Daft or not daft? Which are you?

[RuftyTufty]

There are two main schools of thought about topboxes on a bike especially big trailies.

One says that topboxes look OK and that users dont look daft. Also that its OK to put a box up there.

The second school says that boxes look stupid especially on a big trailie, that you couldnt put a box in a worse place for weight distribution if you tried and that the box blocks where you would be putting your tent etc.

Do you use a top box? Is it naff? or do you just put up with it? Do you like having a box perched where it is and think it looks OK?

Do you refuse to put a box up there floating in the wind and looking like it was your first bike and you didnt know any better?

Tell us wot you think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jenna]

defiantly NAFF on anything other than a Divi!!!!... nearest thing i can think of as silly is a 'jet box' on Ferrari!

[Simon]

I don't really think they look that great and they aren't the most areodynamic things in the world but they are very practical and its amazing what you can fit into them!

So i'm in both schools i guess

[Whealie]

I don't really think they look that great and they aren't the most areodynamic things in the world but they are very practical and its amazing what you can fit into them!

So i'm in both schools i guess

I'm with Simon. Prefer not to have one but it is invaluable. Where else do you put stuff?

[Recycler]

Stops your fags getting squashed in your pocket!!

[Dee Duble Yuh]

I've tried the panniers-only route and they are a pain in the neck. A top box is easier to use, doesn't intrude when filtering and manouvering in small gaps, won't catch your garden gate/garage door, doesn't get wrecked if you drop the bike. I'll use panniers when I need the extra capacity, but for everyday use it's ideal. There's some inverse snobbery here: I don't give a $h!+ what anyone else thinks!

[Dee Duble Yuh]

P.s. Can you tell that I also own a Skoda? And I don't give a $h!+ what you think about that, neither!

[Rubberchicken]

To me the joke about topboxes is that the typical standard offerings look beyond naff, on any bike. Givi has a lot to answer for...

But yeah, they're practical. I was thinking about a small peli case as a topbox, but I had an old army surplus munitions box in the shed so that got pushed into service as a topbox for the time being.

(And yes it also looks naff, it's just that I can't think of a better practical place to stick a big chain lock and a handful of strappy stuff.)

[Wee Jack]

I think they look naff - but I use one !!!!!!

[Tarka]

The only acceptable use of a top box on any bike that isn`t a C50/70/90 is combined with panniers and a pillion rider while on tour.

Any other time should see a tailpack or similar in use.

I hate the fecking things..a total style crime.

Also the worst possible place to add any weight on a bike.


But my Givi E52 accepts two helmets and two pairs of gloves/scarves/etc and is invaluable when sightseeing on holiday ....