Luggage Reviews?

[Jim]

Thought people could post here about their luggage reviews...

Such as rear trunks (Carl...) what brand, pro's / con's...

Currently I've been using a milkcrate :P pro is it was free, con is it is very ghetto... I've been thinking of getting one of the medium sized trunks from JC Whitney for about $65.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...014603/c-10111

[CrazyCarl]

Jim, I'll post something on the Chinese made top boxes. They're a great value and I have, and will, put top boxes on all my bike.

Meantime, you got any pics of your egg-crate set-up? I'm sure people like to see some good ol' fashioned DIY setups too! How long did it take to get the pieces together and install it?

CC

[Jim]

About a minute or so, I just used "zap straps" or "zip ties" :P


It is just for utility sake, it is a very temporary solution...

I had a "tail bag" before, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/EXL-M...1900QQtcZphoto

But it ended up getting ripped up.

[CrazyCarl]

Rear cases really transform the utility of a bike while not widening the bikes profile. The main drawback of them is, of course, they put a lot of weight high on the bike and can tend to effect handling, especially when full.

That said, if you're looking to commute or run errands or take pictures, there's nothing much better. It's nice to have a waterproof place to lock your belongings that is not likely to get tampered with. I've used the Chinese made plastic rear hard cases for a few years now and am very satisfied with their construction and functionality. Before coming to China I had a set of Givi E360's on a Bandit 1200 and after arriving found some decent quality clones which are now available in the US through distributors like JCWhitney.

- Very similar to Givi's except for the solid red band in the center.




- The plastic molding on most brands you get will be good quality and the main difference will be in the type of plastic used. Some are more brittle than others and resist fading better.



- Hinge qualities vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but should all be sufficient to all but the heaviest duties. Sometimes the hinge pics may start to creep out, so check that periodically.




- Locks are not too complicated and seem to be of solid quality. Key are also not too generic and usually cut from decent metal.






- Last but not least is the locking plates. Unless they've changed, the kind that comes from JCWhiteny is a pretty crude stamped steel. It works but it's not pretty and will flex.




Altogether you have a decent little package for 65 bucks, which is half the cost for a Givi. I know dudes who use them and are so far satisfied, even after having dropped them in spills. Mine have taken some serious abuse and never cracked or opened up...not even once.

If you're looking for a quick, cheap and convenient way to get more ue out of your bike then adding a top box is definitely worth a try.

CC

[Jim]

What do they set you back in China?

[CrazyCarl]

Retail the price on these depends on the manufacturer and size but the general price will range for a good one be about 20USD. All parts on them are replaceable by the way and extremely cheap.


CC

[Jim]

Sounds like an excellent deal!

[CrazyCarl]

Yeah if you put it in USD it's pretty good. I guess even in RMB it's not too bad considering the recent inflation!

CC

[steamerstimpson]

Before I sit down and work out the volume in litres has anybody done it already? 22-1/2"W x 16-1/2"L x 11"H

[ChinaV]

I think it's about 24 Liters.

I just returned from a factory that makes a huge range of these boxes in Wenzhou and I think Carl has covered most of the bases with that sweet product review . The boxes with the dull textured finish like CCs' are Polypro plastic and the shiny painted ones are usually ABS so they are a little more brittle. For what you pay, I think they are a good bargain.

One bit of advice... if you are hammering the shit out of the bike, throw a bungee over the thing just to be safe. These boxes are only load rated for about 3-4 kilos which is pretty easy to go over if you're packing for a long trip. I had about 12 kilos in mine when I watched it go tumbling behind me at 80kph after 5000 kilometers of abuse. Thing was seriously road-rashed but never came apart so I'm not complaining.

Cheers!
ChinaV