Pesky topbox

[BigAlan]

I have read about the wobbly top box and how a fee of £130 would fix it with the purchase of a new plate, well after having mine to bits last night i have designed some spacers which hopefully will eliminate the need to spend a fortune.

I have our instrument make here at work turning them from stainless and await the trial probably tomorrow, i noticed when removing the original bolts they were installed inboard of where i would have put them, so these parts are going to be installed outboard nearer the main fixing points of the plate.

I shall of course keep you up to date if they work, if there rubbish i shall keep quiet.

Alan

[Rusty]

Alan, Sounds like you are about to save yourself a decent wedge for the sake of a few bolts .... good luck and as you say keep us all posted  ;D

[Lonewolf]

I just have a Givi box on mine and I have to admit it's solid as a rock. There some small rubber feet/spacers underneath it and they create the snug fit. Hope you get it sorted and pretty cheaply too.

[mecki]

I just have a Givi box on mine and I have to admit it's solid as a rock. There some small rubber feet/spacers underneath it and they create the snug fit. Hope you get it sorted and pretty cheaply too.

The Kawasaki topbox is a Givi box and has rubber feet on the base as well. But unlike the more expensive Monokey boxes Kawasaki chose to sell only the cheap and nasty Monolock boxes as accessories. Not only are they flimsy, have no fasteners inside, a maximum load of only 3kg and a plastic base, the rubber feet come off very easily when you take the box off too.

[BigAlan]

So far so good, I had the stainless spacers turned up and they have given the topbox 50% more stability so now onto the next phase.

I have obtained a bit of alloy checkerplate which is 5pm thick, I shall mill the outside of it to exactly the same shape as the original plate which bolts on the bike but I will extend it rearwards some 20mm at the furthest point, drill the fixing holes and secure it to my bike with some rubber grommets between bike and alloy.

Should take me a couple of weeks to complete and will report back on it's success or failure.

Alan

[Lonewolf]

Is that generally the problem then that the base plate isnt large enough to accomodate the area of the box sitting on it?

[BigAlan]

Well as a newbie i have looked at four bikes of varying ages, all owners and me included came to the same conculsion that the base plate was to flexible for the mounting plate to have any decent effect.

I noticed somewhere you could purchase for £130 a pre-built plate and this was the cure, but not wishing to spend that amount of cash and managing to get this bit of alloy checker plate, along with the skills of some good technicians we have at work decided to have a go.

I looked at mine and noticed the rear of the box mounting overhangs the base plate by some distance, hense me making this one 20mm longer.

I shall of course report back.

Alan

[GTRPete]

I just bought an Ortlieb 49L waterproof roll bag (£54) instead and chuck it on the back seat over the panniers.

No worrying about top boxes falling off, no compromised handling

The bag can be bungee'd on to the rack if the missues goes on the back as I took an old "rack" from my oven and cable-tied it to the base plate for better support for the bag - saved the £130!!!

[BigAlan]

Bit of luck today, a mate of mine is taking the original black plastic mounting along with the Allow checker plate and he has access to a computer aided water jet system to cut it out including the holes, should be back with me tomorrow night.

Top job.

Alan

[Lonewolf]

Alan, I've seen one of those used on Orange County Choppers, a very nifty bit of kit.

[Gas Man]

I took mine apart recently to move the box back as the Mrs was complaining that it was too close and kept hitting her in the back.
I must say im disgusted at how flimsy the plastic plate is and am thinking of contacting Kawasaki direct about it as IMO its not fit for purpose

[Cartman]

I have an SW motech top box, kept from my ZZR, and it has a bigger fitting plate than the Kawa one and sits further from the pillion and doesn't bounce. I suppose the ideal solution is a top box mount that bolts directly to the bike, thus making the plastic rack redundant?

[Gas Man]

I have an SW motech top box, kept from my ZZR, and it has a bigger fitting plate than the Kawa one and sits further from the pillion and doesn't bounce. I suppose the ideal solution is a top box mount that bolts directly to the bike, thus making the plastic rack redundant?

Good idea but still something kawa should be addressing, think i'll make a phone call  ;)

[Cartman]

Good idea but still something kawa should be addressing, think i'll make a phone call  ;)

You are not wrong, good luck!!

[Gas Man]

You are not wrong, good luck!!

I used to have the VN and wasnt that impressed with the seat as within 1hr was in agony with my arse. Called kawa bout it and they went halves with me on a custom gel seat from the usa