Bestem Top Box
- Thread starter Mileater1950
- Start date
Dbuggy
2006 ST1300 ABS
I just ordered one of these boxes from Amazon for my 2006 ST1300 in Black, maybe the additional black paint will make my bike faster? lol I will post my thoughts on the install once I put it on. Great deal at $86 with a backrest and addl. brake light.
Ok...I've been looking at the Bestem box for a few weeks now and have a few questions. Maybe someone will have a few answers.
1. What is the inside dimensions of the box?
2. Could I put a laptop and a few books/notebooks in there?
I'm taking a few college courses and am hoping that my stuff for school will fit in there so I can ride the bike to the fire station again. Also think it would be good to have to load my tent and sleeping bag in but not sure about the dimensions.
1. What is the inside dimensions of the box?
2. Could I put a laptop and a few books/notebooks in there?
I'm taking a few college courses and am hoping that my stuff for school will fit in there so I can ride the bike to the fire station again. Also think it would be good to have to load my tent and sleeping bag in but not sure about the dimensions.
JohnConner
Site Supporter
The deminsions are not large. You can get a laptop and maybe a couple small/thin books in there, but not much else. The T-Box has enough room for a full face helmet, which will take up 75% of the space.
I have the 46L 929 and my 17.3 HP Pavilion fits perfectly.
I am ready to get a top box for my ST1100. The main reason is to haul my laptop. I think the 2012 looks better than the 929, but I am concerned if it is big enough. The dimensions listed for the 2012 are 20" X 10.5" X 16". This is my laptop bag: http://www.amazon.com/HP-RU350AA-Ba...DWD6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330276183&sr=8-1 It is 13.6 x 10.25 x 18.5 inches . Does anyone know if it will fit for sure? How accurate are the box dimensions that I have here?
Next question is: how close is the red box to matching the 93 ST1100 Candy Glory Red? I am ok if it doesn't match perfectly. I just don't want it to clash.
Next question is: how close is the red box to matching the 93 ST1100 Candy Glory Red? I am ok if it doesn't match perfectly. I just don't want it to clash.
racinj
Jason Johnson
Has anyone modified the backrest on a Bestem 929 to be softer?
I rember some one mounted one for a GIVI that looked good.
I recently purchased a Bestem 929 for my ST1100. When I bought the bike it had a givi mount on it and to be honest the one with the Bestem box would have taken a lot to modify it to the ST1100. I took the givi mount to a local machine shop and had the tab on the rear machined all the way through from the standard mount and flipped it around and the Bestem box lock tight onto the Givi mount and looks like it was made for the mount. Cost was only $20.00 and took 1 day to wait.
Have been searching, reading, searching.... I called them this week, Bestem that is. They had a pic of the 2012 on their site which looked exactly like the 05 color. but, when I spoke to them they told me the colors change when they get them in from the manufacturer. But...now am curious on the larger box. I wish I could stop by to see them in the factory...for sure. One last thought, have looked at buying one unfinished (ebay for 65 bucks or so) and paining it with Rustoleum Red Metallic Spec paint. Thanks for the mounting info too. Givi's new Maxia box has matching tops you put on...but all said and done is gonna be well over 350 bucks.
I purchased one of the smaller 2012 models for my 05 ST. Two issues immediately apparent...
1) the red is not an exact match, more candy-apple red versus the ST's dark cherry. It misses by a couple of shades imho.
2) The liners come with the larger 929 model, not with the 2012...
I had planned to return the 2012 and go with the black 929, and, since the company is local to me, I was able to save the shipping costs by just swinging by the warehouse. The people at Bestem Powersports (aka Cruiser Backrest) are very easy to deal with.
While there, I got to talking to the guys and they were very interested in how I planned to mount the bracket to the ST. Apparently, they had previously had some difficulties with this. They can have the brackets modified for the ST, but need to get dimensions and a bike to test it on (have I got a deal for them!).
I swapped out the red 2012 and was surprised to find they had some 929's that they had sent out for painting... they had a red one that is a close match to the 05 color (see attached pics). So, I took that one and modified the bracket to fit...
I had to elongate 2 holes near the rear (they were about 2mm too far apart); A couple of minutes of work with the Dremel grinder bit and they line up fine. Also, I had to drill 2 new holes near the seat (on either side of the "ADLO 929" on the bracket). Underneath those holes, I placed spacers between the bracket and platform so I could get the bolts tightened down snug without deforming the metal too much. I found the supplied bolts were a bit too high to allow them to fit underneath the box, so I went to Home Depot and picked up a coupled of rounded over bolts and self-locking nuts for security. They fit just right and the bracket is mounted solidly!
I'm not a machinist, nor do I play one on tv (yet another computer geek here!), but it was very simple and quick to do.
I'll be sending pictures of my mods to Bestem. We'll see if they can have the standard brackets modified, so they will fit the ST1300 right out of the box.
Time will tell if this is a good buy or not. From what I can tell, they appear fairly well made... and the 929 is a good size; accommodates my gym bag and laptop. Some scrimping on the fit and finish, but I expect that with the cost. The paint job is "ok" and matches the ST color fairly well, but it needs another clearcoat layer to make it really shine. The backrest is pretty meager, so the next thing is to fabricate something more substantial.
In any case, I think it will do the job for me... and I just couldn't beat the cost!
I also did some researching and found the original manufacturer of these boxes that Bestem/CB and others (Mutazu, etc...) are selling. They are made by the plastics division of Adlo Group, in China. Their website shows they have a pretty extensive product line... everything from motorcycle carriers to barbecue accessories!
http://www.adlo.net/en/
Whit
:biker:
Rustoleum Metallic Dark Steel is a pretty close match for the '03, in case anyone's interested..
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=181&sid=249131
http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=181&sid=249131
Do you have a picture of it with the bungee buddies on?
the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
I have the same set up on mine since 08.. No issues
My wife and I bungie our rain suits up there..keeps them handy and if they get wet it keeps them out of our other gear
I have the same set up on mine since 08.. No issues
My wife and I bungie our rain suits up there..keeps them handy and if they get wet it keeps them out of our other gear
Thanks! I just ordered 4 of them.
the Ferret
Daily rider since May 1965
I have a piece of buppy rubber for lining tool box drawers that I cut to fit between the buddy bungies so it isnt slick and our rain suits dont slide around. Got a roll of it at an automotive store. Keep it in the bottom of the trunk when not using it.
I have used betem on my last two bikes and they are well worth the money but I did not use the the bestem base plate and decided to fabricate my own plate out of aluminum
Bestem 929 Top Box install
Ok. So to add on to this thread, I put on my Bestem 929 today.
Why the 929?
I had this topbox on my Vstrom that I traded in and I liked it, ESPECIALLY for the price. Also, I use the topbox every day to commute, and I leave it on all the time. So when I put it on and secure it, while I WILL have a weatherproof connector to disconnect the power to it, and it will be secured with a bolt and locknut, I don't intend to have to take it off much, if at all.
How I use the luggage
Gymclothes go in the topbox, lunch goes in the sidecase, and the other sidecase is reserved for raingear, tools, and other miscellaneous that I have at all times. Also, I will be hooking up the LED brake light VIA positaps, and have an SAE connector that is always live in there. I created SAE to Cigarette Socket adaptors (two of them), and it will have a 5 amp fuse. This way I buy a cheap Griffin USB cigarette plug and can charge mine and my wife's cellphone. Because it's always live, I can charge the phones, secured in there, with the bike off. So if it's really low and we decided to pull over for lunch or dinner, or even if we have a friend in the riding group that wants/needs to charge an ipod while we're eating or walking around so it can have juice for the ride back.
My SLIGHT variation on the install
It's very slight to what everyone has posted. Everyone has realized that two of the holes in the plastic tailpiece line up very well. But for some reason most people are lining up the other two holes on the metal part, and drilling through the plastic to create a mounting point. This results on using the stock bolts on the most forward part, intermediate bolts to connect the metal plate to the plast, and then the bestem bolts on the rearmost two (where they line up stock).
I decided to line up the two bolts that everyone lines up, place the plastic piece on it, and then drill into the metal bestem base and create two new holes THERE. What that does is allows you to use the four supplied bestem bolts and save the stock bolts that held down the plastic. It doesn't modify the plastic piece at all so if you ever wanted to go to stock, you can very easily. Just remove the bestem and put back the old bolts. And, most importantly to me, this allows the four bolts connecting the bestem plate to the bike, to ALL be connected to a load bearing part of the bike. The other way, two bolts are secured only to flimsy plastic. The way I chose, all four are connected to the grab rails and luggage rack so should be more secure.
Pics with explanations
1) This is the stock plastic tailpiece. I will use these four holes and NOT drill into it (although you'll see later that my mis-measurement ended up nicking the very end of it....just measure a little better than I did!)
2) Laid upside down on top of the bestem plate and metal supports. In the picture, the TOP TWO holes line up with two holes already drilled in the bestem plate. The bottom two holes, I drilled the METAL BESTEM support. Be VERY CAREFUL drilling and making sure everything is centered. I was a little off and now my bestem top case is about 1/4 inch off from being perfectly centered on the bike. A little frustrating, but hey, I don't have a garage or shop. This was done on my little screened in deck on my apartment with a 2x10 as a "workbench" on the floor!
3) After removing the plastic piece, you can better see where the new holes were. Because they're on a different part of the metal plate, the height of the support bars is different. So I threw some big 'ol washers I had on them to make the plastic tailpiece it even and level.
4) Here's a picture of the modified bestem plate. The two lowest holes in the picture (bottom of picture) are the ones I drilled that NOW match up with the stock plastic tailpiece. The top center-ish hole is the one I will use to further secure the topbox to the plate (the "Just In Case This Tries To Vibrate Off" bolt). That one I measured just a HAIR wrong, and you'll see the results in the last two pictures.
5) Rightside up, plastic piece underneath, with the new holes and the four bolts that will be used to secure everything to the bike's luggage supports/grab rails.
6) Picture of the inside of the box, that centered bolt holding it down. It's a 7/16" by 1" bolt with a nylon lockwasher. I chose to have the washer on the inside, but only because I didn't put it close enough to the latching mechanism. You can see the space there. Unfortunately, if I put the washer underneath, it would hit the painted part of the tail grab rail/luggage rack. So I had to reverse it. Silly mistake, and it'll stay with me for the life of the topbox. But not a big deal.
7) Picture of the bottom, with the bolt. You can see the plastic piece is worn a little bit. That's because I should have drilled closer to the latching mechanism to fully clear everything. But life goes on. Also, I intend to JBWELD the bolt to the bottom of the bestem rack. So I won't risk losing it if I ever have to take the nylon locknut off to take the box off.
I've used this topbox in the past and used it DAILY. It does the job and while it's a budget box, I think it's worth more than the money you pay for it. I'll update this thread with how I put power in there and hooked up the brake light LED. I also know that the clips that hold the wire WILL break off with frequent use so I'll be using strong duct tape to tape the wires to the inside.
Hope this shows others that you can use the luggage rack bolt holes for all mounting points and I think it'll be more solid and less risk of being overstressed with weight being put in it.
Alexi
Ok. So to add on to this thread, I put on my Bestem 929 today.
Why the 929?
I had this topbox on my Vstrom that I traded in and I liked it, ESPECIALLY for the price. Also, I use the topbox every day to commute, and I leave it on all the time. So when I put it on and secure it, while I WILL have a weatherproof connector to disconnect the power to it, and it will be secured with a bolt and locknut, I don't intend to have to take it off much, if at all.
How I use the luggage
Gymclothes go in the topbox, lunch goes in the sidecase, and the other sidecase is reserved for raingear, tools, and other miscellaneous that I have at all times. Also, I will be hooking up the LED brake light VIA positaps, and have an SAE connector that is always live in there. I created SAE to Cigarette Socket adaptors (two of them), and it will have a 5 amp fuse. This way I buy a cheap Griffin USB cigarette plug and can charge mine and my wife's cellphone. Because it's always live, I can charge the phones, secured in there, with the bike off. So if it's really low and we decided to pull over for lunch or dinner, or even if we have a friend in the riding group that wants/needs to charge an ipod while we're eating or walking around so it can have juice for the ride back.
My SLIGHT variation on the install
It's very slight to what everyone has posted. Everyone has realized that two of the holes in the plastic tailpiece line up very well. But for some reason most people are lining up the other two holes on the metal part, and drilling through the plastic to create a mounting point. This results on using the stock bolts on the most forward part, intermediate bolts to connect the metal plate to the plast, and then the bestem bolts on the rearmost two (where they line up stock).
I decided to line up the two bolts that everyone lines up, place the plastic piece on it, and then drill into the metal bestem base and create two new holes THERE. What that does is allows you to use the four supplied bestem bolts and save the stock bolts that held down the plastic. It doesn't modify the plastic piece at all so if you ever wanted to go to stock, you can very easily. Just remove the bestem and put back the old bolts. And, most importantly to me, this allows the four bolts connecting the bestem plate to the bike, to ALL be connected to a load bearing part of the bike. The other way, two bolts are secured only to flimsy plastic. The way I chose, all four are connected to the grab rails and luggage rack so should be more secure.
Pics with explanations
1) This is the stock plastic tailpiece. I will use these four holes and NOT drill into it (although you'll see later that my mis-measurement ended up nicking the very end of it....just measure a little better than I did!)
2) Laid upside down on top of the bestem plate and metal supports. In the picture, the TOP TWO holes line up with two holes already drilled in the bestem plate. The bottom two holes, I drilled the METAL BESTEM support. Be VERY CAREFUL drilling and making sure everything is centered. I was a little off and now my bestem top case is about 1/4 inch off from being perfectly centered on the bike. A little frustrating, but hey, I don't have a garage or shop. This was done on my little screened in deck on my apartment with a 2x10 as a "workbench" on the floor!
3) After removing the plastic piece, you can better see where the new holes were. Because they're on a different part of the metal plate, the height of the support bars is different. So I threw some big 'ol washers I had on them to make the plastic tailpiece it even and level.
4) Here's a picture of the modified bestem plate. The two lowest holes in the picture (bottom of picture) are the ones I drilled that NOW match up with the stock plastic tailpiece. The top center-ish hole is the one I will use to further secure the topbox to the plate (the "Just In Case This Tries To Vibrate Off" bolt). That one I measured just a HAIR wrong, and you'll see the results in the last two pictures.
5) Rightside up, plastic piece underneath, with the new holes and the four bolts that will be used to secure everything to the bike's luggage supports/grab rails.
6) Picture of the inside of the box, that centered bolt holding it down. It's a 7/16" by 1" bolt with a nylon lockwasher. I chose to have the washer on the inside, but only because I didn't put it close enough to the latching mechanism. You can see the space there. Unfortunately, if I put the washer underneath, it would hit the painted part of the tail grab rail/luggage rack. So I had to reverse it. Silly mistake, and it'll stay with me for the life of the topbox. But not a big deal.
7) Picture of the bottom, with the bolt. You can see the plastic piece is worn a little bit. That's because I should have drilled closer to the latching mechanism to fully clear everything. But life goes on. Also, I intend to JBWELD the bolt to the bottom of the bestem rack. So I won't risk losing it if I ever have to take the nylon locknut off to take the box off.
I've used this topbox in the past and used it DAILY. It does the job and while it's a budget box, I think it's worth more than the money you pay for it. I'll update this thread with how I put power in there and hooked up the brake light LED. I also know that the clips that hold the wire WILL break off with frequent use so I'll be using strong duct tape to tape the wires to the inside.
Hope this shows others that you can use the luggage rack bolt holes for all mounting points and I think it'll be more solid and less risk of being overstressed with weight being put in it.
Alexi
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install
This thread was started 8 years ago and these top boxes are still being sold at a very cheap price. I am thinking of purchasing the 929 46 liter box. I was curious if any of you guys had any long term reviews to offer. Any problems crop up? Would you buy it again? Or would you invest a little more the next time and get something of a little better quality such as a Shad for example without having to go to the very expensive Givi? I am curious to know how these held up long term?
This thread was started 8 years ago and these top boxes are still being sold at a very cheap price. I am thinking of purchasing the 929 46 liter box. I was curious if any of you guys had any long term reviews to offer. Any problems crop up? Would you buy it again? Or would you invest a little more the next time and get something of a little better quality such as a Shad for example without having to go to the very expensive Givi? I am curious to know how these held up long term?
OP
OP
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install
Funny, I started this thread over 8 years ago as an option to the Honda box. I sold my STeed 2 years ago with 150K on it and the Bestum box was still doing fine. Don't even think about it .........do it.
Bob
Funny, I started this thread over 8 years ago as an option to the Honda box. I sold my STeed 2 years ago with 150K on it and the Bestum box was still doing fine. Don't even think about it .........do it.
Bob
Andrew Shadow
Site Supporter
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install
Thanks for the feedback. After reading ALL of the 189 posts I had pretty much decided to buy one. There have been a few people who have said they were a do-not-buy item. There have been some who thought that the quality was to inferior and returned them. So I figured a long term product review couldn't hurt so I thought I would ask out of curiosity.
I would also be curious to know if the screw people were adding as insurance to make sure the box did not fall off while riding was actually required or was it just overkill- is the box falling off a real concern?
Thanks for the feedback. After reading ALL of the 189 posts I had pretty much decided to buy one. There have been a few people who have said they were a do-not-buy item. There have been some who thought that the quality was to inferior and returned them. So I figured a long term product review couldn't hurt so I thought I would ask out of curiosity.
I would also be curious to know if the screw people were adding as insurance to make sure the box did not fall off while riding was actually required or was it just overkill- is the box falling off a real concern?
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