Questions about Shad vs Givi top cases

[macx]

Kind of narrowed it down a little to one of the 46 liter cases.

 

Givi E460N with backrest http://www.giviusa.com/cases/monokey/E460

 

or Shad SH-46 with backrest either titanium or silver

http://www.shadonline.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=D0B4600

 

I imagine the Shad accessory brake light is not LED?

So would it work with the system on an 11 R1200RT?

If not, maybe something like this

 

http://www.admorelighting.com/index.php?page=products/index.php&subpage=4

 

or

 

http://www.admorelighting.com/index.php?page=products/index.php&subpage=5

 

on the back of that Shad case.

 

Or another option might be the

 

http://www.admorelighting.com/index.php?page=products/index.php&subpage=15

 

on the Givi case.

 

I like the simpler design without all the irregularly shaped

reflectors on the back of the case.

 

Now, for color, my bike is

 

http://s719.photobucket.com/albums/ww200/macx351/R1150R/Bike%20Trailer/?action=view&current=SDC12780.jpg

 

and the color samples on the internet are, of course, likely

far from correct.

 

Is the one Shad SH-46 I think they call "titanium" a reasonably close match to the darker gray on mine?

 

Or the lighter of the 3 Givi E460 cases a decent match for the silver ?

http://www.giviusa.com/cases/monokey/E460

 

What's concensus on the Givi vs Shad backrests? Any

strong likes or dislikes for either?

 

Lastly, I like the Shad lock system where you don't have to

use the key to open it all the time - it's more like the

BMW system side cases if I understand it correctly with the

pushbutton to open that can be locked with a key?

 

You can see I'm not after a high buck case, won't be using

it all that often, but sometimes it's the little differences

that end up being aggravating / annoying or, conversely, pleasing.

 

Thanks for any experienced opinions!

 

EDIT: Just ran across this - a few more bucks but the backrest

and baseplate are included, and it looks NICE! Hadn't wanted quite

such a large case, but I really like the lines on this one as it fits on the 1200RT, besides the color match/blend.

 

http://bmwsporttouring.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=623640&page=1

 

 

[Natche]

Hi Macx,

 

I have the Shad SH-50 and am very pleased with it. The last link in your post was my review. I rarely lock it and not having to keep the key with me is Abigail plus. The only issue I had with it was the mounting kit required, in my opinion, another mount point, to the rear. I solved that by adding another bolt of my own. Very nice quality case. I have an older Givi on another bike and I really think the Shad is bait nicer. I don't have the brake light so no comment there.

[macx]

Nothing like a good user recommendation to help a person decide.

 

I've never had a bike with a top case, so have often wondered if

the placement of the extra weight (high, and behind the rear axle centerline)

has any detrimental effect on the handling.

 

Also, and this may be a little silly, but how do you get the

passenger on? I just can't remember seeing 2 people get on a bike with a top case.

Seems the passenger would have to get on before the rider, but how do you

hold the bike up - I wouldn't trust the side stand for that? And then also how to

hold the bike up while the rider gets on, and I've got enuf trouble with that scenario without a top case.

I get on first and hold the bike steady while my wife gets on.

 

And I've even got a little trouble myself getting my leg over the bike when I've just got

something strapped on the back rack.

 

Maybe I'm just getting too old? :-/

[tallman]

You get on start bike, feet on ground, passenger steps UP on your footpeg, hand on your left shoulder, slide leg or step over seat (depending on passenger flex/size), passenger sits and then gets r foot on peg.

Make sure pegs are out before they mount, use hand signals to communicate before they start to get on, same with dismount.

No biggie really.

I keep bike in first gear, my brakes have to initialize so I almost always start bike and run it forward to have brakes active before she gets on.

Some passengers can step on footpeg and step over seat, some need to bend knee.

Your job is to keep bike stable.

 

I've got a GIVI 52, used for many years and very happy with it.

Best wishes.

[macx]

Thanks!

 

Gonna have to save that and practice :-)

[Natche]

Unless you fill it with bricks I doubt you'll notice anything compared to the weight of a passenger. As far as mounting, I use a karate kick type motion (slow) to get my leg over and my wife steps on the peg, once you is sure I am ready for her. Everything else is much like Tallman says. Some people use the peg to mount themselves. I have never been comfortable with this and at 6'2" don't really need it.

[jaytee]

I notice the top case with 30 lbs more than side cases with 60 lbs. My current case (Givi business case) sits over the passenger seat on my S and is by far the best handling case I have ever had.