Tail Box (Replacing Pillion seat)

[TheJoker]

Gents,

I've been pondering about this for quite a while now, and I even considered manufacturing one, but I just don't have a) time b) material c) knowledge, d) time....

What I'd love to have is a little case, pretty much shaped like the pillion seat, a bit higher maybe (total 10cmish?), that replaces the pillion seat (d'Oh!!), and of course, locks down where the pillion seat does.

It would lock itself when it's attached, so opening it up would require the use of the key, just as when you're releasing the pillion seat.

Space wise I'd like it to contain, maybe, a drink, my camera, maybe a pair of gloves, etc...

I'd use it for those day-rides out when you don't need lots of luggage. I might also consider using it for commuting and then I'd need it to contain my lunch box, maybe some clothes, a bottle of water.

My initial thoughs was to butcher a suitable seat-cowl from a sportsbike, another thought was to build it from aluminium and pop-rivert it into shape.

However, I'm not sure that my pop-riverting skills could make a weather proof, non-rattling case..

etc etc..

So current questions are:
- Anyone seen something like this?
- Anyone got any tips on how to manufacture it?
- Anyone care to manufacture a few?

Etc..

 

[Mouse]

Maybe the way to start on a prototype would be to get a spare pillion seat, remove the cover and the foam, and try to attach some sort of box / bag to it.

Anyone got a spare seat?

I quite like this idea ... moving the topbox to the pillion space is too much hassle, what with having to remove the rear rack etc. A secure box that replaces the rear seat would be a winner!

 

[shedracer]

Hi Jocke,
I have had similar thoughts on storage. My idea would be to maybe get a secoundhand rear seat! and temporary remove seat cover, remove foam, make a hard hollow shell to replace the foam, replace the seat cover with minimal amount of foam. Then cut a large hole underneath the seat base and make a access door/flap.

From a casual observor it would just look like a standard seat, but would be locked as per normal locked seat.

Question is could I do this? Possibly. How much would it cost? How much would a spare seat cost?

 

[Mouse]

I like that idea - have the access underneath so to get into the storage requires taking it off the bike. It means you don't need to add a locking mechanism to the box itself, which makes it simpler and cheaper.

 

[Tim Cullis]

I had a go at mounting the BMW top box in the pillion position and couldn't see what the benefit was at all. Seeing as you are supposed to be limited to 5kg in the top box, any weight position advantage is relatively minor. Swinging your leg over the top box is pretty well impossible when you are only 5'8", so you have to hop on one foot and try to get the other through the gap. Bit like Charley when he dropped his bike at the beginning of the Long Way Round.

TheJoker's proposal, however, sounds an excellent idea. I saw a lovely example on a stealth K1200GT police bike that was in for service last week at SLM. It was lockable, probably made of fibre glass and was pretty much as Joker describes except it also had some blue fairy lights.

If you were going to try making one, the logical thing would be to start with a pillion seat so you get the mounting points and locking pin. And if it didn't compromise the design too much, it would be great if it fitted on the bike at the same time as a top box for those who would like to use it when travelling.

I spoke to Matt at SLM and he is going to see if he can find out from Bracknell's 'police speccing' department who does the work. I'll post if I hear any more.

Tim

 

[Wraithwrider]

Infinity seem to have a good deal on these.

http://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/product.asp?ProductID=49

I want something smaller.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Hi Jocke,
My idea would be to maybe get a secoundhand rear seat... make a hard hollow shell... replace the seat cover with minimal amount of foam... cut a large hole underneath the seat base and make a access door/flap.

Like shedracer's ideas as well--stealth storage plus still usable as a pillion for short distances! I doubt if you'll find a secondhand rear seat. The cost of the BMW lowered front seat is £135, so that should give an idea of how much it would cost to buy a second pillion seat. The seat base is made in Spain. I wonder who by?

Tim

 

[Mouse]

Wraithrider - for a smaller tail pack, why not try a small tank bag on the rear seat?

The difference between that and Joker's idea though, is that the "seat replacement box" would be locked to the bike.

 

[motozen]

That's EXACTLY what I'm doing. However, the attachment is the key and there are 2 products on the market to make this easy. Jesse Luggage the SOLO MOUNT:

http://www.jesseluggage.com/r1200gs.html

Scroll down and you see that plate that attaches to the pillion mounts and removes with the turn of your bike key. You can then attach to that plate whatever small case you fancy. I have one that is small and top loading. I have attached a small backrest cushion to it for my aging back.


The other similar item on the market is made by:
www.bestrestproducts.com

Cheers!

 

[Wraithwrider]

I actually posted in the wrong thread. There's another tail luggage thread doing the rounds - Doh

 

[Mouse]

I had a quick look at the links posten by motozen - either of those products would make an excellent starting point for this project. But those plates aren't cheap - $100 for the Jesse one, and then you'd have to pay shipping and import duty as well, it would probably work out at close to £100

 

[motozen]

What you boys need is a stateside friend who can buy it and ship it to you as a gift with a modest value.. no tax. Some retailers accept to do this, where a low value is declared and I have done business with UK firms who have done this for me.. I know for certain that BestRest and Jesse won't.

Another option for the jesseluggage solo plate is from Kiwibob.de in Germany. There's no taxes for shipments within the EU I would imagine.

On the other hand, all you really need is a way to make those hooks that clip into the pillion position and half the battle is won.. the rest is easy.

 

[GSmonkey]

Why not buy the pillion seat mounting kit, which looks like this:

(not shown is the stud which fixes into the pillion catch).

These could then be mounted on an alloy / wooden base which would form the base of the box. Must be a cheaper option (£18) than starting with a pillion seat??

 

[Tim Cullis]

Motozen: thanks for the info. Kiwi Bob's prices look like a close dollar to euro equivalence which seems good. I see that he hopes to be at Garmische with a small display area.

GSMonkey: I like the idea of using the top box pillion mounts, but there's no easy way to utilise the plastic components unless you first connect them to the top box mount (£55), thus taking the price up to £70+.

Tim

 

[Welshmagician]

I had a go at mounting the BMW top box in the pillion position and couldn't see what the benefit was at all. Seeing as you are supposed to be limited to 5kg in the top box, any weight position advantage is relatively minor. Swinging your leg over the top box is pretty well impossible when you are only 5'8", so you have to hop on one foot and try to get the other through the gap. Bit like Charley when he dropped his bike at the beginning of the Long Way Round.

TheJoker's proposal, however, sounds an excellent idea. I saw a lovely example on a stealth K1200GT police bike that was in for service last week at SLM. It was lockable, probably made of fibre glass and was pretty much as Joker describes except it also had some blue fairy lights.

If you were going to try making one, the logical thing would be to start with a pillion seat so you get the mounting points and locking pin. And if it didn't compromise the design too much, it would be great if it fitted on the bike at the same time as a top box for those who would like to use it when travelling.

I spoke to Matt at SLM and he is going to see if he can find out from Bracknell's 'police speccing' department who does the work. I'll post if I hear any more.

Tim

You could try posting an ad in the for sale section, quite a few 1200gs owners must have fitted Corbin seats like i have, they might be persuaded to part with the original pillion seat for sensible money.
Oh, and by the way, my seat is already being considered with a view to turning it into storage so alas it isnt available.

 

[TerryM]

Motozen: thanks for the info. Kiwi Bob's prices look like a close dollar to euro equivalence which seems good. I see that he hopes to be at Garmische with a small display area.

GSMonkey: I like the idea of using the top box pillion mounts, but there's no easy way to utilise the plastic components unless you first connect them to the top box mount (£55), thus taking the price up to £70+.

Tim

I think Monkey has a valid point, mounting the front stud and the double rear hook arrangement on a plate seems very similar to what the Yanks offer for $100 plus shipping and duty and, I think, replicates the present rear seat fixing.

Being 5' 9" ish and having both std and low seats and the fixing kit, it looks the easier option. The other bits are not necessary if the top box mounting is not utilised.

It would be easy to do a mock up on a sheet of ply wood to get positioning and elevation of the parts sorted before doing it in metal.

Anyhow the seat base is like the Mountains of Mourn so probably not suitable as a solid base for a case.

 

[TheJoker]

Guys,

Glad to see that I'm not the only one thinking about this!

Using the pillion seat mounting kit as a start would probably be the best solution. Then cut some nice aluminium into shape.

Anyone here know if there's any bonding product available for bonding aluminium,... available to us mortal consumers that is... As I've never been keen on pop-riverts..

Also, I was thinking that it would be nice to have a handle and some 2nd lock, so that you can either pull the whole box off the bike, or open it up on the bike. We don't want to sprinkle our gadgets all around the floor do we!

And yes, you're right about that it should be fairly low, we really don't want to do that hopping around like Charley did (good fella!).

Keep the ideas coming!

 

[Mouse]

You can definitely get aluminium glue of some sort, as I've seen panniers advertised on this site that are glued together, So it must be pretty strong.

As for the locking mechanism - I think the simplest option would be to have the "lid" on the lower side of the box (as someone suggested earlier), maybe with a rbber seal around it to keep the water out. Then put a simple latch (not a lock) on that, and also mount a rubber "bung" (like a door stop) on the bottom side of the flap. That way, when the box was on the bike, the bung would press against the bike and keep the flap securely closed. With the box off the bike, the latch would keep it closed to avoid your toys spilling out.

I'm going to go buy a topbox mounting kit today (if they are in stock) and see how feasible it is

 

[~Stef~]

These nice German people do one for the 1100/1150's there range of parts for the 1200 is growing shouldnt be to long before they come up with something.

http://www.boxer-design.de/en/soziusboxee.htm

 

[~Stef~]

Of course being a tight git and never one to buy what you can make ive started making one myself for my 1100, using an old seat cowl from an XBR500