How big a top box should I buy ?

[hornetmike]

Just got my er5 up together as I am back to commuting on a bike, how big a top box should I get ? I would like to keep my helmet in it.

Never thought I'd be asking this, as biking use to be my hobbie but having I bike I don't like and not looking after it is actually fun.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[johnsmith222]

I have a givi E45 monokey and an E36 monokey.

Get at least the E45. The E36 doesn't fit a helmet in. That's why I bought the 45 litre one.

But you also have to bear in mind that litres doesn't necessarily mean it will hold a helmet. It needs to be tall enough for it to fit.

[fatpies]

As big as you need it, bigger = more drag and more instability at speed. Unless you go ghetto and bolt it to your seat so that there is no gap between you and the top box.

Top boxes are pretty cheap anyway you can get big universal ones off ebay for £25.
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"It's easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. It's a lot more difficult to perform one"

[hornetmike]

Its hard to decide most days just my lunch but sometimes a laptop
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Asharin]

[calyx]

Givi E450N. Can fit 2 helmets in
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Boris - London

[Serendipity]

I also have the Givi E36 and E45 boxes. They look a bit old fashioned and crap, but are solid and reliable.

As said the E45 can take a helmet with ease. It should take two helmets, but worth noting that if the helmet has a spoiler at the rear, like the Shoei XR1000 etc, it gets in the way of the lid closing and you have to put it sideways. I could probably fit two XR1000s in the box, but it would be a puzzle to shift them around until they both fitted and the lid could be closed.

The other big benefits of a box is keeping your stuff totally dry even in the wettest weather and being able to leave gear, not just helmets, with the bike.
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2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[Gothtec]

I'd get a two helmet one...

https://www.globalbikeonline.com/item_detail.php?cid=18983&cmid=967

Always usefull when taking the otherhalf to bike meets etc!
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[sickpup]

Get the biggest you can afford and don't keep your helmet in it. If you do in this weather you will find it gets wet from condensation. For the same reason don't keep your gloves in it either.

The things you keep in it are a puncture kit, a VERY warm silly hat for if you breakdown, large chocolate bar, large completely unbreathable waterproof coat and associated other crap that multiplies in the bottom.

[P.]

[Moo.]

[hornetmike]

Bought a 48 litre cheap one,

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280703894966?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

The whole bike is cheap done loads of miles on it in all weathers
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Cheeseybeaner]

As big as you like really.

Yes a large topbox can be hideous but it is also has infinite uses.
I've seen guys with really tiny (and I mean tiny) ones before and I wonder why they bother with them.

I mean about 10 inches square, quite what the hell use that is to anyone I don't know... (?)

Why!? Looked the sort of thing which wouldn't be out of place on a bicycle.

Personally I find being able to carry enough useful stuff like tools, tyre repair kit, map etc to keep the bike rolling is great plus whatever you need to cart around with you from place to place. If you can lock away your helmet then thats a bonus, if you can lock away two of them then another bonus.

So its really up to you, I think wider is generally better; though you can still cram an awful a lot into a small Rickman style topbox.

I suppose it depends on how much you rely on your bike as everyday transport, if you use it for everything then good, spacious hard luggage is a good step forward.

[defblade]

I got an E46 givi - not quite the biggest, but nearly.

I also spent ages finding a mount that looked OK without the box on it - went with s w motech in the end:

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/defblade/Bandit/03alutech.jpg


In the best part of 2 years, I think I've used the bike about twice without the box! Being able to take stuff (including a decent lock) and have storage for helmet and shopping turns out to be more important than what anyone lese thinks about a topbox.


Mind you, my bike is more (amazing fun) transport than toy - when I'm riding, I'm going somewhere, not just out on a hoon/cafe run.
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Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp