New rider do's and dont's

Dogbreath · 2 Sep 2015 at 08:36

TripleT said:
This is why I love my top box, don't understand why more people don't have them.

1) Fugly
2) See 1)

ttaskmaster · 2 Sep 2015 at 14:26

TripleT said:
This is why I love my top box, don't understand why more people don't have them.

1/. Have to buy top box, fitting plate, rack and fixings all as separate items. Even second-hand, these are FLIPPIN' expensive!!!

2/. Can't carry as much in a topbox as in my pack, can't collapse it down and can't as easily cart it around town.

3/. Would have to get a pillion backrest (more money) and lug the wife around!!

4/. Racks all attach to the indicator mounts, which on my bike were damaged in the off and even with serious welding I'd still not trust them to bear more than a couple kilos of weight.

.one. · 2 Sep 2015 at 15:44

ttaskmaster said:
1/. Have to buy top box, fitting plate, rack and fixings all as separate items. Even second-hand, these are FLIPPIN' expensive!!!

2/. Can't carry as much in a topbox as in my pack, can't collapse it down and can't as easily cart it around town.

3/. Would have to get a pillion backrest (more money) and lug the wife around!!

4/. Racks all attach to the indicator mounts, which on my bike were damaged in the off and even with serious welding I'd still not trust them to bear more than a couple kilos of weight.

1. Mine was free

Givi

2. I can carry 2 crash helmets.

3. **** the wife.

4. No they do not, not all.

But they do look Fugly.

That is why only my work horse has one.

Stovepipes · 2 Sep 2015 at 15:54

TripleT said:
Ha, they usually say that either on the tags or a tag in the pocket.

This is why I love my top box, don't understand why more people don't have them. No worries with fitting stuff in, getting wet or damaging your spine from wearing a backpack - not to mention not wearing a backpack is always more comfortable.

I don't like top boxes but my bike is all about practicality and for commuting it's a necessity even though I have a frunk too. I also don't think Rucksacks are safe and only use mine when absolutely necessary.
Still I had my phone in my pocket and got caught in heavy raid mid commute.

ttaskmaster said:
1/. Have to buy top box, fitting plate, rack and fixings all as separate items. Even second-hand, these are FLIPPIN' expensive!!!

I managed to get a barely used Honda top box and rack for £100. You should really be able to get top box and rack for any bike for around £200 if you shop carefully but if you want the Givi or bike branded stuff then yeah it'll cost ya.

ttaskmaster · 2 Sep 2015 at 17:02

Stovepipes said:
I managed to get a barely used Honda top box and rack for £100. You should really be able to get top box and rack for any bike for around £200 if you shop carefully but if you want the Givi or bike branded stuff then yeah it'll cost ya.

They don't make cheap stuff like that for my bike. Even the Ventura soft stuff *starts* at £260 for a full outfit. Givi is insanely expensive!

.one. said:
2. I can carry 2 crash helmets.

I get that, plus 40L of spare space. Plus the pack compresses down, while a box remains a big rigid thing that gets in the way.

.one. said:
3. **** the wife.

Oh, I do!

But until I can finish getting her bike fixed, or get sorted with a car, I am obliged to ferry her about on the odd occasion.

.one. said:
4. No they do not, not all.

Yamaha FJ1200 3XW - If you can find me one (decent) topbox rack that doesn't use the indicator mounts, I'll be impressed!!

.one. · 2 Sep 2015 at 19:36

ttaskmaster said:
I get that, plus 40L of spare space. Plus the pack compresses down, while a box remains a big rigid thing that gets in the way.

Yamaha FJ1200 3XW - If you can find me one (decent) topbox rack that doesn't use the indicator mounts, I'll be impressed!!

Are you talking about a back pack ?

I thought you was referring to all racks on all bikes not fj1200 specific.

TripleT · 2 Sep 2015 at 21:21

Givi racks are only £100.

You seriously carry 47litres plus on your back?! And you don't carry the top box around with you, you leave it on the bike

.one. · 2 Sep 2015 at 21:23

TripleT said:
Givi racks are only £100.

You seriously carry 47litres plus on your back?! And you don't carry the top box around with you, you leave it on the bike

plus the loss of a pillion.

ttaskmaster · 3 Sep 2015 at 10:45

.one. said:
Are you talking about a back pack ?

Yup.
Pack, Bergen, Backpack, Rucksack, that sort of thing.

.one. said:
I thought you was referring to all racks on all bikes not fj1200 specific.

Nah, I meant all the rack models that fit mine. I haven't a clue what other bikes' kits are like - Just explaining why I don't have one on mine.

TripleT said:
Givi racks are only £100.

It's the total cost that kills it.
Rack - £107
Mounting Plate - £42
Fixings Set - £23
Top Box - £240

Even second hand, they're over £350.

TripleT said:
You seriously carry 47litres plus on your back?!

40+ litres is just the space I'd have free after I've packed two lids.
I carry up to 109L, depending on the job, or 112L if I have a first aid kit. If it gets too bulky for my tastes, I can quick-lash it to the tie downs and use it as a backrest. Tankbags and tailpacks just aren't big enough.

TripleT said:
And you don't carry the top box around with you, you leave it on the bike

Exactly - That's why it's pointless for me. No point in having large luggage capacity if I then have to empty it all out before I can lug it further than wherever I've parked.

Tefal · 3 Sep 2015 at 12:25

ttaskmaster said:
They don't make cheap stuff like that for my bike. Even the Ventura soft stuff *starts* at £260 for a full outfit. Givi is insanely expensive!

bags connection cargobag?

about 120

Tefal · 3 Sep 2015 at 12:28

ttaskmaster said:
40+ litres is just the space I'd have free after I've packed two lids.
I carry up to 109L, depending on the job, or 112L if I have a first aid kit. If it gets too bulky for my tastes, I can quick-lash it to the tie downs and use it as a backrest. Tankbags and tailpacks just aren't big enough.
.

wait what??

picture of this gargantuan back pack needed

cause thats a basic 100l backpack!?

you seriously cant be riding with something like that on?

im starting to see why you think filtering is dangerous Jesus

wazza300 · 3 Sep 2015 at 12:42

lol turtlepower

ttaskmaster · 3 Sep 2015 at 15:23

Tefal said:
bags connection cargobag?

Wrong shape and a bit awkward to carry across muddy fields to reach site.

Tefal said:
wait what??
picture of this gargantuan back pack needed

Karrimor SF Tecmac 50, with PLCE side pouches, two large PALS dump pouches, first aid kit and lid floated to accomodate bulky work PPE.
It's basically a smaller version of the issue Infantry Bergen - That one IS big!!

Tefal said:
cause thats a basic 100l backpack!?

Not far off. The Infantry Bergen is 165L.

Tefal said:
you seriously cant be riding with something like that on?

As with all my other packs on all my other bikes, if it gets too big, it gets lashed to the tie downs. Only really affects the handling at (ahem) higher speeds and it doesn't even stick out as far as my indicators - Benefits of having a wide, supportive pillion seat!

Tefal said:
im starting to see why you think filtering is dangerous Jesus

If you wanna get into that again...

I think filtering is dangerous because every road cop and riding instructor tells us this, every statistical report supports this and my own experiences so far concur.
Doesn't stop me doing it.

Certainly it's far more dangerous to filter than to sit stationary in the middle of your lane in stopped traffic, worrying about whether you're going to be rear-ended!

Kreeeee · 3 Sep 2015 at 15:56

As someone who got rear ended in the UK I'd prefer to filter unless there is a stationary car behind me.

wazza300 · 3 Sep 2015 at 17:21

some people like being rear ended

ttaskmaster · 3 Sep 2015 at 17:42

Kreeeee said:
As someone who got rear ended in the UK I'd prefer to filter unless there is a stationary car behind me.

Been rear-ended myself, but not because I wasn't filtering.

TripleT · 3 Sep 2015 at 17:48

Task, buy a car...

RyanF · 3 Sep 2015 at 18:15

Task must be more ripped than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson carrying all this gear haha

Kreeeee · 3 Sep 2015 at 18:19

ttaskmaster said:
Been rear-ended myself, but not because I wasn't filtering.

To be fair I was at the front of the queue when it happened

ttaskmaster · 4 Sep 2015 at 12:10

TripleT said:
Task, buy a car...

Who's gonna pay for it?

RyanF said:
Task must be more ripped than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson carrying all this gear haha

I'm... 'comfortably acclimatised'.

Kreeeee said:
To be fair I was at the front of the queue when it happened

And yet, if filtering was the answer to avoiding the statistically VERY low chance of being rear-ended, why aren't all the riding schools teaching it?