Top box failure

Gavinm · Dec 13, 2012

While out on a ride along some nice country roads last weekend, with my wife on the back, hit a sharp bump and felt something go, thought it was a tyre. Turns out the top box (Givi) somehow came loose and fell off. Fortunately the fellow rider who we were riding with was in front of us not behind, neither was there a car behind us.

The box while a bit battered was fine, just lying there in the middle of the road. Nothing broke on it so I can't understand how it came loose. I can shake the hell out of it and can't budge it but I'm guessing that maybe the bump in the road just caught it at the right angle to dislodge it. Good thing my wife wasn't leaning back on it, took her a while before she realised what had happened.

It lives on the bike as I ride in to work every day, so it stores my helmet and wet weather gear if I need it. Admittedly it would cause havoc if it fell off going over the Sydney harbour bridge in peak hour traffic. Need to think about a secondary fastening system as a backup.

tomsmith30 · Dec 13, 2012

time to get wellding

KitNYC · Dec 13, 2012

Am I understanding correctly; the Givi box came off of its mount? If so, you may need to rebuild the internals of the latch. I had the same thing happen to the Givi side bag that held my toolkit and some other stuff when I hit a giant pothole on the Williamsburg Bridge at 100MPH one morning.

Cheers,
-Kit

Beach · Dec 13, 2012

What mounting system are you using?

I lost a GIVI V46 a few years ago when some bolts on the SW Motech bracket came loose.

I'm now using the GIVI mounting system but I keep a close eye on it.

Rider14 · Dec 13, 2012

Guys - the Givi topcase rack on the Sprint ST puts the case right over the heat of the beautiful but extremely hot exhaust. Prolonged exposure to the heat when cooling (especially on an every day commuter) is hell for the plastic internals.

I've had to replace my Monokey topcase because the plastic internals locking the case onto the rack just melted. While the case would stay locked closed, you could, AT ANY TIME, push the red release button to take the case off the rack, even when the case was locked with key in locked position.

Maybe yours just melted a bit more, allowing for it to detach?

My solution was to buy a big adhesive sheet of heat reflective material and laboriously cut it to fit the bottom of my replacement E52 and so far, no problems.

My guess is it's the heat.

- Dan

Gavinm · Dec 13, 2012

Thanks everyone for your experiences. The funny thing is that nothing appears to be wrong with it. It's on the standard Givi rack which is rock solid. The case itself is undamaged, no signs of melting or any broken bits. Tested the lock too and I can't push the button in when in a locked position.

Will take a more careful look again this weekend to see what it might be. I've grabbed is and shaken it vigorously a few times since then and it doesnt' move. I did think that maybe I bumped the red button when I had the box unlocked but I doubt that as it would have come off a lot sooner had it been unlocked. Maybe its just a combination of a few things, heat off the exhaust at the same time as a bump at just the right time. I'm guessing that the heat could well change the rigidity of the plastic without actually showing any signs of melting. Next time I am out riding I will stop and feel the bottom of the box to see how hot its getting.

Gavin

Tri-oomph! · Dec 14, 2012

I've read other forums where Givi top boxes have come off. Seems maybe the latch just wears out enough to let go is what I recall one person saying.

I know on my Bestem Givi clone, I can hear the latch click, but a few times it was not completely seated and I could lift the box right bac off though supposedly locked and latched. I learned to push down harder to get a second, more definite "click."

I'd call a Givi distributor and ask them what the problem is.

ontarget · Dec 14, 2012

I always push the button in when I attach the Givi box to the mount, thinking that it will increase the longevity of the mechanism because there is less force used on the catch mechanism when it is secured this way. I do pull upward on it to be assured it is securely fastened before flight, though.

tomsmith30 · Dec 14, 2012

20,000 miles out side in the PNW elements no failure.. carrying 20lbs all the time

frider · Dec 14, 2012

I'd NEVER trust a top box/panniers without at least one good bungees cord permanently attached for back up.........

It's not a question of will it

it's just a question of when will it..........

KitNYC · Dec 14, 2012

If I didn't know you were a former courier, I'd assume so after that.

Cheers,
-Kit

frider · Dec 14, 2012

lol...........

having lost both top boxes/panniers.....and a couple of subframes over the years....weight/vibration/speed x time = often equals disaster, eventually!!!!!

welshrob · Dec 14, 2012

Gavinm said:
It lives on the bike as I ride in to work every day, so it stores my helmet and wet weather gear if I need it.

If it lives on the bike, get your drill out and put a nut and bolt through the bottom of your top box and through the rack. A two minute, two dollar fix.

If you want to be really fancy, instead of a nut and bolt, get a quick release pin from Repco and fit it the same way. That`s a four minute, four dollar fix!

frider · Dec 15, 2012

Congratulations, you've just made your waterproof top box a potential 'bottom leaker'

a bungee, whilst less elegant, and very old skool ,won't do that!!!!!

triplestrength · Dec 15, 2012

Rubber washer or sealant would stop a leak.

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Motorcycle.com Free App

frider · Dec 15, 2012

If you say so..........

but still, you are taking a potentially 100% leak proof top box and introducing a hole /holes into it......doesn't make sense......like buying a waterproof camera housing......and drilling a mounting hole into it!!!!

Plus, it begs the question if it takes 2/3 holes/bolts/locknuts/rubberwashers/sealant to make your high dollar top box safe......................?????????

I guarantee it'll probably leak eventually..........or the holes will radiate 'cracks' since you just introduced a potential stress area into an otherwise sound substance...........

just two 5 dollar bungees= peace of mind and hundreds of thousands of miles of trouble free top boxing!!!!!

Course, your bungees WILL wear out, but, with some careful maintenance, you should expect years/tens of thousands of miles use before you have to splash out an additional 5 dollars again!!!!

Rider14 · Dec 18, 2012

I added the light kit, so I had to punch out a little circle in the bottom (won't impact integrity, bottom was 'prepared' to have that circle removed) and I've had no leaks...?

Regardless, a rubber washer would solve that problem if you're worried. Not sure why it's opening, but my guess is there is an internal plastic part melted some. THere is a parts diagram available somewhere online - lots of tiny, plastic parts, not meant to be hanging over a (beautiful) undertail exhaust.

- Dan

Top box failure

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities