C400GT Top Box
- Thread starter mel1050
- Start date
So now I am installing RKA soft saddle bags and a soft passenger seat bag for my desert cooling system. Should I continue using this Top Box thread or start A new thread for Soft Luggage? I have pictures of the little alteration I made to the passenger foot rest to make it possible to use soft luggage.
wspollack
Active member
New thread.
Did you paint your OEM BMW hand rail,top box mount or do they come in black as well as silver?I installed a Givi Monokey v47 onto my C400GT using the BMW rack with the AltRider BMW f700 plate. I had to make an adapter to retrofit the plate to the
AltRider Luggage Rack for BMW F 700 GS
AltRider Luggage Rack for BMW F 700 GS - When you install the AltRider Luggage Rack for the BMW F 700 GS, you know it will meet your needs. We designed it so whether on or off road, you can take along everything you need for your trip. Made from sturwww.altrider.com
wspollack
Active member
Hey @mgg:
I just watched the video by HedOpp (www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJCL0Euh2L0) posted by @Claudini in post 18. Unlike Claudini and Scooteria, HedOpp just used exising holes and openings in the OEM BMW rack to mount the 58X. And then, in a comment on that video from six months ago, HedOpp also has this to say: "Hi! No drilling is necessary. I have mounted the backrest after I posted the video. It's really easy to install. Yes, the base plate comes with the box."
This gives me the impression that (when I can spare the money) I can just go ahead and try out the 58X in place of my OEM topcase without changing much of anything, and that the backrest pad may be in a good position.
In any event, how's your mounting coming along?
I just watched the video by HedOpp (www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJCL0Euh2L0) posted by @Claudini in post 18. Unlike Claudini and Scooteria, HedOpp just used exising holes and openings in the OEM BMW rack to mount the 58X. And then, in a comment on that video from six months ago, HedOpp also has this to say: "Hi! No drilling is necessary. I have mounted the backrest after I posted the video. It's really easy to install. Yes, the base plate comes with the box."
This gives me the impression that (when I can spare the money) I can just go ahead and try out the 58X in place of my OEM topcase without changing much of anything, and that the backrest pad may be in a good position.
In any event, how's your mounting coming along?
I decided to just mount everything the way it is for now. I really thought the black would look good on my white scooter but just don't want to mess with it right now.
I dry fit the Shad mount to the BMW mount which just came in today. It all looks like it will work but it is a little close to the seat. Looks great but the passenger may loose about an inch of room. (I haven't carried a passenger in a long time.) I'm going to mount it the same way to see how it works, as you say, it requires no modifications for this mount. Can always change it later if I think it needs to go back a little.
mgg
wspollack
Active member
I forget whether the underseat tub -- the big thing with the flex case in it -- has to come out, in order to swap the stock passenger grab rails with the BMW luggage rack. Well, a heads-up, regardless: if anyone's removing the tub, be careful not to damage the little leaf-spring switch at the very back of it, when taking it out or putting it in.
On my '22 C 400 GT, I did remove the tub for some farkle, and I wasn't careful, and I broke the little switch, the part that determines whether the flex case is in the proper position for starting the bike. I think I bumped it against some frame piece. I documented this in a couple of pics in my gallery, starting with this pic and caption:
2022 & 2023 BMW C 400 GT Scooters
billanddot.com
So be mindful of this, be careful how you manipulate the underseat tub if you have to remove it for anything.
I did not remove the tub to exchange the passenger hand rails with the BMW OEM hand rails/top box mount. Took off the seat strut, and the 5 screws that hold the tub down. 2 plastic in front and 3 regular screws 2 in the back and 1 on the side opposite the strut.
With these out you can raise the tub about an inch and move it over far enough to get out the handrails and replace with the OEM top box mount. You have to put the new mount in one side at a time. Once you have one side in it is more difficult to get the other side in but you just have to apply enough pressure to get it done. Still I tried to be very careful when lifting the back end not to damage anything.
Checked it out and everything looks good. The engine starts so I guess I didn't break the switch.
mgg
With these out you can raise the tub about an inch and move it over far enough to get out the handrails and replace with the OEM top box mount. You have to put the new mount in one side at a time. Once you have one side in it is more difficult to get the other side in but you just have to apply enough pressure to get it done. Still I tried to be very careful when lifting the back end not to damage anything.
Checked it out and everything looks good. The engine starts so I guess I didn't break the switch.
mgg
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After looking at everything I decided to add the brake light kit that I got with the SH 58x. So I mounted the case back to accomidate that farkle. I took a few pictures.
In the first picture you can see the brake light at the edge of the mounting plate and where I drilled the wholes to accomidate this mounting position. At the end of the day I decided I wanted this extra brake light and all it took was drilling 2 holes to get it so I did it. The next picture shows the position of the case which still looks pretty good to me. The front screws could use a spacer and I may accomidate that although the plate is very sturdy and flat. I'll likely wire in the brake light Tuesday.
In the first picture you can see the brake light at the edge of the mounting plate and where I drilled the wholes to accomidate this mounting position. At the end of the day I decided I wanted this extra brake light and all it took was drilling 2 holes to get it so I did it. The next picture shows the position of the case which still looks pretty good to me. The front screws could use a spacer and I may accomidate that although the plate is very sturdy and flat. I'll likely wire in the brake light Tuesday.
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I didn't remove the tub either. But I did when I had to replace one of the handrail bolts. Definitely an easier task when the tub is out; but the reason I removed it was to apply ACF 50 on all of the parts prone to corrosion under there, not necessarily to make it the bolt replacement easier.
I found a way to mount the Shad 58X universal plate that comes with it on my 2024 BMW C400 GT scooter using at least two of the existing bolt holes on the BMW rack. With this method the plate sits flat/flush on the BMW luggage rack in the center with more than enough room to open the seat and in a comfortable position for the passenger. It's solid.
A very easy, slight modification of the plate is required - simply extend the long slots so they reach over the bolt holes nearest the scooter body. I used a 1/4 inch drill bit to carve out a tiny extension to the slot and cleaned it up with a round file. You could use a Dremel tool or whatever. It only takes a couple minutes. Now you can see straight down to the holes and the short bolts that come with the plate fit. First place the "U" shaped metal adapters in the slot, then add the bolts.
For the rear use M6 - 50 or 60 bolts that are a bit longer than the included long bolts along with the "hold down" hardware through the holes in the back of the BMW rack.
In addition to the lock nuts I used blue Locktite liquid on the bolts. The result is like it was made for mounting on the BMW luggage rack. I think you'll like this approach.
A very easy, slight modification of the plate is required - simply extend the long slots so they reach over the bolt holes nearest the scooter body. I used a 1/4 inch drill bit to carve out a tiny extension to the slot and cleaned it up with a round file. You could use a Dremel tool or whatever. It only takes a couple minutes. Now you can see straight down to the holes and the short bolts that come with the plate fit. First place the "U" shaped metal adapters in the slot, then add the bolts.
For the rear use M6 - 50 or 60 bolts that are a bit longer than the included long bolts along with the "hold down" hardware through the holes in the back of the BMW rack.
In addition to the lock nuts I used blue Locktite liquid on the bolts. The result is like it was made for mounting on the BMW luggage rack. I think you'll like this approach.
ScootergirlTX
New member
THANK YOU!
I just got a SHAD Terra 48L case in this weekend and by following your detailed post, I was able to install the baseplate to the OEM luggage rack successfully.