topbox luggage rack

[claymore]

Hi,
Does anyone know where i can get a luggage rack to fit on top of my Plastic BMW GS topbox so i can carry a couple of camera tripods etc. I had one on a K series BMW years ago (think it was a Ultimate Source one) and it was ideal.
I would also be interested in any ideas to fit sleeping bags etc on top of the panniers.
cheers
Brian

 

[Cheesy Mike]

You could drill these into the lid of the top box then bungee whatever you need onto them. I sold out of the ones I brought back from the USA a while ago but you can get them from Cycle Gadgets.
http://www.cyclegadgets.com/Products/product.asp?Item=BBUD

Mike

 

[Mick Fagan]

Anything heavier than a Benbo Trekker tripod on top of the Top Box, would, in my not so humble opinion, start fracturing either the top box or break the plastic mount for the top box.

Having travelled with tripods on bikes for years, be very careful of the tripod head unscrewing and other things vibrating loose as well. I run a Benbo Baby with extended legs which I've had since 1985. This is a seriously heavy little tripod compared to the Benbo's of today and it still doesn't like riding on the bike.

Another trick is to put the tripod under the rack at the back but just above a lowered tail light.

A lightish Gitzo is reasonably small and provided the head is off it could just be alright.

Mick.

 

[Fanum]

An old next door neighbour of mine had a transalp and he rode it round london with his photographic kit in it.....he had two largeish bore (9 inch is it? I dunno) drain pipe sections pop riveted onto a flat plate that he bungeed onto the back of his panniers, one each side.........seemed a neat solution, and painted black they looked smart enough too.

I'd imagine that if you have a decent sleeping bag (ie one that rolls up nice and small) you could put it in one side tube and a thermarest mat thingy in the other side...plus you can get drain pipe cappings to finish off the job nicely.

Would'nt break the bank either!

 

[Richard Russell]

ludicrous loaf story

Strange things can happen when you attach stuff to your top box!

The day I bought my GS I rode up the M1 two-up with a large loaf of bread gaffer-taped to the top of the 45 litre Givi top box. My pillion complained of the smell of exhaust fumes, and even started to nod off at one point, he reckons due to inhalation of carbon monoxide. Without the loaf of bread, the smell went away.

Sounds far fetched, but there could be something in it. It seems the exhaust fumes were eddying round the topbox/loaf-combo, and some of it was getting into his helmet, which was level with the top of the loaf. A bit like the way an estate car's rear window gets covered in spray on the motorway. Or something.

I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying tie your pillion down securely before a long trip

Richard

 

[Sergeant Pluck]

topbox/loaf-combo,

i'm not sure if it was supposed to be or not - but that is the funniest post i think i've ever read!! quality mr russell sir ;-)

pr0ne