Poor top box design

[100milesaway]

Funny this !!!!! A mate of mine phoned and told me that the Honda vfr1200 also has a top box that" wobbles" he says it's to stop bike weaving at high speed, anybody know more on this?  :o

[1ka]

My FJR top box also used to wobble.  It wobbled so much that it eventually cracked the base.  It was such a big problem that Yamaha had to recall them and fit metal bases.

If it wobbles, then it is more likely, over time, to break due to repeated stress and strain forces.

[Rusty]

Hello 1Ka ... where have you popped up from ? FJR owner ?? ... or did you see the light ?  ;D

[Kawdolph]

have the givi version of the kawa top box but i think mine is a simply 45l ,was lucky when i bought my bike that previous owner had changed the back plate to a sturdier one.Was in france this year and box was well and truly loaded alot more than 3 kgs and also been used as a back rest by my son who was behind me ,never had an issue or a wobble ,as you know i live in ireland so testing the waterproof standards of the box no leaks ,also after my off a couple of weeks ago and bike sliding down the road top box never moved,just wondering are the people with the boxs been wobbly are they using the kawa back plate which is supposed to be weak in design.

[mecki]

I think the base plate is actually made by Givi too since it has Monolock and not Kawasaki written on it.
On my Suzuki 1250 GT Bandit the base plate (steel) for the top box (re-branded Givi 47l Monokey) was actually made by or especially for Suzuki since it had The Suzuki logo cut out in the middle.

[1ka]

Hello 1Ka ... where have you popped up from ? FJR owner ?? ... or did you see the light ?  ;D

Picking up a new GTR next week.  Currently riding a FJR, 60K miles over the last three years means it's a little tired and there's some big bills on the horizon, the least of which was the main wiring harness which is corroded and knackered.

Tried the GTR, loved it, bought it  ;D

[mecki]

The GTR is a great bike indeed, but I hope you didn't buy the Kawa top box too.  :-[

[Cartman]

You'll love the bike, it has a few things that can be improved but don't they all ::)

I have an SW motech top box, built in LED brake lights, electronic locking and a decent size,42l T-Ray in black looks good on the bike too. Never had any problems with it wobbling even on the original rack and both my pillions find it comfy.

[simbad]

I have an SW motech top box, built in LED brake lights, electronic locking and a decent size,42l T-Ray in black looks good on the bike too. Never had any problems with it wobbling even on the original rack and both my pillions find it comfy.

Just bought one of those after finding the kwak box unreliable for locking; did you get the Motech Alu rack or use the original one?

[Cartman]

I had intended to get the metal rack but never got round to it, the top box plate is so sturdy it doesn't seem to need it. Used the standard rack and changed the butterfly mounts for large washers.

You can alter the position to suit due to the solidity of the base plate.

[cpettifer]

You'll love the bike, it has a few things that can be improved but don't they all ::)

I have an SW motech top box, built in LED brake lights, electronic locking and a decent size,42l T-Ray in black looks good on the bike too. Never had any problems with it wobbling even on the original rack and both my pillions find it comfy.

You take two pillions out at the same time?! ;-)

[simbad]

I had intended to get the metal rack but never got round to it, the top box plate is so sturdy it doesn't seem to need it. Used the standard rack and changed the butterfly mounts for large washers.

You can alter the position to suit due to the solidity of the base plate.

Thanks - might give that a go. Any tips on how the brake light hooks up ...?

[Cartman]

I got the dealer to hook it up for me, but it uses the rear accessory leads (see other threads on here) and the cable to the rear brake light. Im not great with electrics  :P

[mecki]

Can you still take it off, though?

[Cartman]

Can you still take it off, though?

Yup as the dealer fitted a plug so I can disconnect  and remove it :)