Shad SH48 Topcase

After meeting Git-R-Dan and seeing his set-up, I knew I had to get a topcase like his. Well, it finally arrived today and I wasted no time:

1. Making sure that my 17" widescreen laptop would fit. No problem. In fact, it fits with its carrying case as well with room to spare!

2. Mounting it up and admiring the results.

Pictures:

From the right side. This thing is big!



Rear:



With its big mouth open:



Mounting plate:



Attachment to bike:



And backrest:



I really like this box. Very well constructed with secure mounting/locking and weatherproof seal. There's an optional brake light kit available, but I decided against it. Mine is the matt black version, but color matching is available for more $$$.

I searched the net pretty thoroughly for the best price and came up with a decent one. Not sure if I'm alowed to post the vendor here, maybe an admin will chime in on that. In the meantine, if anyone is interested in the Shad line, PM me and I'll give you the vendor info.

BuilderBob said:

After meeting Git-R-Dan and seeing his set-up, I knew I had to get a topcase like his. Well, it finally arrived today and I wasted no time:
1. Making sure that my 17" widescreen laptop would fit. No problem. In fact, it fits with its carrying case as well with room to spare!

2. Mounting it up and admiring the results.

Pictures:

From the right side. This thing is big!

Rear:

With its big mouth open:

Mounting plate:

Attachment to bike:

And backrest:

I really like this box. Very well constructed with secure mounting/locking and weatherproof seal. There's an optional brake light kit available, but I decided against it. Mine is the matt black version, but color matching is available for more $$$.

I searched the net pretty thoroughly for the best price and came up with a decent one. Not sure if I'm alowed to post the vendor here, maybe an admin will chime in on that. In the meantine, if anyone is interested in the Shad line, PM me and I'll give you the vendor info.

Click to expand...

OK go ahead and tell me where to send the check!! I was unable to find a supplier in the US. Does the 48 release ez? And could you please post a side shot showing the bike and the box?

Cosmopolitan Motors used to be the US distributor, in March it sounded like they were getting out of them:clicky. When I talked to them on the phone they had sold so many on sale they indicated they might import some more.

Does the 48 release ez?

Click to expand...

Yup! Turn the key, pull the lever and off she comes.

That looks nice! Does that same mounting bracket fit the Pre 06's?

OrangevaleFJR said:

That looks nice! Does that same mounting bracket fit the Pre 06's?

Click to expand...

No. Evidently, you have to buy a special adapter bracket for the pre-06 models.

FJRZOOM said:

OK go ahead and tell me where to send the check!! I was unable to find a supplier in the US. Does the 48 release ez? And could you please post a side shot showing the bike and the box?

Click to expand...

I guess the Admins can delete this if not appropriate, but here is the contact info:

adventuremotousa.com

561-242-5158

Ask for Claudio

I'll get a full side shot up this afternoon.

As requested, here's a full side shot:

That's not bad.

What is the value? Have you tried riding with a pillion and the box yet? Comments from pillion? Can the box be moved back any further, or is that the only position? Is that the key lock (lower right, under handle)?

Cheers

FJR Steve said:

That's not bad.
What is the value? Have you tried riding with a pillion and the box yet? Comments from pillion? Can the box be moved back any further, or is that the only position? Is that the key lock (lower right, under handle)?

Cheers

Click to expand...

$270 for the box, and an extra $35 for the backrest.

No pillion tester yet, but I'm taking applications.

The box can be moved further back on the 06 - 07's. Don't know about earlier models.

Yes that is the key lock. It locks both the lid and the mounting bracket.

FJR Steve said:

1) What is the value? 2) Have you tried riding with a pillion and the box yet?

3) Comments from pillion?

4) Can the box be moved back any further, or is that the only position?

5) Is that the key lock (lower right, under handle)?

Cheers

Click to expand...

1) I don't know if they are still doing this, but I bought mine from Cosmo for $289. That included the box, tail lamp, pillion pad, and a mounting bracket (not like the one pictured) specifically for the FJR, and shipping. You can't beat that.

2) Yes

3) Wifes coat has a built in back protection. She liked the box without the pad, but since I bought it the pad went on anyways. The pad doesn't provide lower back support (obviously), so it takes some getting used to.

4) Not with my bracket, can't say about the other system.

5) Yup, top handle opens the box, bottom handle takes the box off the bike.

Those are nice looking cases but be aware that attaching them to the stock plastic rack is not a real great idea IMO.

My reasoning is that the stock rack is rated for about 12 lbs. If you really load that box up for a trip you might be putting quite a bit more weight in there.

I've recently bought a givi rack for my 06 and I beleive it's rated for 22lbs. I'm wondering if the mounting plate can be adapted to a givi rack which is much beefier.

Another cosideration here is if you ride with a pillon and I do not, it seems to me that drilling holes through your stock plastic rack to support the plate and mount the box to it that in hard exceleration the plastic rack could snap off and your SO goes flying.Just a thought.

trimmantom said:

Those are nice looking cases but be aware that attaching them to the stock plastic rack is not a real great idea IMO.

Click to expand...

The rack on my 07 appears to be a cast metal piece. Or are you refering to the mounting plate for the topcase? The topcase mounting plate is metal with a plastic cover. Quite secure.

v65 said:

1) I don't know if they are still doing this, but I bought mine from Cosmo for $289. That included the box, tail lamp, pillion pad, and a mounting bracket (not like the one pictured) specifically for the FJR, and shipping. You can't beat that.

Click to expand...

is there a website for 'Cosmo'? Stop looking.....found it. Thanks.

BuilderBob said:

trimmantom said:

Those are nice looking cases but be aware that attaching them to the stock plastic rack is not a real great idea IMO.

Click to expand...

The rack on my 07 appears to be a cast metal piece. Or are you refering to the mounting plate for the topcase? The topcase mounting plate is metal with a plastic cover. Quite secure.

Click to expand...

If your stock rack is the same as the one on my 06 its plastic and I personally wouldn't attach anything to it with weigh bearing against it.

trimmantom said:

If your stock rack is the same as the one on my 06 its plastic and I personally wouldn't attach anything to it with weigh bearing against it.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. Seems secure enough, but I'll keep an eye on it just in case.

Bob - Man, that looks great on that dark cherry! :clapping: Here's pics of mine in a previous thread. Now have over 14k w/ two trips to FL and it's as stable as it was when new. Couldn't be more satisfied with it. What was cool was getting to the hotel and pulling the luggage cart out to the bike and, w/ very little trouble, unlocking and loading the three cases on and pushing to the room. OK, I excite easily. On the 1st trip, had that case loaded to the hilt and went through heavy rains, tornados, flying cows, etc. w/ NO leaks. Definitely one of the best farkles on my bike. Found a real good professional painter, friend of my son-n-law's, that does the high-dollar-auto re-painting in town who will match the color and paint it for $150. Another $100 gets "fjrforum.com" and "git-r-dan" on there.

git-r-dan :beach:

git-r-dan said:

Now have over 14k w/ two trips to FL and it's as stable as it was when new.

Click to expand...

Be carefull. Word is that sucker is is going to fall right off of there!

Do you have any more information on this trunk like what was the part number for the rack? Did you have to do any drilling for it to fit? Does it come specifically for the FJR? Sorry for all the questions, I am interesed in putting one of these on my 06 AE and want to make sure that I get well informed before committing to a purchase.

Low Level FJR Pilot said:

Do you have any more information on this trunk like what was the part number for the rack? Did you have to do any drilling for it to fit? Does it come specifically for the FJR? Sorry for all the questions, I am interesed in putting one of these on my 06 AE and want to make sure that I get well informed before committing to a purchase.

Click to expand...

The "rack", or mounting plate, comes with the topcase. I'm not aware of a part number and I have since disposed of the documentation.

No holes were drilled for this installation. The clamps that you see in one of the pics attach through the mounting plate and grip the underside of the bike's tail plate. I also used automotive double-sided foam tape between the mounting plate and the bike so as not to scratch the paint.