jc whitney top box

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:28 pm

howdy fellow rrers,

Anyone have any experisnce with JC whitney luggage?

In their latest catalog, they have a pair of top boxes that look suspiciously like the Givi monokeys complete with padded back rests, for substantially less money.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

ken k

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:17 pm

Hey Ken K, I have had this trunk:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... 03/c-10111
for a couple years now and use it daily commuting. It holds more than you'd think, and while it sometimes bobbles about at higherway speeds when empty, it won't come off. It may be rainproof, or at least could easily be made to be. It mounts easily enough but I did strengthen the clamping brackets with a piece of solid bar stock when one started to bend. The reflector is no good, so I put a couple strips of reflective tape on the back.
It's not that much less solid than a system case, if that helps, but I try not to overload it and stress the plastic hinges. Putting Armor-All on it keeps it from turning grey under our intense sun. It works for me!

NHighCotton · Post by **NHighCotton** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:54 pm

My Dad has one on a F650CS, works for him and holds a bunch.

Only thing annoying is that there is no handle to lift the lid, something can be fabricated/added pretty easy though.

Post by **rdsmith3** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 4:18 am

I have one. It doesn't look too bad. It is convenient and so far it has held up. It is handy for commuting.

You can see it here

priapismic · Post by **priapismic** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:15 am

Sunbeemer wrote:Hey Ken K, I have had this trunk:
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Prod ... 03/c-10111
for a couple years now and use it daily commuting. It holds more than you'd think, and while it sometimes bobbles about at higherway speeds when empty, it won't come off. It may be rainproof, or at least could easily be made to be. It mounts easily enough but I did strengthen the clamping brackets with a piece of solid bar stock when one started to bend. The reflector is no good, so I put a couple strips of reflective tape on the back.
It's not that much less solid than a system case, if that helps, but I try not to overload it and stress the plastic hinges. Putting Armor-All on it keeps it from turning grey under our intense sun. It works for me!

Is this the one you mean? I have this one also. I've used it on several longer trips, in fact I just used it on my three-day 1,200 mile trip to the AMA races at Barber Motosports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. I've never had an issue with the thing "bobbling" at highway speeds. It mounts securely to the base plate, which can be removed or intalled to the BMW luggage rack in a jiffy. Mine has been water tight. It holds one helmet or a bunch of other stuff. It removes from the base plate by unlocking it then pushing a button. It matches the BMW system cases so well that most people think it's BMW luggage. Great value for the money - I paid about $55. four years ago. I see now they are up to $69.99. Can't beat it for the money.
Here's a couple of picts of the case in use on my R:

Sunbeemer · Post by **Sunbeemer** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:33 pm

Mine probably bobbles because of the way I mounted it on foam rubber to the tail rack to make the flat mounting base plate conform to the rounded rack. Not a problem though, it keeps cars from tailgating cause they think it's gonna fall off!

Post by **OU812** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:07 pm

Just ordered one. Could not pass up the price and looks.

Got free shipping with some other goodies, but had to pay sales tax, as they are in IL as I am.

Post by **iowabeakster** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:42 pm

Boy it sure looks like bargain. i am curious as to how the "base plate thing" attaches to the tail rack.

can anybody show this with pictures?

Bob,

is that the "large" one or the "medium" that is on your bike?

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:04 pm

[quote="rdsmith3"]I have one. It doesn't look too bad. It is convenient and so far it has held up. It is handy for commuting.

You can see it here

that's the one. It sure looks alot like the givi boxes....
ken k

Post by **OU812** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 4:45 pm

The one I ordered looks like the one Priapismic has.

Post by **rdsmith3** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:41 am

OU812 wrote:The one I ordered looks like the one Priapismic has.

I used to have one of those (see below), also, but it got damaged when someone rear-ended me. When I went to replace it, J.C. Whitney had a better price on the Givi clone box, so I got that. They are very similar in quality.

Post by **OU812** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:19 pm

Got mine quick, and mounting was simple. Also saw in the catalog the other boxes seen on this thread. All are VERY reasonable!