Bestem Top Box

Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install

Andrew Shadow said:
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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Mine rattled enough to rattle me, so I installed two screw (bolts) to secure it tightly. And it gives me peace of mind - if it is so loose that it rattles, might someone be able to remove it in a parking lot with a little twist here and there?
 
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install

I received my T-Box 929 top case today. At first glance it seems to be a very nice product for the price. I am a little concerned about its sealing ability however. The literature that came with the top case states that it has "rubber seals to keep water out". I can't find them. All top cases I have had have a rubber seal in the recess in the top half where the lip of the bottom half fits in to when the lid is closed. This one does not have one. For those who have the Bestem T-Box 929 top case does it have a rubber seal to make it water proof?

Thanks.
 
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install

I had to go out to the garage to check for the rubber seal. I have used the Bestem for about 6 years on my 03 and never had water in the box. I just installed one on my new to me 05 and neither of them have rubber seals. But the water stays out. I guess the lip on the lid is enough to do the job. Great top box
 
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Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install

I've had a Bestum on my '06 since 2007. No leaks, no problems. I'm glad I ignored the nay sayers way back when.
 
Mine has never fallen off, despite the less than optimal roads I regularly ride on. I had forgotten completely about the extra steps people took to secure these on. Yes, the mounting system
is not as good as Givi, but, it seems to be adequate. MIne stayed on the ST for about a month, until the SO decided she did not like it as much as the passenger backrest, then it was mounted to the Helix scooter, and there it has stayed, doing daily duty as a helmet/jacket storage for the time I drop off my wife. VERY convenient. I used to bungie her helmet to the back seat, now it goes in the Bestem , close the lid, and I am off.

I have only had it in the rain a few times, but no leaks.
 
Re: Bestem 929 Top Box install

I just bought the 46L and it's actually pretty decent. The latches and the hinges look like the weak link but I thinks as long as one doesn't slam bang them around should be fine. I agree with many on here about running an extra bolt through it to hold it on. I am trying to hookup the brake light now, and not really sure how I want to do it. I really don't like the idea of just tying into on of the wires going to a bulb.
BTW I have only had the ST1300 for a month now and liked it so much, I went ahead and sold my FZ1. :) That says a lot... I loved my FZ1~
 
This thread is so old I can't remember if I replied before or not, but I have had my Bestem Box on my bike since my bike was new, an 06 bought as a left over in 08. In the last 7 years it has gone over 58,000 miles from Ohio to Maine, to Georgia to California, to Washington state ...many times overloaded, most of those miles with my wife leaning against it. Never leaked, never fallen off. I did replace the latch/lock mechanism once ( they sent me a new one for free) and had to re-do one of the cables that holds the lid when open. I never did hook up the lights. I think I paid $59 for the thing. What a bargain. I'd buy another in a heartbeat if I got a new bike that required a trunk.
 
For anyone who has recently bought and installed this top box... Do you have to drill out any holes in the Honda mounting plate? Or do you have to drill out holes in the supplied mounting bracket with the top box? Or neither?

And also does anyone have such a deal on a back rest alone, no top box? I don't want to pay $395 from Pirates Lair for a Stealth backrest.
 
MorrisGray said:
And also does anyone have such a deal on a back rest alone, no top box? I don't want to pay $395 from Pirates Lair for a Stealth backrest.
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Passenger or rider rest? I have a custom built pillow style leather that is collecting dust at home.
 
MorrisGray said:
For anyone who has recently bought and installed this top box... Do you have to drill out any holes in the Honda mounting plate? Or do you have to drill out holes in the supplied mounting bracket with the top box? Or neither?

And also does anyone have such a deal on a back rest alone, no top box? I don't want to pay $395 from Pirates Lair for a Stealth backrest.
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I saw one up close on another bike and was impressed by its visual quality and apparent ruggedness (really thick injection molded plastic). So, I bought one from the Ebay vendor. My initial doubts about it were set aside when I realized I could buy several Bestem trunks ($79.99) for what a decent Givi would cost.

The hardware coming with the box currently is designed to attach to an existing box bracket...probably a Givi or Hondaline. Otherwise, you must drill. Photos of the Bartem setup from several years ago show completely different attachment hardware. The installation shown on their website for the ST1100 WILL NOT WORK....the bolts provided are too tall for the box to snap into place.

I marked the hole pattern of the existing grab rail set onto a sheet of paper using a tiny phillips screwdriver and transferred the holes to the provided bracket with a silver Sharpie. Took it to a bike shop for drilling because the rearmost two holes fall into the joggles that stiffen the bracket (plus, I don't have a drill press anymore). Asked the mechanic to oversize them to 10mm....the existing bolts are 8mm and I didn't use rocket science to transfer the pattern.

I put the factory bolts and hole plugs into a ziplock bag, marked it appropriately, and stuck it onto my peg-boarded wall.

I did not use the Bartem provided bolts...the head is too tall and would interfere with the box installation. I bought four 8mm panhead allen screws 1 1/2" long and some large diameter 8mm fender washers. ALSO...I bought four 3/4" steel spacers having a 3/8" inside diameter...they just fit into the factory recesses for the stock bolts. This way, I won't squash the pliable cover over my stock grab rails. Hate ruining stuff.

Painted everything satin black. The Bartem bracket because it was pretty scratched up during drilling and the bushings because I don't like rust eating away at my handiwork.

I stacked up the hardware....spacer in the recess, flat washer, bracket, flat washer, screw and snugged everything down. I used the fender washers at the screws at the rear where the joggle hole is (kind of awkward looking but the large washers maintain rigidity), small flat washers on the front screws. I did not use lock washers for fear of stacking the screw heads up too high and causing interference.

Slipped on the box and locked into place. (haven't connected the wiring to the brake light yet). The installation looks fine, is functional and....my wife fits (which is the reason I bought the box in the first place).

Just be forewarned......don't mount the bracket too far forward or you won't be able to remove your seat without first unscrewing your handiwork. If you install the Bartem using an existing box bracket as the foundation, this isn't a problem.

In typical fashion, I took my camera into the garage to photograph the progress...and promptly lost it in my perpetual clutter. I will photo the bracket installation once I relocate the darned thing.
 
I have one of these on my bike. It was very wobbly, it has the front part it slips into and the back where it locks in spot. Their are 4 rubber prongs that stick up that the box rest on and those are on the mounting bracket. I took those out drilled 4 holes in the box and bolted it down with washers inbetween the box and the bracket, now that sucker is solid as can be.
 
Great thread. This really helped me to install a Bestem on my recently acquired 2005. The color match is excellent. I have a question on the brake lights. The previous owner had a Honda plate on the back and left it on the bike. This made my installation much easier. Just a few holes in the Bestem plate then attached to the Honda plate.

Under my seat there is a two wire harness, that I believe are brake light wires. I was hoping for a confirmation of this. The wires appear to be coming from the front of the bike. Can someone tell from the pics if these are indeed brake light wires I can use to hook up the Bestem lights? Thanks in advance.
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Iirc, when you look aft under the pillion seat, you will see the back of the lamp socket on both sides (protruding from the light housing). I seem to remember that these are the indicator lamps. I tapped into these wires for auxiliary indicator/flasher lights that are LED strips mounted on my side cases. Because of all the wires and dark in there, you will need a good flashlight and great eyesight.

I accessed my brake lights from under the rear fender from below. Remove the rear fender extension (from below) and you will see a similar bulb holder for the brake light. I tapped into these wires and led a wire up to the topcase following Honda's wires. This is for a late model ST1300. Might be different for an 1100.
 
STRaider said:
I was hoping for a confirmation of this. The wires appear to be coming from the front of the bike. Can someone tell from the pics if these are indeed brake light wires I can use to hook up the Bestem lights? Thanks in advance.
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It's a custom one-off wiring job, not OEM, so none of us will be able to really help you with an easy answer.

Except... for this. Hook a multimeter to the wires, just stuff the probes in the end of the connector and set it to measure DC voltage. Make sure you have no voltage to start, then check for voltage when you grab the brake lever, try for both front and rear brake actuation.
 
Re: Bqestem Top Box

Went to check out your suggestion, and saw brake lights were not even lighting up, front or back. I tried the horn and it didn't work, so I'm hoping it's just a fuse. I know horn was working last ride (two weeks ago), so I hope nothing is causing fuses to blow on regular basis. Since bike is new to me, I'm not sure if this has happened before. Of course, one of the hex bolts heads (middle one) on side panel where the fuses are is stripped, so checking fuse is delayed until I can get that off.:mad:
 
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MorrisGray said:
For anyone who has recently bought and installed this top box... Do you have to drill out any holes in the Honda mounting plate? Or do you have to drill out holes in the supplied mounting bracket with the top box? Or neither?

And also does anyone have such a deal on a back rest alone, no top box? I don't want to pay $395 from Pirates Lair for a Stealth backrest.
Click to expand...

Used attached on mine 8 years ago
 

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I got the Bestem plate installed, and today got the wiring for the lights together with bullet connectors to use the quick disconnect set up that came with the box. The bike had a two wire harness connection from the previous owner, connected to the brakes, perhaps for a Honda Top Box. The previous connector and now my connectors, are in the back in the tail light section under the pillion seat, where the tool set is. I thought I would just run the wires out from under the pillion seat and hook up to the Bestem whenever I use it. I have a Saddleman seat, front and back, and the fit is snug. It seems the pillion seat will pinch the wires when secured well enough to lock in place. I don't see any gaps under the seat that the wires will fit through. Being pinched combined with the vibration of riding can't be a good idea. Where have others run their wires to avoid this? Thanks in advance.
 
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