At last, the fekkin toolbox!

[Mark Hooton]

Guys, to all that has shown patience - thank you - especially the guy who rang me from the West Country about two years ago!

I have finally finished the toolbox and it is ready for sale at

http://www.cymarcbikeparts.co.uk/bmw-r1200gsa-pannier-fitted-toolbox-94-p.asp

(hope the link work).

Firstly let me say that all it is meant to be is an improvement on what I purchased lasy year from overseas. The one I purchased had cheap hinges held in by rivets (which came loose), had a flap at the back for access (good for gynaecologists) and was only held in two places. Not that there is anything wrong with that but sometimes the cheapest method of manufacture isn`t always the best! Actually, if anything, I think I have kicked the arse out of mine and gone a little over the top on quality as the parts I have used have cost a fortune - the lock was the most expensive one I could buy

i like it because it gives side access - bit of a pain if you have your panniers fitted but this results in added security and I don`t often go in my toolbox even though its a GSA

So, here is my offering - I believe it is better than the one I purchased but I can only comment on that one, there are others on the market which I believe are bloody good - I`ve never owned a `Raid` box, for instance, from the boys at twalcom but I must say that their solution looks really really good - in fact I think I should have bought one of theirs

Anyway, here are some images. If anyone is interested theres a waiting time of about 4 weeks from order as I am off abroad soon. Once I get back i should be able to turn these round in a couple of weeks which aint bad for hand made to order stuff . If you do need one quickly can I recommend the twalcom Raid one - Never bought one myself but it just looks very good kit.

The three I have made are all vouched to the guys who have helped me develop it, thanks lads

I never managed to make it fully waterproof so instead I have fitted 2 drain holes and I will be bagging my tools up in plaggy bags!

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[Fanum]

Looks nice Mark

Would a strip of windscreen seal rubber work around the flap for waterproofing?

I suspect your highly pragmatic approach of having a drain hole is probably the answer, but if the hinges were on the TOP edge rather than the bottom edge, and had an inch wide silicone/neoprene tape over them (like the stuff you make DIY wetsuits out of) and the 'flap' had a bead of rubber around it, it might work?

 

[Mark Hooton]

Looks nice Mark

Would a strip of windscreen seal rubber work around the flap for waterproofing?

I suspect your highly pragmatic approach of having a drain hole is probably the answer, but if the hinges were on the TOP edge rather than the bottom edge, and had an inch wide silicone/neoprene tape over them (like the stuff you make DIY wetsuits out of) and the 'flap' had a bead of rubber around it, it might work?

Fantastic suggestions mate and thank you . A top opening isn`t viable due to the shape etc and the top bar gets in the way for full opening. The seal is a great idea in fact the first idea I tried - I suspect other riders will use that method anyway but I simply didn`t like it because it simply wasn`t spot on and still leaked (the bloody water still gets in somehow!) and the seal was prone to simply falling off and moving. i tried a neoprene strip and that was kinda good but not as perfect as I had hoped. never tried the neoprene AND the rubber bead................

 

[MGJ]

Fantastic suggestions mate and thank you . A top opening isn`t viable due to the shape etc and the top bar gets in the way for full opening. The seal is a great idea in fact the first idea I tried - I suspect other riders will use that method anyway but I simply didn`t like it because it simply wasn`t spot on and still leaked (the bloody water still gets in somehow!) and the seal was prone to simply falling off and moving. i tried a neoprene strip and that was kinda good but not as perfect as I had hoped. never tried the neoprene AND the rubber bead................

Tools supplied with a bike are never in a waterproof area so would not worry about it being waterproof, as you say plastic bags or dry bags are the way to go.

Looks good.

 

[Nutty]

Another bit of quality kit from Mr H. If I had a GSA I'd get one, but I don't.

 

[Dainese Brave]

Looking good Mark

Regarding the waterproof seal.....

http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=68

....any good??

 

[Farmer Palmer]

I like the look of that.........!

 

[Mark Hooton]

Looking good Mark

Regarding the waterproof seal.....

http://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/shopping.asp?intDepartmentId=68

....any good??

yes mate and thank you - I`ve already tried 2 options from these guys. I think I haven`t managed to get the right one yet..........

 

[GSEddie]

Mark
Great job that

Eddie

 

[blueoffroader400]

So Mark do you need to take the rear mud guard thingy off the bike? What about my mudslinger would that have to come off to fit it?

 

[darkhorse]

Looks nice.

The hinges look a bit clunky though, similar the old 1150 GSA top box hinges?

 

[Fanum]

Fantastic suggestions mate and thank you . A top opening isn`t viable due to the shape etc and the top bar gets in the way for full opening.

I understand what you mean, but if you had a hinge line across from one side to the other (pic below) you could still hinge it......I accept that you'd lose some practicality with the opening and some space up above it in the box, but I suspect that people will end up stuffing that gap with a waterproof overlayer or a pair of gloves anyway

From the top left corner, you'd still be able to open the flap WELL over 90 degrees from the plane.....probably 120 degrees or so from the piccy.


I dunno.....I've thought about making a similar box for the much smaller area inside my Vernatech rails, but have ended up with a small peli case mounted in there instead

 

[SeanC]

Ordered and paid for Mark. Many thanks for all your hard work.
I will be back in the UK in the middle of May and that will be my only chance to pick it up so if I could suffle up the waiting list a bit I would be ever so grateful....
Cheers.

Sean

 

[Mark Hooton]

So Mark do you need to take the rear mud guard thingy off the bike? What about my mudslinger would that have to come off to fit it?

To be honest I don't know mate - the lads at twalcom suggest that the suspension has to be set up correctly and I noticed that the one I purchased from Italy did bottom out - I would suggest removing the mudguard off - apparently it doesn't do much anyway!

As for the mudslinger I don't know either - I have a hugger and it fits that no probs

 

[Mark Hooton]

Ordered and paid for Mark. Many thanks for all your hard work.
I will be back in the UK in the middle of May and that will be my only chance to pick it up so if I could suffle up the waiting list a bit I would be ever so grateful....
Cheers.

Sean

I will do my best mate. Make sure you contact me when I get back

 

[Mark Hooton]

I understand what you mean, but if you had a hinge line across from one side to the other (pic below) you could still hinge it......I accept that you'd lose some practicality with the opening and some space up above it in the box, but I suspect that people will end up stuffing that gap with a waterproof overlayer or a pair of gloves anyway

From the top left corner, you'd still be able to open the flap WELL over 90 degrees from the plane.....probably 120 degrees or so from the piccy.


I dunno.....I've thought about making a similar box for the much smaller area inside my Vernatech rails, but have ended up with a small peli case mounted in there instead

Good idea but I suspect that it would be a solution which would not appeal to everyone pal

 

[SeanC]

I will do my best mate. Make sure you contact me when I get back

Which will be....?

Sean

 

[Andy B]

Mark,

I'd love to see a square-on photo from the rear please?

Is there any reason why the sidewall couldn't be a bit narrower to aid access?

 

[Mark Hooton]

Which will be....?

Sean

18th April

 

[Mike L]

If you want silicon rubber seals these people are fantastic.

linky

I needed a new profile for a project I'm working on and it took three weeks from sending them the profile drawing and receiving 100 meters of silicon seal.

No connection with them other than being a happy customer.