Top box question

[bakerlonglegs]

About to move office and going to be using the bike for commuting (after 2 years of train/tube hell)

ALSO getting a new laptop into the bargain, one of them there Mac PowerBook jobbies, so I have a choice of 12, 15 or 17 inch screens. Keen on a 12-incher (missus) IF I can find a top box to fit it in.

Does anyone cart a laptop round in a topbox and if so any recommendations? It's for a standard 1150 GS.

I vaguely remember a lengthy thread on this subject some while back but couldn't remember the title and couldn't find it using the search engine. Apologies for re-raising an old topic - can someone point me in the direction of the thread?

All help appreciated!

BLL

 

[Steve Peake]

Hi BLL,

The thread you're looking for is:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4411&highlight=laptop

The BMW topbox will not carry a laptop (unless it's one of the tiny "sub-notebooks").

I use a Givi E50 for mine - fit's my Acer laptop (14.1" screen) fine, inside a laptop case AND a Givi topbox bag, with room for a change of trousers (just in case! ), lock, bungee's, etc.

I've cut a piece of foam (available in large sheets for a few quid from fabric/upholstery shops like Dunelm Mill) to fit in the base of the box. This take a bit of the vibration away from the laptop, and also stops your disk-lock from making scary noises while the topbox is emtpy.

Just be warned - top boxes aren't always perfectly waterproof. Mine leaks very slightly when exposed to heavy rain for an hour (that's most days I'm out on it!) - mind you, it is over 5 years old now, so maybe I need a replacement. Having the laptop inside the two bags has stopped any water damage.

Steve

 

[bakerlonglegs]

Thanks

Steve - that's great, thanks for the info and advice.

I've got my eye on a Givi as well, so I'm going to track down a local dealer and have a measure up before I buy (both laptop and topbox).

Cheers,
BLL

 

[Greg Masters]

BLL

You've got yourself a serious problem here and, dare I suggest, it might be all your own fault.

A black top box works well with a black bike. However, yours has got a red seat and all conventional wisdom says that the black topbox just doesn't hang together with a red seat. If only you'd chosen a bike with the optional black seat!

I really don't know what to advise. Change the seat? Sell the bike? Toss yourself off (a bridge!)?

It's such a shame but you've got to make the best of it. Get a yellow top box and put on a fake German or Belgian accent. People might think that you're being patriotic!




Greg

 

[bandit]

BLL

I have the Givi top box on mine, they did a standard color which comes clos(ish) to the BMW blue.

My laptop fits in no problem.


See my pics in the photo gallery.

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/748

 

[Cheesy Mike]

With respect, bollocks.

My GS is black with a red seat. I have a Givi E45 top box which is black with red & silver trim. Looks really nice. But then again my taste is seriously questionable having bought the black bike with the red seat in the first place!

Givi E45 fits my Dell Latitude C800 - huge screen - really well. The other larger Givi boxes are nicely rounded and a lot more expensive but you can have nice extras like the integral brake light. Never had a problem other than the odd screw coming loose (on the laptop!). Been commuting 18 miles each way for the past 13 months some of which was on an Aprilia Pegaso with the same top box. If a laptop can stand that boneshaker then a GS is like being transported on top of a feather duvet in a Rolls Royce by comparison.

Mike

 

[retroman]

With respect, bollocks.

My GS is black with a red seat. I have a Givi E45 top box which is black with red & silver trim. Looks really nice. But then again my taste is seriously questionable having bought the black bike with the red seat in the first place!

Mike

Mike,

I've also got a taste problem (see avatar). Any chance you could post a piccy of your bike with the box on? I'm in the market for a top-box and want to check out the look before I part with my cash.

If it's pig ugly then I'll go for it

 

[Martyn B]

Photo Gallery

Hey Bandit,

There's a password on that Photo Gallery link. How do I get to see those pics?

Martyn

 

[Banjaxed]

Givi E52 Maxia

Could fit the bloody desktop in there, never mind the laptop ...

 

[bakerlonglegs]

Soft tailpacks

I'm still pondering the options on this top box/laptop transporting issue. (I've got time, the 15" PowerBooks haven't been launched in aluminium yet...... )

I had read somewhere that big top boxes can crack rear sub frames. Has anyone experienced that problem?

Also, has anyone used a soft tailpack on a GS? Rather than a hard top box I was thinking of doing the commute with the rear section of the seat taken off and a tail pack strapped on instead. Any recommendations on tailpacks (on beemers or anything else)?

Any thoughts welcome,

BLL

 

[John Armstrong]

Subframes

I've not had a problem, but the E460 Givi adapter plate and box (bought from Hein Gericke a month ago for a 1150GS) has two strengthening plates that go under the mini rack and picks up on the pannier mounts. A Givi adapter plate bought 3 years ago for my previous 1100GS didn't have them.

If anyone's worried I think it would not be too difficult to retrofit the additional plates onto the "old" setup. Also the "new" adapter fitting instructions said 1100 / 1150GS.

 

[markwarrener]

I used to carry my Dell Inspiron with 15" screen in it's carry bag in my standard GS topbox, it's a tight fit but it will go.

 

[Wellsy]

I've been comuting on the bike for two years, lap top as pillion. I have a leather IBM lap top bag and with the rear seat removed it sits very comfy, oh and a cargo net over the top (a new one, they get baggy after a while , like the wifes knickers)

In fact there is not a lot the bike wont carry, besides all you need after the top box is some oxford handle bar mits to complete the look!

Oh one thing not to do! on a technical point, I know us mac users pride ourselves on the length of time between reboots, but the disk needs it's heads parked before a bike ride, so you should really shut down, you know what they say about sleeping at the wheel.