Honda Panniers and Top Box question?

[uoa1]

I have just joined the bird brigade and I have a question.

My bike has the Honda panniers fitted. Can you fit a rack and top box at the same time as you can with the Givi setup?

If so do you know where I can go to get the rack for the top box?

 

[bmwdumptruck]

No. Honda panniers are panniers only.

There have been a few cases where guys have fashioned brackets to add a top box, but they tend to look like scaffolding.

Heres one http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=27279&d=1153321167

And another http://www.bikersoracle.com/blackbird/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=27288&d=1153643135

 

[gusthemus]

I'm in a similar situation to you. I've just recently picked up a Bird & it came with factory panniers which are great if I want to head away but for commuting, I really just want a top box.

I've just been to a local metal fabricator who's doing up a bracket for mine in stainless. I should be getting it this weekend so I'll post up a picture when I get it. I'm sure it won't look at all factory but I'm not expecting it to be too scaffolding like either.

Bugger those bastards at Honda for not doing a complete kit for these beautiful Hyper Tourers!

 

[hondated]

Totally..

agree with the comment about Honda.I asked the same question some weeks ago so I will be interested to see what our colleague in Australia comes up with.Prior to this I was thinking of removing the panniers and just fitting a Top Box rack as I would use that more than the panniers.

 

[Jaws]

I often think it is the honda pannier metal work that looks like scaffolding rather than what folk add to it !

Compair there stuff with this ..

That bike is fully equipped for panniers using the kit I sell !!

 

[rochonda]

I often think it is the honda pannier metal work that looks like scaffolding rather than what folk add to it !

Compair there stuff with this ..

That bike is fully equipped for panniers using the kit I sell !!

got to agree with john here, fitted mine last weekend and the side rails fit in seconds very clever bit of kitt.

 

[hondated]

John...

can you fit the Honda panniers onto these racks. I think I know the answer but just in case.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

No. The Honda panniers are shaped to tuck into the space between the top of the exhausts and the under side of the seat fairing. Keeps them relatively narrow compared to Givi type panniers.

The motech racks imho are great if you only want to use them once in a while. However I've seen a few that have been used all year and the paint just seems to fall off. Also there have been a few cases of the top box mount falling/breaking off, my mate being one, and I believe Lumpy had it happen with pretty disastrous effects.

Givi wingrack may look a bit unsightly, but Ive had mine 7 years now, used all year and its only just starting to show a few signs of corrosion. Its always got the Topbox on, and has on a couple of Euro trips been well and truly overloaded with no ill effects.

 

[Jaws]

The new SW stuff is way way better nowadays.. The paint was bloody awful up until this latest incarnation.

And yup, I have seen people have issues with the top box as well, but ONLY when it has been drastically overloaded.

I am sure someone will be along to say rubbish but it aint... The top box should have a max of 2 kilos load in it ( and that aint SW or givi or anything else, it is Honda who set that limit ! )
Ok, we all push it way more than that but there really is a limit !!

 

[ramo]

SW STUFF

when I was riding my top SW rack came loose, but it was my fault as I did not use thread lock on the bolts as instructed,
When I re-tightened and used thread lock no probs whatsoever, I do carry a lot in my topbox, would say more than 2kg, good piece of kit

steve

 

[gusthemus]

I will be interested to see what our colleague in Australia comes up with.

I should be picking it up tomorrow so I'll try & get some photos & put them up.

Jeez, after all this buildup, I hope they don't look too shitty!%$fan

 

[hondated]

Cheers

GUS. I could do with some of your weather over here.

 

[gusthemus]

OK, picked it up today & had the guy make a few adjustments to get everything right. It's probably sitting a little further forward that I would've liked but I can still swing my leg over without a problem & I never take pillions anyway.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with it for something that's just been "knocked up".

Let me just make one comment though - I'd just like to say that I did about 150km yesterday in the rain, hence the current condition of the bike. I'm far from fastidious with cleaning but she really needs a good clean!

Below are a heap of links to a selection of photos that I took this afternoon. Most are just close-up shots of the mounting plate but there's a couple of shots with everything attached.

If anyone's interested, basically, it's just a piece of 5mm thick stainless steel that's been bent over at the ends with holes drilled out for the bolts to go through. It's then had a stainless plate welded to the top of it with 4 bolt holes drilled through it. The nuts to secure the universal fitting plate for the box were also welded in place for convenience. It cost me AU$150 to get it done including the guy making all the adjustments & fitting it all.

http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070463800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070464800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070465800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070466800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070467800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070469800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070473800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070474800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070475800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070476800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070477800x600.JPG
http://web.aanet.com.au/gusthemus/P1070479edit800x600.jpg

Sorry about the links & no thumbnails. I kept getting errors about failing to write temporary files when I tried to put the files in.

 

[silverfox.xx]

The top box should have a max of 2 kilos load in it ( and that aint SW or givi or anything else, it is Honda who set that limit ! )
Ok, we all push it way more than that but there really is a limit !!

2kg...
like this then.........
Where do honda set that limit john, can't find info on it. 2kg is the weight (ish) of a top box?

 

[Tinytim]

Same limit as the Renntec rack I think.

 

[hondated]

Cheers..

GUS thanks for posting the pictures they were really usefull. Looking at the fitting it now does not look too difficult to copy so I will have a go.

It will also save me a bit of money as well.

I know you have got rain but as I lok out of my window it is snowing so your still better off than we are.Keep safe.

 

[Jaws]

2kg...
like this then.........
Where do honda set that limit john, can't find info on it. 2kg is the weight (ish) of a top box?

Buggered if I can remember but yes, Rentec used the figure supplied by Honda

 

[freddyg]

I thought Rentec was about 5Kg. 2Kg seems a bit low - it's only 2 bags of sugar :dunno:

I've got a nonfango kit on mine, all sourced from e-bay. It doesn't look as unsightly as the Givi stuff, the indicators were a bugger to sort out though.

 

[hondated]

Inspired...

by GUSTHEMUS I have managed to fabricate two brackets made out of 6mm alloy, hopefully they will be strong enough.They will bolt onto the Grab Handle fixings. Anyhow the point of all of this it took me ages to cut a cupboard template and then make it out of thin alloy before I used the 6mm so to save you time if you fancy having a go yourself don't hesitate to contact me and I will send you the shape which I have traced out onto paper.

Given the alloy for the rack cost me ?20 and the bolts will cost another ?10 for ?30 its worth the effort.

I have scanned the drawing into my files but I am not clever enough to be able to put it on here so if you want it give me your email address and I will send it to you direct.

 

[bmwdumptruck]

w08th
Show us your handywork then......