Backrest or Topbox

Red-On-Rockwell

Red-On-Rockwell

Joined
Apr 17, 2010
Messages
167
Location
Bethany, Oklahoma
Bike
2014 Yamaha FJR1300A
Greetings all.

I'm in need of a little information. The stuck in indecision about buying a Topbox or a Backrest.

The Topbox that I have considered is the Hondaline. The Backrest is the Stealth by Pirates Lair.

Little background. I am a previous Goldwing rider. Bought my ST13 two years ago after selling by beloved Wing to a riding buddy. I wasn't riding; and what riding I was doing was alone. Now there is a lady in my life. And she feels that she would like a little more security on the back.

Like everything that u put on a bike. I feel both are too expensive for what you truely recieve for your buying dollar.

Opinions requested from folks that have one or the outher or both in passenger comfort and security.
 
I have the Hondaline topbox. I enjoy the storage space. It has a nice lock and can be easily removed to carry into a hotel. None of this is really secure of course- a few blows with a hammer would render any of it scrap.

There are less expensive after marked top boxes- a lot of folks ride with them.
 
I have both the Honda PanEuro top box and the Pirate's Lair backrest (and, as you probably know, you can't use them both at the same time). For comfort my wife prefers the Pirate's Lair. But since she rarely rides with me, I leave the top box on for space for my stuff. I sold my Wing in April, and the ST comfort (especially for her) really does not compare to the GL1800. At any rate, IMO the Honda top box offers the largest and most comfortable backrest of all of the boxes -- but other opinions may differ.
 
oh I think the Hondaline box looks better

BUT, the Givi is BIGGER!!! is detachable, has optional backrest, rack for the top, tail-lights, and can easily accommodate more LED lights (which I have installed as red tail-lights and amber turn signals, used the flexible string type with them wrapped across back corner so they are seen from both back and side) under the red translucent plastic , which does not alter the color of the LED's , I LIKE IT!! And I also installed two interior LEDs too, ....I mounted my GXM antennae on top for good reception, ...

ok, ok, I like tinkering almost as much as riding.....

oh I think the Givi costs less than the HondaLine????
 
I find the topbox handy for carrying lighter items that I want with me at all times. The compressor and tire plug kit, a multi-tool, tire pressure gauge, and the cigar case. It's also where the Gerbing liners, rain suit, and spare gloves go when the trip dictates. The camera and netbook seem to be a little better protected from vibration there, too, resting on the other stuff. If I'm in a situation where I need to stow the GPS and radar detector, the topbox works better than the saddlebags. (Things don't fall out of the topbox when you open it.) In my opinion, the utility of the topbox makes it a winner, unless your personal aesthetics dictate a backrest. I personally like the way the Hondaline box looks on the bike. The Pirates Lair backrest is pretty pricey, although not as expensive as the topbox. Again, I think the difference in cost is justified. I think most people with topboxes leave them on all the time, after they get used to the convenience.
 
I had a top box and I switched to a Hondaline back rest. My wife liked it better. I built a rack on the back to hold stuff and I've found that I don't really miss having a top box except for the rare occassions that I'm leaving all of my riding gear at the bike and I can't put it all in a case. I do like the versatility of packing with a back rest though. You can stuff a lot of junk in a couple of backpacking bags and put one on either side of the back rest and buckle them together for a secure hold. I also felt that with having a top box on and no passenger, the void of air between me and the box created a noisier, more turbulent ride for me.
 
TXRoadRash said:
I have both the Honda PanEuro top box and the Pirate's Lair backrest (and, as you probably know, you can't use them both at the same time). For comfort my wife prefers the Pirate's Lair. But since she rarely rides with me, I leave the top box on for space for my stuff. I sold my Wing in April, and the ST comfort (especially for her) really does not compare to the GL1800. At any rate, IMO the Honda top box offers the largest and most comfortable backrest of all of the boxes -- but other opinions may differ.
Click to expand...

Why did ur wife prefer the Pirates Lair. Did it fit better. Or was the Hondaline Topbox Backrest too tall?
 
Ok, since it seems that I rarely ride solo any more I started with the Pirates Lair backrest and my wife loved it. Yes, $$ but I was impressed with the excellent quality. Then we rented an St overseas that had a top box and my wife was convinced that the top box provided more comfort not to mention the extra easy access storage space... so we took the plunge and bought a Pan Euro box to match the faSt '05 red. we are very happy and leave it on all the time and sold the backrest to another STOC member almost instanty with the help of this site...
 
ndwnd said:
Ok, since it seems that I rarely ride solo any more I started with the Pirates Lair backrest and my wife loved it. Yes, $$ but I was impressed with the excellent quality. Then we rented an St overseas that had a top box and my wife was convinced that the top box provided more comfort not to mention the extra easy access storage space... so we took the plunge and bought a Pan Euro box to match the faSt '05 red. we are very happy and leave it on all the time and sold the backrest to another STOC member almost instanty with the help of this site...
Click to expand...

Did the Hondaline topbox provide her more support. My girl friend suffers from back problems to start with. How high does the topbox provide support? I also noticed the u ride a Russell Day Long Saddle. How does that match up?
 
Blue-N-Bethany said:
Did the Hondaline topbox provide her more support. My girl friend suffers from back problems to start with. How high does the topbox provide support? I also noticed the u ride a Russell Day Long Saddle. How does that match up?
Click to expand...

The the pad on the box runs from about 5 1/2" at the bottom to about 13" to the top of the pad on the box as measured from the top of the seat. I think the Day Long and the box match up great. There's a couple of pics in my post here..
https://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69358&page=4
 
Thank you very much for your response.

I guess my main worry is ; in whatever I buy will it be money well spent.

And a main fear that I am trying to make an ST into a Goldwing.
 
When I first got my ST1300 I bought the Pirates Lair Backrest and my wife liked it just fine. I then realized that for extended trips 2-up that I would need the top box for the added storage, so I bought the Hondaline top box which my wife found to be very comfortable.

For a while I swapped out the backrest and the top box when needed, but soon came to the conclusion that it was way too much hassle to do so. I then sold the pirates lair backrest and now leave the top box on the bike at all times.

I think that having the top box offers more flexibility and options than the backrest does.
 
Blue-N-Bethany said:
Why did ur wife prefer the Pirates Lair. Did it fit better. Or was the Hondaline Topbox Backrest too tall?
Click to expand...


The PL backrest has some "flex" to it, whereas the Honda top box backrest is (even though somewhat padded) rather rigid. If it were customized with some gel padding or the like, she probably would prefer the top box pad for the (purely psychological) feel of greater security.
 
I love the ST.

But do you find it a suitable 2 up bike?

I know its no Wing. There is only one Wing.

I'm 6'2" and 225. She is 5'10" and about 160.
 
If you plan to ride 2-up frequently, in all honesty you want the Wing. I'm 6'3" 250 and my wife is 5'3" 120 -- and now that she has decided she wants to ride with me again, I (actually, she) really miss the Wing. If I had know last April she would decide to ride mroe I would have kept it. Though 2-up clearly works on the ST, it does not compare (especially for the passenger) to the Wing. JMO
 
Blue-N-Bethany said:
I love the ST.

But do you find it a suitable 2 up bike?

I know its no Wing. There is only one Wing.

I'm 6'2" and 225. She is 5'10" and about 160.
Click to expand...

When I bought the St I never expected to be riding 2 up the majority of the time. We put on about 300 miles yesterday including freeway, in town traffic, tight 1 1/2 lane 2nd gear twisties and nice open road sweepers. The bike was great. We came back with large grins and wanted for nothing. That's the kind of riding we mostly do so for us it's the right bike. But, who am I to say? I've never ridden a wing:D
 
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