Gobi topbox opinions please

[dcstrom]

I'm looking for a top box to finish my luggage setup. I have Jesse Odyssey cases, and an Altrider rear rack. This is for a RTW trip, so my criteria for a top box may be a little different than usual. For one, I'll be solo, meaning the box can be as far forward as practical. Box will be carrying camera gear and/or computer, so needs to be secure and not turn into an oven in the sun. Also needs a secure but quick-release mounting.

Price is a bit of an issue - Jesses and HB Explorer and others run to over $400. Gobi is around $300

I think the Gobi is going to do it for me - seems secure and solidly built, is silver and has a double-skin lid, both of which should help keep internal temps a little cooler.

Any experience with them? Any reason why not?

I went to Capital Cycle for a test fit today. This is in the "normal" position;

This is about where I'd like to locate it. Note that I'm planning on removing the grab rails and pulling the Jesses in a bit tighter, and putting the Altrider rack on the low position so that it lines up with the luggage tray.

Once I move the Jesses in though, I am going to run into clearance issues between the lids and the top box. This is what I have currently.

The solution may be to turn the top box around, giving plenty of clearance for the Jesse lids and leaving some space on the luggage rack at the back to strap a few things - or a Rotopax would fit well there.

I've considered the Caribou solution, but it's no cheaper, only in black (hot) and is not going to look as good!

Thanks!

Trevor

 

[jajpko]

Can't say yea or nay, as I've never owned either. I can say it looks good and the price seems right. ::012::

 

[Twitch]

Can’t say I have any experience either, but the Gobi looks pretty rugged and goes well with the side cases. While the first photo makes it look kind of small, the other photos seem to show it as being a pretty decent size. 37 liters, that’s pretty good sized.

 

[Tremor38]

I'm looking for a top box to finish my luggage setup. I have Jesse Odyssey cases, and an Altrider rear rack. This is for a RTW trip, so my criteria for a top box may be a little different than usual. For one, I'll be solo, meaning the box can be as far forward as practical. Box will be carrying camera gear and/or computer, so needs to be secure and not turn into an oven in the sun. Also needs a secure but quick-release mounting.

Price is a bit of an issue - Jesses and HB Explorer and others run to over $400. Gobi is around $300

I think the Gobi is going to do it for me - seems secure and solidly built, is silver and has a double-skin lid, both of which should help keep internal temps a little cooler.

Any experience with them? Any reason why not?

I went to Capital Cycle for a test fit today. This is in the "normal" position;

This is about where I'd like to locate it. Note that I'm planning on removing the grab rails and pulling the Jesses in a bit tighter, and putting the Altrider rack on the low position so that it lines up with the luggage tray.

Once I move the Jesses in though, I am going to run into clearance issues between the lids and the top box. This is what I have currently.

The solution may be to turn the top box around, giving plenty of clearance for the Jesse lids and leaving some space on the luggage rack at the back to strap a few things - or a Rotopax would fit well there.

I've considered the Caribou solution, but it's no cheaper, only in black (hot) and is not going to look as good!

Thanks!

Trevor

I love how the Gobi's look...and they're as tough they come. I was orignally going to spring for the Gobi top and side cases until I found out how wide they are because of the water jackets. The top case looks good though...and it's priced below the Yamaha unit. I guess the only issue would be how it interferes with your top-loading side cases. i was going get Micatechs because of that, but then here we go again with the width tradeoff. Hopefully you can come up with a workable way the mount it lengthwise.

 

[dcc46]

I think it looks good. Will the gobi hold a full face helmet?

 

[stevepsd]

How does this topbox normally mount on a rack? I assume there is some sort of adapter plate or....? Can the box be quickly removed?

Thanks.

-steve

 

[stevepsd]

Does the top box also have the fluid reservoir built in? If so, where does the petcock mount?

 

[Checkswrecks]

The Gobis look nice but for a true 3rd world adventure, I'd stick with aluminum that can be banged out and repaired with rivets or anything else at hand.


I've been following the ADV thread about the Romanian business named Konvoi. It's a one man operation and he is making some really beautiful cases at comparative steals on price.
The ADV thread is at http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=17377633
His website is http://WWW.KONVOI.RO/index.html and note that there is an English translation clicky at the lower right edge of the page.
Konvoi aluminiu luggage panniers koffer
Your topcase would be 145 Euros, close to $100 shipping, plus whatever you use to mount it. You'll still be under your $300.


One other thought. Before you commit to not having the handrails, think about how you are going to centerstand the bike. When I have the left rail removed so that I can use the soft bags, there is both more weight to the rear, and little to lift with. Getting the bike up on the stand can be a really big challenge, so try before you buy.

 

[stevepsd]

The Konovi look like TRAX bags. Hopefully they don't leak......

 

[dcstrom]

How does this topbox normally mount on a rack? I assume there is some sort of adapter plate or....? Can the box be quickly removed?

Thanks.

-steve

Yeah this is the mounting plate - seems like it will hold the box securely and still be easy to remove. The vertical part locks into a section molded into the top box.

My main concern here is that the mounting plate would have to be secured to the rear luggage tray - which seems at first blush pretty flimsy. Anybody had it off? What's underneath it? May have to add some reinforcement to it before bolting up the mounting plate.

 

[dcstrom]

Does the top box also have the fluid reservoir built in? If so, where does the petcock mount?

No - it does have a double-skin lid, which I like for temperature control, but doesn't hold fluids as the panniers are designed to do. Bottom part is just single skin plastic - which is ok cos it would has less capacity otherwise.

 

[Twitch]

My main concern here is that the mounting plate would have to be secured to the rear luggage tray - which seems at first blush pretty flimsy. Anybody had it off? What's underneath it? May have to add some reinforcement to it before bolting up the mounting plate.

Are you referring to the tray under the passenger seat? If so, here's a LINK to some photos over in the Sargent thread with the tray removed.

 

[dcstrom]

The Gobis look nice but for a true 3rd world adventure, I'd stick with aluminum that can be banged out and repaired with rivets or anything else at hand.

I have aluminum Jesses for panniers, so most bashing is going to occur with them I think. Only the top box will be plastic. Things would have to be pretty dire if I was regularly wanting to bash the top box back into shape!

I've been following the ADV thread about the Romanian business named Konvoi.

Yeah I looked at them - look nice but a lot like SW-Motech. Not a fan of the rivets and plastic pieces, if only from the waterproofness perspective. Also I've seen pics of the SW-Motechs coming apart after some bashing - I think the plastic Gobi is going to hold up a lot better than that.

One other thought. Before you commit to not having the handrails, think about how you are going to centerstand the bike. When I have the left rail removed so that I can use the soft bags, there is both more weight to the rear, and little to lift with. Getting the bike up on the stand can be a really big challenge, so try before you buy.

Yeah I've wondered about that - thought about adding a handle to the front of the pannier? Or there's always something like this. Not too keen on the $115 price tho

Hepco & Becker Easy Up Lever Yamaha XT1200Z Super Tenere
Code: 420-4531-09
Price: $115.68



I Wunderlich who makes that seat? ::025::

 

[dcstrom]

Are you referring to the tray under the passenger seat? If so, here's a LINK to some photos over in the Sargent thread with the tray removed.

Yeah that's what I was looking for, I don't see any practical way to secure the top box mount directly to there, so guess I'll have to pull the plastic luggage plate and see if it needs reinforcing - and if so how. I'm guessing as sheet of alloy underneath that is bolted to the subframe using existing holes would do it.

 

[jajpko]

Yeah that's what I was looking for, I don't see any practical way to secure the top box mount directly to there, so guess I'll have to pull the plastic luggage plate and see if it needs reinforcing - and if so how. I'm guessing as sheet of alloy underneath that is bolted to the subframe using existing holes would do it.

I was looking at building a luggage plate and leaving the plastic part off. If you look at the oem part, the 4 bolt holes in the sub frame are on the outside of the oem plate. This would make it very difficult to put a plate under the oem rack.

Something to consider is using the Tourtech pillion rack. I used that over the plastic piece. To make it more secure you could bolt that to the oem rack, and run long bolts and spacers to the oem frame holes.
I think that would be very sturdy.
By the way, those pics are of my bike..

 

[stevepsd]

Take a look a the pic of the ST above.....notice 'Wunderlich' on the seat....are they making bits for the ST?

 

[dcstrom]

Take a look a the pic of the ST above.....notice 'Wunderlich' on the seat....are they making bits for the ST?

Yeah I did a bit of a search for that seat - didn't come up with anything, even in europe. The H&B sidestand foot I bought yesterday is branded with the Wonderlich logo, so I guess they may be working with H&B for distribution of non-BMW stuff. Nothing except BMW stuff on http://www.wunderlichamerica.com - I'm sure we are going to see more stuff from them soon...

Actually I did find one thing - the seat an other accessories are seen in this vid. Most of the accessories I recognise as being H&B, but they are on the Wunderlich display bike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9xnj9SY_cvQ#t=18s

 

[stevepsd]

That would be quite telling if the Wunderkids at Wunderlich start selling things for the ST >

 

[dcstrom]

That would be quite telling if the Wunderkids at Wunderlich start selling things for the ST >

Well they are already MAKING parts for the S10 - they just haven't had the heart to tell the BMW guys that they don't have their "exclusive" attention any more.

It is an interesting question - Wunderlich are so tightly focused on the BMW crowd (less so than say, Touratech) that they may be wondering if some people will feel "betrayed" if they start selling Yamaha stuff directly. Hence the deal for H&B to distribute?

Trevor

 

[ThreePutt]

I'm going to bump this old thread up to the top. How this the passenger space with the Gobi? The box looks like it sits further forward than the Juniors of Journeys.

Thanks