Top Case Suggestions

[LeonardoNYC]

Finally broke down and ordered the $319 luggage porter kit that replaces the cheapo side racks that came for free with normal racks where you can mount a top case.
How $12 pounds of plastic costs $465 US is beyond me but that's what BMW wants for their top case. I know its one lock and one key and rugged etc. Comparable GIVI seems to be in the 120-160 range...Givi is fairly flimsy compared to stock top case...

I have not tried Coo or Pelican but my needs are a top case that's about the size of stock, easy to mount and may not cost as much as a Super Bowl Ticket.

Any experience with Coo's or Givi or any others?

Thank you all!

[xprof]

Leonardo,
I use a perfectly serviceable one from JC Whitney at about 60 bucks, sometimes discounted to $45. With a BMW roundel stuck on the back it looks almost official, and you can't get much cheaper. You do have to kludge the mounting a bit, though.

[LeonardoNYC]

Thanks..can you give a bit more detail on Kludging the install? Any photo or anything of that nature. I did check it on the JC Whitney site.

[xprof]

Leonardo,

A kludge is just a kludge, and I did this one almost 5 years ago. Basically I just set the JC Whitney plate on the BMW rack and dropped 4 bolts through; I don't remember if this required any drilling. Then I put the metal straps from the JC Whitney kit on the bottom (I know I had to mark and drill the holes), then put on nuts with blue LocTite. Here are a couple of pix; the blue squares are wet-suit material to tighten up the connection and reduce rattling. The top case comes right off with a push of the button, and clicks right on again no problem. The last picture shows it on the bike. It has worked just fine for 5 years now.

[mogu83]

First I hate the way a top case looks on a bike. BUT once you have one on a bike you tour with, your hooked. Their just so convenient.

I used a medium size Givi. I removed the silver cover on the BMW rack and was presented with a flat and level platform to bolt the Givi adapter to (two bolts). It's extremely sturdy and doesn't bounce like I've seen the BMW cases do. If I take the case off I just have to put the silver cover back on and everything is back to stock.

Downside with the Givi cases is you have to lock it or leave the key in it to close the latch. I got around that by making a key with the BMW logo on it and leaving it in the lock. This is a fault that many Givi owners have complained about - maybe it's been corrected on the new ones.

Their is another line of top cases called SHAD that closely resembles the Givi but doesn't have the key issue. I've never seen a SHAD case so I have no idea what the quality is like. OTOH I think the Givi is a good buy for the money.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I have a GIVI v46 monokey and it is fine. Not flimsy at all.
Comparing quality/ruggedness to BMW system cases for my 1150, I find them easily equal. I use pelican foam inserts in the GIVI to carry some expensive camera equipment and a laptop. Have done this over thousands of miles, all road conditions, and nothing ever appeared any worse for wear.
two things I do not like about the GIVI:
1-too much bling, I wish it were a little more understated, esp with the badging.
2-the stay strap for the top of the lid is a wee bit too short and after having it knock my head too many times I replaced them with a longer length of fine chain.

On my 1150, I used a Hepco Becker and it was very durable and without issue for 100k miles, again with a Pelican insert, carrying the same stuff.

John

PS Adapting a Pelican, or similar, case to topcase use has always interested me, but never had the need to really investigate. Those are some strong cases though

[kbnesbitt]

I currently have a GIVI v46 on my R, but it had a Shad 33 installed when I bought it. The previous owner had kludged the Shad base onto the GIVI pad, using a couple of strategically placed nuts and bolts. Unfortunately, it rattled constantly, and the nuts and bolts were in locations where it was difficult to tighten them. The Shad cases aren't that bad, but they are made of a flimsier material than the GIVI.

Good luck with your case hunt!