Aluminium Topbox assumptions

[nerrrd]

Am considering a flash Givi aluminium topbox to replace my decade old, faded plastic one.

The plastic one is curvy and every time I put something inside I feel like there’s a lot of wasted space. I’m hoping a box-shaped aluminium one will be able to take more stuff. Also hoping the aluminium won’t weather as obviously over time. It’s been pointed out to me that the aluminium cases are heavier, but I figure that’s a small price to pay for durability.

I have to have secure luggage on my bike as it’s my only form of transport. If I’m already spending a fair bit, I figure a little bit more for something more robust might be a good investment.

Anyone with experience out there care to confirm the above? Or are aluminium cases really more of a bling thing for aspiring adventure bike riders?

[pete376403]

I use Pelican (pr pelican lookalikes) on my KLR of different sizes. As the need dictates, either a real Pelican on the rack, two Bunnings Craftech cases on the side racks . Either way - virtually indestructible, waterproof, lockable (with padlocks) reasonable price

[F5 Dave]

Can you position it over the seat?. Anything a bit further back trashes the handling.

I sold my Givi that came with the Tiger to stop me using it. Handy but spoiled the ride.

[nerrrd]

Can you position it over the seat?. Anything a bit further back trashes the handling.

I sold my Givi that came with the Tiger to stop me using it. Handy but spoiled the ride.

Funny you should mention that, I would like to mount it as far forward as possible. Will probably try to bodge something.

Ventura do a top box mount for their racks that’s adjustable and reversible, only unless I’m missing something, there’s only a couple of hand-tightened screws stopping someone lifting the mount out of the rack with the top box still attached and wandering off with both of them – so not secure.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I use Pelican (pr pelican lookalikes) on my KLR of different sizes. As the need dictates, either a real Pelican on the rack, two Bunnings Craftech cases on the side racks . Either way - virtually indestructible, waterproof, lockable (with padlocks) reasonable price

I've looked at those Craftech ones - they seem like decent chunky kit without the Pelican tax.

[pete376403]

I've looked at those Craftech ones - they seem like decent chunky kit without the Pelican tax.

If not for the label you couldn't tell they are not Pelican. Jaycar also sell something very similar.

[jellywrestler]

i've got a couple of blue bins on my gs850 i pinched from the ladies toilets for saddlebags, they are plastic and make great chilly bins as well. A cool hinged lid means you can fill them with laughing water and just pop you hand in and grab a beer, when most think you are carrying luggage or something.

[nerrrd]

OK so I guess the general preference is plastic (and cheap) at this point.

Ventura do a boxy plastic top case that's an imitation of the aluminium ones. It claims to be 45 litres (which would be the minimum to be useful for me) but has measurements which are a lot smaller than the 44 litre Givi aluminium ones, maybe I'll take a closer look at that.

Ventura Astro Rally 45L Topbox

[jim.cox]

Dont assume that aluminium is more rugged. I used to use a metal camera case - but it turned out the aluminium was just a thin cover over plywood. It chaffed through the metal in short order.

Also an aluminium one may be more tempting to thieves

[BMWST?]

just because most other people use plastic doesnt mean that Aluminium is no good. Stick to your guns,aluminium is 100 percent recyclable.A plastic topbox will almost certinly end up in the landfill

[Gremlin]

Hmmm, where to start.

1. I'd avoid Ventura. I've seen the lock nut things come undone and the rack flop around. I also don't like how robust it looks (just the entire construction), and bolting the box to it never looks very secure.
2. I am a Givi whore, there are probably compatible systems like Kapa and Shad, not to mention the expensive options like SW-Motech and Trax etc. I've used Givi top boxes only for a little over a decade and a half. Used several pannier systems tho.
3. Givi hasn't done itself any favours mashing around their fitting systems, but top boxes have stayed pretty simple with Monolock (more scooters / smaller boxes) and Monokey. I also just learnt a week ago that some boxes do fit both, I always thought it was one or the other.
4. Full aluminium and boxy, you're looking at something like Givi Trekker Alaska, but still has plastic corners etc. Aluminium will be more expensive than the plastic range tho.
5. Also got the more agricultural look of the Trekker Outback, but Alaska is a cleaner look.
6. Hybrid would be the Trekker, often seen as panniers as well (33 and 46, 52 is more top box only). These have aluminium inserts, but primarily plastic, but still boxy. I have 2x Trekker 46. Advantage of the 33/46 is a small flap that can be opened separate to the main lid. The opening is also quite high up, leaving a thinner lid (than even the Alaska). Plastic fades to gray like you'd expect.
7. The usual rounded Givi plastic boxes, eg Maxia range. I have a Maxia E52 and Maxia 3 55. Don't think the quality of the 55 was up to the usual Givi standard. 52 is better tho. Looks better on a road bike than a box, but often the opening is half way through the box, bit of a user preference and more subtle.
8. The boxy boxes are more efficient space wise as you'd imagine, so for the same capacity, maybe a little extra height, there is less width.

[1/32 man]

I'd avoid Ventura. I've seen the lock nut things come undone and the rack flop around

Not on my bike....the lock nut things were corroded solid so when I used a tool to loosen them, the bolts sheered off.
I drilled them out and rethreaded to a larger size of bolt, m8 I think it ended up as. They are done up tight(including lock nut) and the rack isnt going anywhere.
Fingers wont work on these anymore.

[nerrrd]

Hmmm, where to start.

Thanks, that's all very helpful.

1. Full aluminium and boxy, you're looking at something like Givi Trekker Alaska, but still has plastic corners etc. Aluminium will be more expensive than the plastic range tho.
2. Also got the more agricultural look of the Trekker Outback, but Alaska is a cleaner look.

In the aluminium I was looking at the Alaska 56 litre or the Dolomiti 46 litre, both around the same price.

The Dolomiti looks better but doesn't have any of the plastic reinforcing and no handles, which might be risky for someone clumsy but apparently that makes it a full two kilos lighter. Alaska is obviously bigger but with the weight penalty, I could go to a 44 litre Alaska but that's still almost a kilo heavier than the Dolomiti 46.

What would you say about durability and weathering over time – does aluminium age better than plastic?

1. Hybrid would be the Trekker, often seen as panniers as well (33 and 46, 52 is more top box only). These have aluminium inserts, but primarily plastic, but still boxy. I have 2x Trekker 46. Advantage of the 33/46 is a small flap that can be opened separate to the main lid. The opening is also quite high up, leaving a thinner lid (than even the Alaska). Plastic fades to gray like you'd expect.
2. The boxy boxes are more efficient space wise as you'd imagine, so for the same capacity, maybe a little extra height, there is less width.

The Hybrid Trekkers are just too heavy looking for me.

[Gremlin]

What would you say about durability and weathering over time – does aluminium age better than plastic?

Plastic long term can definitely fade. Eg, my Trekker 46 is very grey/silver on the top, the sun has taken a pretty good bite out of it. On the other hand, my Maxia 3 E55 has stayed quite black.

Aluminium is an odd one. If you keep it really clean it's actually terrible, sun reflecting off it etc, what a pain.
If you don't keep it clean then it slowly looks a bit mottled. Obviously that probably looks fine on an adventure bike, but perhaps a bit too industrial for a shiny road bike?

[Jantar]

I went from plastic Givi cases to SW-Motec aluminium cases. They certainly can carry more, but I also discovered the downside. The flat forward facing sides increased fuel consumption remarkably. From around 20 km/l down to 18 km/l or less, and that also dropped the max range on my VStrom from around 400 km down to around 350 km. However that was a small price to pay for the convenience of carrying more gear on my regular trips from Alexandra to Hamilton.

The real cost was in demerits on my licence. With the plastic cases a cop's stalker radar would pick me up at around 500 to 600 m. With the aluminium cases the same radar unit could pick me up at over 1 km, as I discovered on the long straight road heading into Farlie.

I have now gone back to plastic Givi cases on my latest Vstrom.