Anyone try one of the cheap Ebay or Amazon Top boxes?

sgio

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I have been using a Harbor Freight Apache box on my S10 and have been pretty happy with it. I have a big road trip coming up and I have noticed these really inexpensive 45L top boxes on Ebay and Amazon. Has anyone tried these? On Ebay, they are $70! Amazon bout twice that and those look very similar. The width is under 17", so it should fit between the OEM pannier lids.
Ebay Top Box
Capture.JPG
 

Sierra1

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I personally don't trust ebay. (but plenty of people have had zero issues with it) Seems like a pretty good deal. How does it mount? Of course, if you figured out a way to mount your HF box, this can't be much more difficult, if any. Why are there two locks? Specific base plate?
 

RCinNC

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For 70 bucks, it's probably worth a gamble (especially if you keep your expectations reasonable), especially now that Bimota posted that video so you could get a better look at one of them.

I've bought Chinese import stuff like that in the past, and it can be an adventure. It helps to have some fabrication skills, because there sometimes seems to be some part of the item that isn't quite right. A bolt hole is too small, a slot is slightly out of alignment, etc. Most of the time it can be made workable if you have some hand tools. The real problems can come in after you've owned it for a while, and a hinge breaks or a gasket needs replaced. It'll be next to impossible to find a specific replacement part, so once again, some fabrication skills come in handy. And if you don't have fab skills, well, if you get a halfway decent top case for $70 and you get a couple years of riding out of it before something breaks and you toss the case, then I'd still say that's a win. I bought some Chinese Pelican knockoff cases back around 2013 or so that have now been on two different bikes for around 125,000 miles.

I'd probably consider one of these, were I in the market for a large top case. I'm pretty sure I could make it work if there were some problems, and I wouldn't have to contend with paying hundreds of dollars for a nicer one. I've had no issues buying from eBay.

I did see that one of the ones on Amazon that looks like that black one had some reviews that said, in spite of the box being described as metal, it was actually plastic. So caveat emptor is probably the rule of the day.
 

sgio

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I found another seller on Ebay, that was including a stick on back pad for $86 total. I just ordered it and will give it a try. My wife doesn't ride with me much on the Tenere, but my ST1300 currently has F1 problems, so the Tenere is going to get pressed into 2 up service.
Thanks for all the great links. I have been looking for info all morning, but you guys found some good stuff that I missed.
I will post up a little review and how I end up mounting it.
Thanks again.
 
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Matt51F1

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Australia
I bought a large one that is very similar to the ones on Amazon but I got it from AliExpress.
The box itself is quite usable and sturdy but you can tell the difference between the genuine Yamaha or Givi, for example.
The one I have is lined so it doesn’t scratch helmets that go in and I’m happy with it.
The drawback is putting it back on after taking it off as lining up the lugs to hold it in place is a PITA to ensure that all 4 are in the right place.
As people have said, it helps if you’re a hands-on problem solver if things ever needed changing.
Overall, I’ve been happy with it and continue to use it.
 

ks45vinay

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Toronto
Hello everyone,

I was also on a hunt to buy a top box. Can you all please help me select a good budget top box by sending me some links to where to buy it from or any Canadian stores close to Toronto?
 

sgio

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An update on this top box....
I just got back from a 4500 mile round trip to Sturgis. The top box did well. It's waterproof and the latching hardware seems to be of reasonable quality. I like that it can be latched and not locked. This makes it easier to use. My XXL flip up helmet fits inside, giving me an easier way to lock that up when I want. It does fill up the box though, so its limited as to what else can be in there.
Mounting on the S10 was pretty straight forward. I removed the stock plastic luggage rack and bolted the mounting plate to the stock holes with the stock hardware. This required drilling new holes in the mounting plate. The plate on my was pretty hard and I ruined multiple drill bits. I had to go get a cobalt drill bit to get through it.
I am quite happy with this purchase.
 

2aroundtheworld

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Reno, NV
I personally don't trust ebay. (but plenty of people have had zero issues with it) Seems like a pretty good deal. How does it mount? Of course, if you figured out a way to mount your HF box, this can't be much more difficult, if any. Why are there two locks? Specific base plate?
Ebay is fine as a buyer. Nothing to worry about. As a seller it's a different story.
 

2aroundtheworld

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Reno, NV
Hello everyone,

I was also on a hunt to buy a top box. Can you all please help me select a good budget top box by sending me some links to where to buy it from or any Canadian stores close to Toronto?
It seems like everything is more difficult to get and more expensive in Canada. I am dual citizen and I bring back stuff with me as much as I can every time. That said, it looks like more and more sellers on Ebay are able to ship across the border. I have started buying car parts from RockAuto and so far it's been great.

This looks like it would ship to you:

 
Last edited:

2aroundtheworld

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May 1, 2021
Messages
298
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Reno, NV
An update on this top box....
I just got back from a 4500 mile round trip to Sturgis. The top box did well. It's waterproof and the latching hardware seems to be of reasonable quality. I like that it can be latched and not locked. This makes it easier to use. My XXL flip up helmet fits inside, giving me an easier way to lock that up when I want. It does fill up the box though, so its limited as to what else can be in there.
Mounting on the S10 was pretty straight forward. I removed the stock plastic luggage rack and bolted the mounting plate to the stock holes with the stock hardware. This required drilling new holes in the mounting plate. The plate on my was pretty hard and I ruined multiple drill bits. I had to go get a cobalt drill bit to get through it.
I am quite happy with this purchase.
Which size did you get to fit a XXL? I also have a XXL and it does not fit in the Yamaha OEM top box.
 

mybackhurts

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Apr 23, 2024
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AZ
It seems like everything is more difficult to get and more expensive in Canada. I am dual citizens and I bring back stuff with me as much as I can every time. That said, it looks like more and more sellers on Ebay are able to ship across the border. I have started buying car parts from RockAuto and so far it's been great.

This looks like it would ship to you:

*Laughs in dual citizen living in Murica
 
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