Touring Box ideas for LONG Vespa Ride this Summer

[rajavw]

A long distance ride is in the works, hopefully this summer. Any ideas for a sturdy large rear box and front box would be appreciated.

I'm wondering if anyone has put a 24 Gallon Action Packer on the back of their bike as yet?

It may be necessary to install a much larger rear rack.


rajavw

[damasovi]

I have an idea for your rear rack:

put one of this:


then one of this:


and you have the back cover. how much crap do you want to bring? remember that is a 58 L top box from HT http://www.happy-trail.com/Luggage/A...-58-Liter.aspx there are other options, but you get the point, for the front it will be nice to have something just to balance the weight but do not block your head light!!!

Or you could just built of have somebody to built you some stuff for your liking.

Damasovi

[rajavw]

Originally Posted by damasovi

I have an idea for your rear rack:

put one of this:


then one of this:


and you have the back cover. how much crap do you want to bring? remember that is a 58 L top box from HT http://www.happy-trail.com/Luggage/A...-58-Liter.aspx there are other options, but you get the point, for the front it will be nice to have something just to balance the weight but do not block your head light!!!

Or you could just built of have somebody to built you some stuff for your liking.

Damasovi

Thanks for the the Link. I really like this type of hard-core ADV aluminum box. I'm wondering if it could be mounted lengthwise, so it won't stick out on the sides.

Since there is a Welding Class being taught at my school, I should just ride over to the shop one day and talk to the Welding Shop instructor about making me an aluminum box and mounting plate. -- Now that's a brilliant idea!

rajavw

[klaviator]

Originally Posted by rajavw

Thanks for the the Link. I really like this type of hard-core ADV aluminum box. I'm wondering if it could be mounted lengthwise, so it won't stick out on the sides.

Since there is a Welding Class being taught at my school, I should just ride over to the shop one day and talk to the Welding Shop instructor about making me an aluminum box and mounting plate. -- Now that's a brilliant idea!

rajavw

If you mount it lengthwise it will put the weight even further behind your axle and have a bigger negative affect on your handling.

[vortexau]

Gotta dream boy
Gotta song
Paint your Inder
And come along

Where am I goin'?
I don't know
Where am I headin'?
I ain't certain
All I know
Is I am on my way

When will I be there?
I don't know
When will I get there?
I ain't certain
All that I know
Is I am on my way

Gotta dream boy
Gotta song
Paint your Inder
And Tow it along

[fullmetalscooter]

Originally Posted by vortexau

Enfield uas is blowing those out for 550 bucks .

Also

http://sites.google.com/site/rtwxtz660/alluboxes make your own.


Beyond that you can mount old hard travel luggage you can find in a thrift store.

and also try http://www.geartrade.com for dry bags . They sell back countrys returns for up to 70% off. I got a 35 L dry bag back pack for 45 bucks . Normally 100 bucks with tax locally. Maybe mount the tools tube on the front end. If you really want to carried lots of stuff look on a cragslist search engine for your area and see if a cheap vespa side car comes up. I ve seen them come up every month or so . At times they can go for as little as 100 bucks to 800. Depends .

[rajavw]

Also


Thanks for the photos and info.

This Correos Box, Solo Seat, and Rack is appealing. I've looked into this. Unfortunately, they are not available in North America.

If you know where I could get one, please pass it my way.

[hugemoth]

I made my own box using acoustic guitar body techniques. Worked great on my Alaska trip in 1978 and many trips thereafter. Wider at the front and narrower at the back for aerodynamics. Flat top with cleats to work as a table and tie stuff to while on the road. Quick release to take into the tent at night. Light, strong, efficient storage.

I put my tent, sleeping bag, cloths bag, and foam pad on the front rack. Put it all in a garbage bag during bad weather.

[rajavw]

Originally Posted by hugemoth

I made my own box using acoustic guitar body techniques. Worked great on my Alaska trip in 1978 and many trips thereafter. Wider at the front and narrower at the back for aerodynamics. Flat top with cleats to work as a table and tie stuff to while on the road. Quick release to take into the tent at night. Light, strong, efficient storage.

I put my tent, sleeping bag, cloths bag, and foam pad on the front rack. Put it all in a garbage bag during bad weather.

hugemoth,

The lengthwise setup on your Rally 200 along with the extra spare beneath was ingenious. If I could modify my rear rack for this type of setup, I'll be on the right track.

BTW, how long was your journey to Alaska?

[hugemoth]

Total of about 17,000 miles that summer. That included riding all around Canada.

[Bamako-Vespa]

Originally Posted by rajavw

Also


Thanks for the photos and info.

This Correos Box, Solo Seat, and Rack is appealing. I've looked into this. Unfortunately, they are not available in North America.

If you know where I could get one, please pass it my way.

Check out scooterzilla.com

The site is under contstruction, but use the contact page to get in touch with the guy setting up the site. He has a few Correos boxes. As they are quite popular in spain they are getting more and more expensive. The price should be around 100-200 euros.

I met the guy during the Vespa World Days 2011 and he seemed like a nice guy.


This setup consists of the box (of course), a lockable seat and a special rack that everything bolts on to. The nice thing with it is that it is a perfect bolt on upgrade to the vespa PX.

You do get a little front en wobble, but if you back the box right (heavy stuff low down and forward), and put some heavy stuff on the floorboards (like a 10L jerry can) and perhaps a front rack you'll minimize that wobble.

I rode like this for more than 5000 km down through the Sahara participating in the Budapest Bamako rally, and forgot about the wobble after a couple of days.

We also modified the rack a little, so that the box would sit about 2cm further back. The seat does put you a little bit too far forward, especially if you are tall and wear a back plate under your riding gear.

The boxes in action on the piste to Foum Zguid in Southern Morrocco:

[JerseyBiker]

That ride says "Super Geek" all over it and yet....it is so compelling that I WANT ONE!!

[JerseyBiker]

I had a GTS250 and added the Givi Maxia on the back. Whenever that was on it the front end wobble would get really bad to the point that taking even one hand off the bars was risky. I wondered if adding weight to the front would have helped.

So, be prepared that a large top box might alter your ride. If I were doing long rides on a Vespa I would seriously consider the trailer option.

On the plus side, I took 2 or 3 trips of about 750-1000 miles, much of it on interstates, and was greatly surprised how comfortable the Vespa was and how well it handed the distance.

Good luck and looking forward to reading some ride reports from you journeys.

[oldhippie1]

Is your Vespa a 250 or 300? Where do you plan to ride?

[gogogordy]

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=742318