Pros & Cons of Hondaline & Givi Maxia E55 Top Boxes

sky_vinz

Joined
Oct 20, 2012
Messages
3
Location
Singapore
Overview_zps2f18b438.jpg

Considering the pros & cons of each.. Any advise/comments?

HondaLine 45l Top Box:
- Price is about SGD 850 (incl shipping & installation)
- Colour coded
- Box sits lower
- Dedicated base plate
- Fits 2 full face helmets
- Ability to install spoiler with brake light
- Comfortable backrest (optional arm rest)
- Uneven base on inside of box, requires mat to place items evenly
- Top lid is secured by strings when opened, can be fully opened flat 180 degrees

Givi Maxia 55l Top Box:
- Price is about SGD 600 (incl shipping & installation)
- Able to purchase colour coded top lids
- Box sits slightly higher
- Universal base plate for Givi Monokey boxes
- Fits 2 full face helmets
- Ability to install brake light
- Able to purchase a small backrest
- Flat base on inside of box, easier to place helmets
- Top lid is secured by metal hinges when opened, can only open to 90 degrees

*Side image of Givi box is of E52.
 
Last edited:
Keep in mind that Givi makes both of them. So quality is going to be the same.

For the most part it comes down to styling preference.

Here in the US it comes down to availability and cost. Givi is way cheaper for us.

Also in your pics of the E55 you are showing two different top boxes. The top one I is the E52 with optional backrest that I have (mine doesn't have the back rest) and the bottom one the E55. Just a FYI as the E55 will look a little different from the side compared to your top picture. As I mentioned, I have the E52 with the brake light kit and am happy.
 
Last edited:
Hondaline Top Box also moves with the bike. The mount allows a slight lateral movement of the box with G-forces created as you lean and turn.

Givi can be used on other bikes if you buy extra mounts.
 
. . . . . . in a word: portability.

can you easily remove the honda box for transport to your hotel room to safely and conveniently access its contents?


thank you,
-Elliot
 
Last edited:
STill STylin said:
. . . . . . in a word: portability.

can you easily remove the honda box for transport to your hotel room to safely and conveniently access its contents?


thank you,
-Elliot
Click to expand...

Same thing with the Givi. Put the key in and pop it off with a press of a button. Even with the brake light kit, nothing to unhook. Just press a button.
 
I went with the Hondaline topbox; I think it looks better on the bike. And, at the time I bought mine, there wasn't a huge price difference between it and the Givi. It comes down to personal aesthetics, and sometimes cost. Either will do the job just fine.
 
Having owned both (Givi in ST1100, Hondaline on ST1300), there is one serious difference. Look at the mounting plates. On both boxes, one end is a hook, the other a latch. With the Givi box, the hook is at the front. The Hondaline box has the hook at the back.

Who cares? The answer is what happens when the latch opens or breaks, which does happen. If the Givi latch breaks, the box immediately slides off the back because the hook end is at the front. With the Hondaline, the box will stay there for a while. If you have a passenger using the Givi as a backrest, the passenger will go off the back with the box. More than one time I woke up at night sweating due to a nightmare about losing my wife off the back of the bike. It would be fatal for sure, head/neck would be the first thing to hit the pavement. I ended up drilling a hole through the Givi box and mount plate, and installed a bolt+wingnut as a backup. I would NOT use the Givi as a backrest without that bolt.

The latch could open or break on the Hondaline box, but with a person leaning on the backrest the box would probably stay in place long enough for the passenger to hang on. By the way, I think the Hondaline box is actually made by Givi, the lock set is the same.
 
Biggest problems with the Hondaline is cost and availability.

I bought my '05 (red) topbox within a month after buying the bike, new. So I didn't have a problem finding one. When I went to get the '04 (blue - also 8 years old by then), I was very lucky on both accounts! While there are two '04 (blue) on ebay right now, they are in the UK and very expensive! :(

But the Hondaline is the only way I'll go. :D

TopCaseFor04-2.jpg
 
Last edited:
This is the third Givi I had and all of them proformed great. Why so many you ask? I bought my bike used and it had a 36 size then jumped to a 55. Had a 46 on my other bike. Never had any latch problems and the wife is very comfortable on the back. Plenty of space in the 55 and looks great also!!!!

Jay
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom