Top box, Givi, Shad or maybe something else?

[Davidjill_imp]

Have a rack already fitted on new ride

Looking for suggestions for a top box that will hold 1 possible 2 helmets a lock maybe some waterproofs etc?

 

[peterbaron]

GIVI definitely takes the podium IMHO
For 2 helmets get bigger box
Also must have proper Givi base/mounting plate.

 

[Gone in 60]

To hold two helmets, you'd need a big Givi. I have three in different sizes for different needs. My biggest is a V47 (47 liter), but you'd need their biggest, I think a Maxia to hold two. You'd need an E251 Monokey base plate, which will easily fit on your rack.

 

[Tev62]

V47 gets my vote, I use it on another bike. I do like the expanding SHAD topbox though, nice idea.

 

[Gone in 60]

If you want to save some cash and don't mind a utilitarian look, here's an option. The Givi Maxia-sized boxes are quite expensive, and with their fake taillights (so you'll spend more on their brake light upgrade kits), they look like the back half of a Lexus.

I have quite a bit of experience with a much cheaper option. My daily commuting box is the Givi E36, pictured here. Looks big because of the focus of my phone's camera, but it's small, can't hold a helmet, but great for my laptop, lunch and general to-and-from work stuff.

Ali Express offers a super cheap and bigger knock-off linked below. It's a big black box with no frills. When I run MotoQuest transport bikes up and down the West Coast, these are the boxes they offer. They do the job, and like a Givi, click on and off the bike so you can just push a button and take the box with you.

I would have bought one for myself for carrying bigger stuff, but MotoQuest let me borrow one of theirs for a test-fit, and it's just a bit off of the Givi box mount points (no doubt just enough to avoid a patent infringement suit), so you'd need to use their stamped metal mount plate.


https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...7*MTcyMTgzNTc5NC4yLjAuMTcyMTgzNTc5NC42MC4wLjA.

 

[The Gecko_imp]

Remember that a long-arm rack like yours plus a big box and contents on top ... adds instability, in particular when riding with a pillion. The CB does already have a very limited allowed load, yet what matters here is not the total weight, but the fact that the front wheel gets lighter easily ... even too light. Your pillion (why else would you want a box for two helmets) will appreciate.
My Fehling rack says it cannot carry over 10lbs for that reason.
I know the CB ain't an airplane, but CoG and arm still matter.
So be careful.

 

[Gone in 60]

A top box might not look pretty, but it's pretty convenient. When I work downtown on weekends, I put my uniform and related items in a duffle bag and drop it in the V47. When I get to work, I can pull out the duffle bag for the walk to my work location and drop my helmet in the now empty box. Keeps my helmet out of sight from weirdos who might amble into the parking garage when the security guys aren't looking. I used to carry the Givi in one hand and my helmet in the other, but that's akward opening doors and stuff.

Weight loading is an important consideration. There have been a few times when I've put a little more weight in the box than I probably should have (I.E. "Honey, can you stop and pickup blah blah on the way home?") Mostly felt that at parking lot speeds when turning, and it was a little warning to watch it when I got out to the street. Don't feel it so much on the CB, but on a smaller bike like the Enfield, it's noticeable.

Wouldn't know about instability at high speeds. I always obey posted speed limits, right?. :angel:

 

[Nachodaddy]

Right! So much depends on how the box will be used. When he said it should hold two helmets, my first impression was that he wanted it to store the helmets when he and his rider got to their destination, not so much as when riding. Having it full and carrying a passenger is an entirely different story. But then, there's no place to hide the helmets when you stop at the pub for lunch.

 

[Lord Popgun]

I have a GIVI B37 and it will hold my helmet if nothing else is in the box. It says BLADE on the box and I do have he brake light kit. I don’t know if they still have that model.

I have a big GIVI for the ST. I’d have to look at the size (53 maybe). I put it on the CB once to see what it looked like and it was way too big, IMHO and YMMV.

 

[peterbaron]

Pics of both bikes with Givi boxes or never happened

 

[Lord Popgun]

Don’t we both have the B36?

And why are you always assigning me tasks? I’m the lord (no, not The Lord) and you are the Baron. We need some minions to do menial jobs. Maybe Gone or m in sc

 

[Gone in 60]

I showed both of mine in the thread.

 

[Charlie Bravo_imp]

I have a Givi, about the same as Gone's. It holds a lot of stuff, but I don't put a helmet in in it. I bought a thin stainless steel cable with eyes on both ends, and use that to lock my helmet and jacket to the bike. I'm not worried about anyone swiping my stuff, the helmet is an HJC, the jacket is not a high-dollar racing outfit but it suits my needs. This setup will keep an a'hole teenager from taking off with it just for a goof.

 

[peterbaron]

Don’t we both have the B36?

And why are you always assigning me tasks? I’m the lord (no, not The Lord) and you are the Baron. We need some minions to do menial jobs. Maybe Gone or m in sc

Agreed

 

[Gone in 60]

While we're talking about different sized and shaped Givi boxes, I pulled up a post I put on the ADV forum, discussing the topic. As it happens, today I'm rocking "The Weber", as I'm meeting up with friends for a movie after work, and since it's hot, I need room for a helmet and my jacket before I walk away from the bike in a movie theater parking lot. By the way, gonna see the original Terminator in 70mm at an art house theater. Sweet! Monologue is as follows:

"It's like minivans. I don't find any of them pretty... but man are they practical. And they keep stuff locked up and safe when you walk away from them. There's a dead thread somewhere on here about attempts to reverse-engineer the "female" side of a Givi mount to attach to anything you'd want to lock to a Givi rack. This would allow you to put the box-end of the hardware on anything you'd like and securely attach to a Givi rack. I'd love to put a Halliburton style aluminum briefcase on the back of my bikes on days when I'm not hauling a ton of stuff.

But, as it is, I spend 95% of my adulting time on my bikes, which means that I'm carrying varying amounts of real-world stuff and need to walk away from the bike to do it. So I'm a big fan of the practicality and security of Givi boxes. Get home or to the office, hit a button and it pops off so you can carry it in with all of your stuff. My bikes are for transportation over style, so I can stomach the looks. But why can't they make one that doesn't look like the back of a car, a space ship, or a blob?

I have three, ranging from small to large depending on what my daily chores require. They range from:

The Samsonite - the E36. The only Monokey they make that doesn't feature fake taillights. At least it looks like a 70s hard suitcase, and sorta fits my "modern classic" bikes


The Weber - the V40 not only looks like a charcoal barbecue, it features fake taillights.


The Acura - my largest, the V47, will hold a weekend's worth of stuff, and features aluminum trim and four fake taillights."

 

[Davidjill_imp]

While we're talking about different sized and shaped Givi boxes, I pulled up a post I put on the ADV forum, discussing the topic. As it happens, today I'm rocking "The Weber", as I'm meeting up with friends for a movie after work, and since it's hot, I need room for a helmet and my jacket before I walk away from the bike in a movie theater parking lot. By the way, gonna see the original Terminator in 70mm at an art house theater. Sweet! Monologue is as follows:

"It's like minivans. I don't find any of them pretty... but man are they practical. And they keep stuff locked up and safe when you walk away from them. There's a dead thread somewhere on here about attempts to reverse-engineer the "female" side of a Givi mount to attach to anything you'd want to lock to a Givi rack. This would allow you to put the box-end of the hardware on anything you'd like and securely attach to a Givi rack. I'd love to put a Halliburton style aluminum briefcase on the back of my bikes on days when I'm not hauling a ton of stuff.

But, as it is, I spend 95% of my adulting time on my bikes, which means that I'm carrying varying amounts of real-world stuff and need to walk away from the bike to do it. So I'm a big fan of the practicality and security of Givi boxes. Get home or to the office, hit a button and it pops off so you can carry it in with all of your stuff. My bikes are for transportation over style, so I can stomach the looks. But why can't they make one that doesn't look like the back of a car, a space ship, or a blob?

I have three, ranging from small to large depending on what my daily chores require. They range from:

The Samsonite - the E36. The only Monokey they make that doesn't feature fake taillights. At least it looks like a 70s hard suitcase, and sorta fits my "modern classic" bikes


The Weber - the V40 not only looks like a charcoal barbecue, it features fake taillights.


The Acura - my largest, the V47, will hold a weekend's worth of stuff, and features aluminum trim and four fake taillights."

Think I like the smaller one, and the need to hold two helmets won't be often

 

[Gone in 60]

Think I like the smaller one, and the need to hold two helmets won't be often
[/QUOTE]

That E36 is my favorite as well. Light as a feather and practical. But it will not hold a helemet - too small. I use it when I'm commuting to and from work and don't need to worry about helmet storage. Incidentally, lots of the ad pictures online for it show the little red stripe running across it, but they don't come wih that stripe. I added 1/4" reflective red tape... I guess because I wanted it to look like the ads...

 

[Cormanus]

The CB1100 has 2 helmet locks. One on the left-hand side; the other, a hook under the seat that’s locked when the seat is in place.

I can’t remember the size of my Givi top box, but, when empty, it will hold a helmet.