Givi clone trunk from J.C Whitney surprisingly good quality

[CWO4GUNNER]

I purchased, received, and installed a JC Whitney Givi clone universal trunk and I must admit I am very impressed with the quality, durability, size and function of this item which locks and detaches just like the real thing. Originally I was also critical of the black “Dutch Oven” look in the catalog but in real life it looks much better,  here installed on my Vino 125. There is the large and medium size, I got the large for $80 which includes free shipping when you check out as I think there is free shipping for anything over $50. The two piece band is reflective on the back and non-reflective on the front but I am thinking of removing the band to paint it matching Yamaha silver and tie it in better to the scooter. It comes with its own metal support base which is very strong and allows the trunk to snaps on and off with the push of a lockable red button.  I like the trunk so much that I am thinking of buying one for my Bandit as the locking mechanism is great, it holds much more and the fact that it comes off like a piece of luggage is great for touring.
Here is the link http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2010969/p-2010969/N-111+10211+600014603/c-10111

[wtnbandit]

Do they look like they could be adapted as side-cases?

[CWO4GUNNER]

Wow! I never thought of that. Because the mounting plate works so well to positively attach and detach the case with the push of a key lockable button in any position, and the bottom portion of the mounting plate is universal with many pre-drilled holes to accommodate almost any mounting configuration, It defiantly could be done. Even on my Vino scooter I could only use 1 anchor because the Vino rack is so small and uneven. But because the mounting plate for the case is so thick and strong, I was able to tighten down the anchor underneath until it bent without affecting or hurting the thick mounting plate (see photo). If there is a way to secure the mounting plates on each side of a motorcycle, one could definably mount cases on all three points, great Idea!

[gyrogearcrunch]

I purchased, received, and installed a JC Whitney Givi clone universal trunk and I must admit I am very impressed with the quality, durability, size and function of this item which locks and detaches just like the real thing. Originally I was also critical of the black “Dutch Oven” look in the catalog but in real life it looks much better,  here installed on my Vino 125. There is the large and medium size, I got the large for $80 which includes free shipping when you check out as I think there is free shipping for anything over $50. The two piece band is reflective on the back and non-reflective on the front but I am thinking of removing the band to paint it matching Yamaha silver and tie it in better to the scooter. It comes with its own metal support base which is very strong and allows the trunk to snaps on and off with the push of a lockable red button.  I like the trunk so much that I am thinking of buying one for my Bandit as the locking mechanism is great, it holds much more and the fact that it comes off like a piece of luggage is great for touring.
Here is the link http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/tf-Browse/s-10101/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2010969/p-2010969/N-111+10211+600014603/c-10111

I got the large trunk from J.C. Whitney as well, but I put it on the Bandit after installing the Givi Wing-rack first. I too was impressed with the quality and overall utility of this trunk. It reminded me of  how much I missed the hard bags and trunk I had on my old Yamaha 850 SG. While the bulbous trunk is great on top of the rack, it looks like hell sticking out on the sides. I need something flatter for the sides that fits the Givi rack. Any leads would be greatly depreciated! ;-) In the meantime, I'll just have to live with me old Tourmaster nylon bags flang over the rear seat.

Herb

[Sandman9270]

Do either of you guys have a picture of it attached to your Bandit?

[ratbike05]

I bought one of these last year for my bandit.  It's a great case for the price.  I attached the bracket to the standard bandit luggage rack.  The pics I have are with a plastic mounting bracket that came with the trunk originally but you get the idea.  JC Whitney sent me out a replacement metal one at no charge when the manufacturer changed the mounting plates due to some issues they were having.  Here are a few pics.

[Vlad]

Wow, that looks like an excellent clone. Except for the absence of Givi logo it's exactly the same as mine:

Bandit with and without Givi setup

BTW, cases are interchangeable, so I can put top case on the side and vice versa.

[CWO4GUNNER]

ratbike05, yours is the first motorcycle that I can say looks good with the GIVI style top case. I've never seen one on a black bike before but color goes well with the black case. Even though I felt it would look awful on my blue B12 I must admit those things are so darn convenient to lock on and off and hold so much stuff. A matching paint job to one of these top cases to the bikes color would probubly do the trick. When I buy my silver C14 I will have to invest in another clone and fire up the compressor and try a matching silver paint job to see if it will work.

[gyrogearcrunch]

Do either of you guys have a picture of it attached to your Bandit?

Not yet. I have the Givi Wingrack on my Bandit with the JC Whitney case on top - looks just like the one in the pictures here. The only problem is the cost of the Wingrack (big $$$), but the entire assembly is made of thick aluminum castings and is very sturdy. I'd recommend that if you buy one, get the optional turn signals as well. I didn't, and almost took a finger off enlarging some holes in the toprack for the Suzuki turn signals. Don't ask! I'll try to send some pictures.


NOTE: The large JC Whitney case snaps on either side just fine, even on the muffler side, but the bike gets awfully wide with two of them on the sides. I'm looking around for some flatter cases, or  Mil-surplus equipment cases, to use as side-bags, preferably the aluminum test-equipment cases I saw in the AF.

Herb

[CWO4GUNNER]

I'm glad to hear the JCW clones fit the wing rack which probubly helps offset the cost of paying for both Givi rack and cases. In reality any set of side cases whether OEM or Givi clone look wide and somewhat unappealing.

[Red01]

I don't think he has any love for topcases, regardless of who makes them.  

[ZenMan]

But because the mounting plate for the case is so thick and strong, I was able to tighten down the anchor underneath until it bent without affecting or hurting the thick mounting plate (see photo).

Your'e kidding, right? That flimsy little thing is all that holds it on?  

That's about the cheesiest piece of mickey-mouse engineering I've ever seen. Looks like a bent scrap of curtain rod!  

[CWO4GUNNER]

Surprisingly the JCW case and mounting plate are thick and well made. The thick mounting plate not easily seen the photo but above the rack, allows one button lock and release and is very secure. What is not so well made are the mild steel securing clamps provided to attach the unit to any universal rack. In this case the very small Vino 125 rack only had one even location where the rack rungs meet flush to mount one brace, over tightened a bit and secured with thread lock but nevertheless worked very well as attested to buy the new owner.

[ZenMan]

Doesn't take an ASE to see the only thing holding it on is a bent curtain rod and 2 nuts.

No matter how "strong and thick" the plate is, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

Even a Wildebeest knows that.  

All you had to do was cut a 4" x 6" steel or aluminum plate, drill 4 holes to match up with holes in the mounting plate, and bolt it on underneath the rack instead of that flimsy thing.  

I guess it doesn't matter, it's only a little scooter anyway. And you sold that too, right?