Post by oldchopperguy on Oct 31, 2013 12:06:04 GMT -5
A number of members here seem to be looking for a really LARGE trunk, or top-box for their scooter. Since the aftermarket trunk on my "new" old Kymco is fairly small (and the on-board storage is also small) I found myself looking for more storage room. The trunk that is on my Kymco 250 is good quality, and instantly removable to use as a suitcase, but just too small (I would estimate maybe 20 liters) or, about the same size as the smaller trunks found on factory-installed Chinese 150's.
Wanting to keep the cost under $100, I searched eBay and found this one. It seems to be a larger version of the same one already installed... Same design, apparently same maker, and that old one has been sun-baked and well-used for 6 years. It's still in nearly "pristine" condition. Hope this new one will be as good!
www.ebay.com/itm/200627897500?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
It's VERY large (39 liter) which is about 50% bigger than the one presently installed. It's pretty well-made and includes a built-in LED light at the top. It arrived yesterday, and I'm pleased with the quality. It IS Chinese-made, but more solid and well-designed than the average $40 models. It compares favorably with a similar GIVI trunk on a friend's Vespa. The huge wrap-around fake light-bar lens is easily removed and re-installed, and is channeled for strip-LED lighting. I found a white, strip-LED light of "sub-miniature" width (about 3/16" wide) which will fit right into the center channel of the red plastic lens.
So I'm adding THAT for a super-wide tail-light, and am using the pre-installed LED on the lid as a stoplight. I'm also adding a set of amber strip-LED turn-signals to the trunk. This provides a FULL SET of tail-light, stoplight and left & right turn-signals RIGHT IN THE FACE of vehicles immediately behind me.
I've found that scooter trunks (especially BIG ones) tend to "mask" and really hinder the effectiveness of their stock rear lights. When a car or truck "tailgates" you (which they do ALL too often) their hood/grille blocks the scooter rear lights to a dangerous extent. So I like to place bright auxiliary lights up at windshield area. I did this on my old 150 and occasional telltale squealing tires just inches behind me told me the trunk lights were a REALLY good idea.
This particular trunk DOES seem to be a good one, featuring a VERY well-designed, strong steel mount, with instant "push-button" removal to carry goods away from the scooter. (The pre-installed LED lights have a nice male plug wire connection, but since I'll fully light the trunk, I got a trailer-light pigtail connector so all the lights will simply unplug to remove the trunk.) With the scooter having turn-signals separate from stoplights, I got a pigtail/male-female kit with 5 wires, rather than the common 4-wire setup, so I plug and unplug TAIL-LIGHT, BRAKE-LIGHT, LEFT-TURN, RIGHT-TURN AND GROUND with just one simple plug.
Fully lighting a trunk is a pretty basic "kitchen-table" project, but I'll take pix and post a thread for riders wanting to do this simple-but-effective safety upgrade to make it easy for those who aren't quite sure about tackling such mods.
There are a lot of trunks available, but truly LARGE ones are not all that common. For those looking for a decent storage box for less than $100 delivered, this one might be a good choice. The same seller also offers one slightly larger yet, but it gains its size through square corners, and was just TOO "utilitarian" for me. For those wanting an almost "military tool-box" look, it might be perfect.
Ride safe, ride with STORAGE on-board...
Leo in Texas
Wanting to keep the cost under $100, I searched eBay and found this one. It seems to be a larger version of the same one already installed... Same design, apparently same maker, and that old one has been sun-baked and well-used for 6 years. It's still in nearly "pristine" condition. Hope this new one will be as good!
www.ebay.com/itm/200627897500?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
It's VERY large (39 liter) which is about 50% bigger than the one presently installed. It's pretty well-made and includes a built-in LED light at the top. It arrived yesterday, and I'm pleased with the quality. It IS Chinese-made, but more solid and well-designed than the average $40 models. It compares favorably with a similar GIVI trunk on a friend's Vespa. The huge wrap-around fake light-bar lens is easily removed and re-installed, and is channeled for strip-LED lighting. I found a white, strip-LED light of "sub-miniature" width (about 3/16" wide) which will fit right into the center channel of the red plastic lens.
So I'm adding THAT for a super-wide tail-light, and am using the pre-installed LED on the lid as a stoplight. I'm also adding a set of amber strip-LED turn-signals to the trunk. This provides a FULL SET of tail-light, stoplight and left & right turn-signals RIGHT IN THE FACE of vehicles immediately behind me.
I've found that scooter trunks (especially BIG ones) tend to "mask" and really hinder the effectiveness of their stock rear lights. When a car or truck "tailgates" you (which they do ALL too often) their hood/grille blocks the scooter rear lights to a dangerous extent. So I like to place bright auxiliary lights up at windshield area. I did this on my old 150 and occasional telltale squealing tires just inches behind me told me the trunk lights were a REALLY good idea.
This particular trunk DOES seem to be a good one, featuring a VERY well-designed, strong steel mount, with instant "push-button" removal to carry goods away from the scooter. (The pre-installed LED lights have a nice male plug wire connection, but since I'll fully light the trunk, I got a trailer-light pigtail connector so all the lights will simply unplug to remove the trunk.) With the scooter having turn-signals separate from stoplights, I got a pigtail/male-female kit with 5 wires, rather than the common 4-wire setup, so I plug and unplug TAIL-LIGHT, BRAKE-LIGHT, LEFT-TURN, RIGHT-TURN AND GROUND with just one simple plug.
Fully lighting a trunk is a pretty basic "kitchen-table" project, but I'll take pix and post a thread for riders wanting to do this simple-but-effective safety upgrade to make it easy for those who aren't quite sure about tackling such mods.
There are a lot of trunks available, but truly LARGE ones are not all that common. For those looking for a decent storage box for less than $100 delivered, this one might be a good choice. The same seller also offers one slightly larger yet, but it gains its size through square corners, and was just TOO "utilitarian" for me. For those wanting an almost "military tool-box" look, it might be perfect.
Ride safe, ride with STORAGE on-board...
Leo in Texas
BTW, Happy Halloween!
