and closing it in locked mode, it was that easy to do.

So no, I don't put anything in my topbox that I can't afford to lose.

[lozzypop1]

[barrkel]

[Easter Bunny]

Topboxes are very easy to break into, I had to gain entry to my Givi when the locked fucked up (to be fair I knew it was dodgy so I should have done something earlier)

A cordless drill and a screwdriver got me in about 25 seconds, very little damage to the box, replaced the lock and was useable again
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The light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train!

[Rogerborg]

[barrkel]

[Whosthedaddy]

Only time I had a top box it bounced off on a roundabout one morning! All the pot holes ended up breaking the mounts, good job I was only down the road when it happened.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Shinigami]

the security entirely depends on the top box you get, mine seems to be locked pretty sturdily and I often leave my lid in the box both when at work and in town (in town i park at the back of the mrs's work)

I've a Givi top box on the 125, will likely transfer it to the hornet when I have the cash for a rack to mount it, all seem to be about £90 o_O
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Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[DottyDuck]

[Dave-the-rave]

350 bikes a week nicked in London. How secure can a top box be.
That said I never had anything nicked from a top box even when it
was secured by a bungee.

[U_W v2.0]

in january im going to have to be going into the next town over for a "pre employment training" course. courtesy of the JCP.

anyways i tend to park up in a multistory carpark because theres no free parking anywhere thanks to the council monetizing every bit of spare road parking.

i tend to park up in one of the same 4 bays each time (all around each other) because theres a cctv dome with multiple cameras in it right next to the 4 i'll park in.

checked with the staff if its working and it does, so anyone tries to steal it or break into the topbox there'll be cctv footage of the theft.

if your worried about people braking into your topbox, try doing the same. parking close to a cctv
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[U_W v2.0]

[Easter Bunny]

[i.p.phrealy]

I'd prefer to take my stuff with me than have a top box, I don't want one.
there was one on my bike when I bought it, I sold it back to the shop for £30.
____________________
it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[harscot]

Chain, padlock, bin bag or similar ( if wet ), sorted
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First bike R reg Suzuki 125 GT twin in 1978:
2nd bike X reg Honda 650 Deauville in 2011:
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[Rogerborg]

[Marmalade]

[DottyDuck]

Fair point, I was £5 out, I'll try not to be so cocky next time.

I'll take it as read that you haven't actually tested the security of your top box in any meaningful way.

To answer the original question, mine is held on with tie wraps, and I don't leave anything in there that I can't afford to lose. I can't imagine that there are many boxes out there that would resist some good solid percussive maintenance of the lock or hinges. Twist from the hips, that's where the power comes from.[/quote]

no you weren't only £5 out.. if my helmet and gloves were to be stolen i would have to pay £45 for new gloves and i would have to buy a new helmet at another £45 it means i would have to [/b]pay £90 in total meaning you were £50 out

but thanks for answering properly after your cheeky remark!

[Beelzebob]

Lost the only key to my Givi top box. Took me about 5 seconds to get into it. They are not secure people. Out of sight, out of mind though.
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'09 YBR 125 -> '92 XJ600 S Diversion -> '99 Hornet 600

"Stronger than your average female lifeguard"