Top Case Ideas

Airman · Post by **Airman** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 5:11 am

Not my installation, but this is my favorite.

This uses the 31 liter case I believe, and the RT mounting base.

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 8:29 pm

Airman wrote:Not my installation, but this is my favorite.

This uses the 31 liter case I believe, and the RT mounting base.

That's the one topbox that actually looks good on a bike!!

Airman · Post by **Airman** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:25 am

No argument from me.

JohnnyLunchBox · Post by **JohnnyLunchBox** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:59 pm

I have started the JC Whitney top case mounting debacle. I am using the hepco becker topcase mount. I am not a mechanical/fabricating genius, but I'll have this done by tomorrow, and I'll post some pics. It'll be a bit rough, but I think the end product won't offend too much.

Post by **johnnyjs1** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:51 pm

johnny....its not too bad. i used the rack that came with it and mounted it on the existing bmw rack. i didnt use the mounting rails that came with the case as they were too long to fit under the bmw rack. so i got 2 pieces of aluminum bar, cut em and drilled the holes to match the jc holes. i'll put up some pics this week for anyone interested.

Johnny

JohnnyLunchBox · Post by **JohnnyLunchBox** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:02 pm

johnnyjs, my wife's RR doesn't have the BMW luggage rack. She has the system cases, so I am hooking up the HB mount to the passenger grab rails, and poorly fabbing stuff (but having fun

). I call this eyeball engineering.

This'll turn out better than I thought. I am using the JCW mounting rails, and shimming it with rubber washers of my own design.

I had all the mounting hardware in place then I found that it was a mouse hair off, and prevented the case from locking to the mounting plate.

Pictures will follow.

JohnnyLunchBox · Post by **JohnnyLunchBox** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:22 pm

Quality control inspector checking out the HB mount.

HB Mount mounted.

What it'll look like.

Wife on RR chasing me on my Uly in WV.

Max Continuous · Post by **Max Continuous** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:55 am

Hey Johnny

What is your impression of the JC Whitney Top Case? It is really cheap to buy so I am wondering if you would trust it to keep things dry and basically last up awhile? The reviews of it seem pretty good for the amount of money it costs.

Also, what was your impression of the universal mount it comes with. I noticed that several have decided on different mounts.

Thanks for the pics.

Max

Post by **johnnyjs1** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:56 am

Max Continuous wrote:Hey Johnny

What is your impression of the JC Whitney Top Case? It is really cheap to buy so I am wondering if you would trust it to keep things dry and basically last up awhile? The reviews of it seem pretty good for the amount of money it costs.

Also, what was your impression of the universal mount it comes with. I noticed that several have decided on different mounts.

Thanks for the pics.

Max

Me personally......I think its a good deal and well worth the $47 I paid for it. It should suite your needs fairly well as long as you dont plan on pounding on it. The mounting plate is pretty sturdy and made of metal, I know they used to ship it out with a cheap plastic plate but changed that. You might want to paint the orange bumper thingy a flat black to match the case (i bought some krylon flat black camouflage paint, and it matches nearly perfect) just unscrew the bumpers from the inside and remove em then paint em. i have the bmw luggage rack on my rockster, and just mounted the plate on top of it. Like i said in an earlier post, the rails that came with the case were a bit long to fit neatly under the rack so i made some outta aluminum. I'm too cheap to spend megabucks on a Givi, or BMW case, so this thing is perfect for me, as it fits a full face helmet with some room to spare. I do suggest however that you put some rubber bumpers on the bolts that hold the backrest on to protect your helmet if you plan on storing your helmet in there while riding. Hopefully i can get some pics up to show the mounting rails i fabbed up.

Max Continuous · Post by **Max Continuous** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:41 am

Johnny

Just got an email today from JC Whitney with a $10 off coupon. So I had to order a top Case. At the price of $50, if it doesn't work I can use it as a new litter box for my quality control inspector. Thanks for your input!

Cheers

Max

Post by **johnnyjs1** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:56 am

Max Continuous wrote:Johnny

Just got an email today from JC Whitney with a $10 off coupon. So I had to order a top Case. At the price of $50, if it doesn't work I can use it as a new litter box for my quality control inspector. Thanks for your input!

Cheers

Max

Max....Lemme know if you have any problem with the mounting rails(if you already have the bmw rack) I have some extra aluminum around and would be happy to cut and drill it for you exactly like mine, so it would be a simple install. I'll try and get some pics up this evening, or tomorrow (getting my hanguards tomorrow so i'll already be out in the garage installing those

)

Johnny

riceburner · Post by **riceburner** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:17 am

That JCWhitney case looks a LOT like a Givi monokey.

Could be that it's a design made in china on old Givi tooling?

JohnnyLunchBox · Post by **JohnnyLunchBox** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:01 am

Finally got the JC whitney topcase installed on the Hepco Becker rack. The only advice I have is to properly shim the mounting plate, because it is made of stamped sheet metal and the stress placed on it by the screws can easily bend the plate. I bent the plate and the pins on it wouldn't line up properly on the case. I bent them back and added shims (washers will do) and everyhting lined up properly.

Post by **johnnyjs1** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:05 pm

JohnnyLunchBox wrote:Finally got the JC whitney topcase installed on the Hepco Becker rack. The only advice I have is to properly shim the mounting plate, because it is made of stamped sheet metal and the stress placed on it by the screws can easily bend the plate. I bent the plate and the pins on it wouldn't line up properly on the case. I bent them back and added shims (washers will do) and everyhting lined up properly.

Did you get a chance to paint the ugly orange bumper?

Max Continuous · Post by **Max Continuous** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:28 pm

The JC Whitney Case arrived today. The quality is not GIVI by any stretch but then neither is the price. All said, it is great value for money spent and fits my tent, sleeping bag and pad, along with rain gear. Exactly what I wanted it to do.

I removed the iron cross decal and will be mounting a RAM Ball in its' place which will allow me to use the bike as a tripod for taking photos.

Now I just need to start engineering a way of mounting it. I will probably remove the BMW luggage rack from between the system case brackets and manufacture a plate to go in its' place, then bolt the locking Universal plate on to that.

Post by **Canyon Runner** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:43 pm

(Forgot to quote John's post from page 1 of this thread)

John,

Ohhhh... Macallan 15 year... I assume that is/ was the Fine Oak series?

Good choice. Macallan 18 is my poison of choice when I am in the "I'm not going to the hardware store, I'm just going to buy an engineered bag" mood.

But most times, the 12 year (and the occasional trip to Ace) will have to do.

Cheers!

-Kyle[/quote]

Post by **johnnyjs1** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:15 pm

Max Continuous wrote:The JC Whitney Case arrived today. The quality is not GIVI by any stretch but then neither is the price. All said, it is great value for money spent and fits my tent, sleeping bag and pad, along with rain gear. Exactly what I wanted it to do.

I removed the iron cross decal and will be mounting a RAM Ball in its' place which will allow me to use the bike as a tripod for taking photos.

Now I just need to start engineering a way of mounting it. I will probably remove the BMW luggage rack from between the system case brackets and manufacture a plate to go in its' place, then bolt the locking Universal plate on to that.

I'll post pics of how I mounted mine for ya

Post by **taosports** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:39 pm

Max Continuous wrote: Now I just need to start engineering a way of mounting it. I will probably remove the BMW luggage rack from between the system case brackets and manufacture a plate to go in its' place, then bolt the locking Universal plate on to that.

Here's what I did using an old kitchen cutting booard :

http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?p ... ght=#52973

40,000 miles later and it's still working great.