Modern Vespa

Can someone give me some reasons for why to have one?

It seems to me like having a top case would only limit the size of things you can carry? I remember constantly loading odd shaped sized things on my vespa LX150 that would not have fit inside a top case. For example bags of miracle grow that I'd stack on the luggage rack.

Im contemplating buying a vespa used and they all have the top cases on them.

I personally think they're ugly in addition to the additional constraint of things that they can hold.

What are some things that people use them for and, why should I consider buying a vespa with one?


One more question, how much harder does lane-splitting become with that top case?

They're ugly and they come off.

They are ugly, don't have one, would like one. They really do make good sense, just kind of in the way.

Most are lockable, most are reasonably waterproof (at least for the purpose of riding in the rain), and many offer another place to put reflectors or lights higher up on the back of the bike for visibility. The easily removable ones are nice when you just want to grab everything and go. If there's a backrest pad on it, some passengers may feel more secure.

If you find your perfect Vespa, but you don't like the case it comes with, there's usually someone out here on the forum somewhere (or on eBay) that would be more than happy to buy it off you.

Considering none of the Modern Vespa models are capable of holding a FF helmet under the seat a top case is a damn handy addition.
I thought they were ugly at first ...... Top Boxes..they're unnatural
but soon found I couldn't be without my Givi.
Givi cases can also be removed with a simple click of a button but when locked that are very secure.

They are a bit ugly but they do take a lot of stuff, and they are handy to lock your full face lid in when you are out. Plus nothing is going to work it's way out from under a bungee or get wet.

They come off in a few minutes leaving you with just the rack, and a nicer looking scoot, so I'm just going to put mine on for rallies where it will be useful for locking stuff safely away on site.

I put a fitted waterproof protective cover under my seat which fills up that space and so in my top case goes my tool kit, a chammy leather, a spare pair of gloves, a waterproof jacket, water proof trousers and when I am parked my helmet and riding gloves.

I would be stuffed without it!

Lots of reasons here already.

I'd never be without mine - lockable and waterproof, and carry 3 six-packs of beer (the other two under the seat) or half a week's shopping, keep the pillion's helmet and jacket secure while I ride to collect her, provide a backrest for pillion ...

If you're only seeing 2ndhand Vespas with top cases, then buy anyway. you can always on-sell the topcase later - but I'll bet you don't once you start to use it!

I'll agree with what others have said. My GT200 had one when I bought it used. I kept it on for a while to store my helmet in when I parked. Then(through this forum) I discovered the nubs under the seat that I could secure the helmet too when parked. I quickly removed the topbox and love the lines of the scooter without the topbox installed. I can put it on or take it off in about a minute. I do put it on if I go on a journey where I want to carry extra stuff or if I want to haul some groceries(etc.) that I don't want to get warm under the seat. It's nice to have but I only use it occasionally.

Beer. Lot's of Beer. Get's warm in the Pet carrier and it holds significantly less.

For the purpose of lane splitting, I hear that dealers install a wider grip on the handle bars if the client opts for a top case.

How easily could this be removed/changed back to original? I dont want wider grips.

The bar end weights are easy to change out. The heavier weights problably help stability even without the topbox and are not that much wider. I would just leave them on.

well for the purists I suppose they would be against having one

IMHO, a top case is really practical and useful. once you start using one, you will find it difficult to be without one. my friends all had similar experience

same goes for saddlebags. I can't do without saddlebags as well for my previous cruiser 8)

pretty much like cigarettes then....?

my £0.02..

when i see a GTS300SS with its out of the factory stripped down look, no screen, no carrier etc, it almost captures the essence of a 60's Vespa, beautifully minimalistic

when i see the same machine with the box, screen etc, i think it looks very useful

which machine do you want, horses for courses?

+1

I've just picked up an 05 GTS 250 with a matching topcase. I must remove it before I get addicted to using it! Too easy to use but too ugly to keep on!

I can't complain about the practicality of it. Soo easy to chuck a helmet in, pop a carrier bag of shopping in, etc etc! However, I find it has de-scooted my ride! I sit IN the scooter now, between the handle bars and the top case! I want to sit ON my scooter!

I'll not get rid of though as I just KNOW I'll use it in the future for those expeditions I'm planning.

Though I like the lay my scooter looks without it, I wouldn't be able to do half the stuff I do if I didn't have it. Between the Topcase and the front rack and the hook inside the leg shield I can carry all of my groceries, and if I am out shooting photos, I can fit my gear (not counting my tripod, that goes on the front rack), in my top case. Plus, like Witch said, you also get more reflectors, or another place to add light to be seen easier.

For commuting, my top case holds my backpack and a pair of street shoes. When I get to work, I swap footgear and the boots go in the top case along with my mesh jacket. Mesh overpants go under the seat. I carry the helmet inside 'cause I don't see any advantage in cooking it all day.

For day rides, the top case holds a soft-side cooler, chair, and other goodies.

For shopping, I'll stash my helmet in the top case while I'm in the store, and then use it getting my bags home.

I try to use the scooter as much as possible for running errands -- instead of the car. The top case just makes things more practical.

I wanted a topcase for many reasons. One is a clean dry place for stuff. Next is to provide a backrest for passenger.

Among the very good reasons listed on this thread, I also like the top case because it afforded an opportunity to install an Admore lighting kit with LED signal lights for extra safety and visibility.

As Ranger mentioned, they come in very handy as a backrest for passengers.

I know mine looks better without but it's damn handy.

I agree.

It puts the brake light and turn signal more at a car drivers line of sight.

Agree with most of the above posts, too. A top case does make it a tad harder for a pillion to mount. As a college kid I could strap one suitcase on the rear rack and another on the front before riding 300 miles to school. I fell over on black ice one wintry day. The two suitcases acted as crash bars and totally protected the scooter.

But, all in all, I would not be without my Vespa top case. And yes, it will hold an 18-pack of beer. (Just had to remove three cans from the box and stow them loose.)

If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand anyway

No. I just can't work it out.

Our BV250 has a very useful top case with a quick release latch. It can be removed from the scooter by engaging the latch, hidden on the inside of the case so as to make it a little bit harder for scofflaws to remove. Takes twenty seconds and the key must be inserted into the latch. It even has a pop-up handle so it can be carried like a suitcase.

It only took about two years of ownership (dealer installed case) before I discovered the quick release feature. "Hey, wonder what that little latch-looking thingy is on the inside of this case? It looks like the key might fit into it."

I appear to be in the minority, but I much prefer the way a GTS looks with the OEM topcase to without.

Two words: cargo capacity.

Also, as topcase go, the OEM topcase flatters the scooter more than some aftermarket ones do. But at a premium. I still have not surrendered the cash for an OEM topcase, much as I'd like one.

The thing is I don't think I agree with the whole cargo argument, and is the reason why I started this thread.

With the top case, you can only fit things inside that are either smaller than the case, or is exactly that size. I remember taking trips to the airport with my luggage strapped on the back.

Though I guess having a front rack also will remedy that.


One more question, how much harder does lane-splitting become with that top case?

The front rack, and topcase offer very different cargo experiences. Thats not to say you cant use one, and not the other, but as is often said "a thousand Frenchman can't be wrong" though...

I don't particularly care for the topcase lookswise, but functionally speaking its a "10". Thank goodness theyre removable.

Re lane splitting: a topcase isn't going to change anything...nor are the ever so slightly wider bar weights that should be used with a topcase. If the added 1/2" inch or so of width hampers your lane-splitting practices, maybe re-think when and where you choose to split.

It shouldn't be any different, unless you're cutting it close enough that you're being dangerous in the first place. Any top case I've seen that will fit on a Vespa is highly likely to be skinnier than the body of the scoot, and certainly skinnier than the width of the handle bars. A case should really only add a bit to the length of the end of the bike as far as that's concerned. I would think the only real effect a case would have on lane splitting would just be the overall handling if you had it loaded with something heavy.

And as far as bar end weights go...
I've got the Jettin' "barbell" ends on my GTV, which I believe are longer than the ones that come with the Vespa top case. They still don't stick out as far as my mirrors do, so if I were allowed to lane split here in NY, they wouldn't affect that at all. Now if you get shorter aftermarket mirrors, that's another matter.

You're right about fitting things inside a case. I personally find my cases to be more useful than not. But there are times when I'll remove it in order to carry a large or funny shaped load of something.

I'm with many of you. I don't like the look of one but like the practicality of it for longer rides. I have the Givi and can pop it and my bag off when I get to my destination. I have one on the GTS but I don't even have a rear rack on the ET because I love the clean lines.

Back rest for your pillion
Locked Storage for a full face helmet
Locked Storage for rain gear
Carrying space for groceries
Extra lights/turn signals up high w/ addition of Admore Lighting kit

Get a rear rack instead. I wouldn't have one on mine i think it takes way from my scooter. However some scooter like the GYV'S look good with them on. My LX does not. I do use my friends tho when we go riding to stash my helmet tho and yes they are useful but i've done over 20k without one and i've hauled trees etc. It can be done without. Good luck

When I crave a hot bike that has nothing practical, I ride my Sportster. Hell bungee cords don't even stay on the fender rack it's just a chrome doo-dad. Had a top case on my CH250 for 12 years and the Vespa has both top-case and front rack. It is very handy for shopping and really has little or no effects as to handling or where I can get the scoot. Mind you I don't "split lanes" but I'm also scar-less after riding motorcycles for 40 plus years often in shorts and flip-flops. Wear all the protective gear you feel is right, however, riding any motorcycle is not dangerous, it is crashing where the real danger comes in. Don't like the looks, take them off, don't put them on, it is your choice. If a had the Vespa top box (mines an off-brand) I'd do the brake turn signal up-grade too, that adds much more safety than an "inch width" when you are splitting those lanes.

I do find them hideous on most bikes, but all of mine come off really easy.

Unfortunately I honestly need the space, unless I want to carry a large backpack, which is more annoying.

On my Scarabeo, the large topcase allowed us to make a 450/way mile trip with no extra baggage. During rallies and such I can just remove it if I feel it's inappropriate.

You certainly can go without one, but a top case will provide waterproof (mostly anyway), lockable storage that can accommodate a lot of stuff. They can be painted to match the scooter to make them more attractive and provide a platform for additional lighting and/or hi-vis decals.

Most are easily removed. My Givi E370 can be removed with a turn of the key and the push of a button...about 5 seconds I can be top case free.

It all comes down to how you will use it and whether you can live with the looks of it when you do use it.

Same as a lot of riders, I didn't want topcase until I bought a helmet that wouldn't fit under the seat. I use my scooter to commute to work and I have no place to store it there. So I lock it in my topcase.

OP, If you don't like them and have no use for it, why would you get one?

It's lockable. It's waterproof. It does not make your bike wider. It's big enough to put your FF helmet in, invisibly and securely so you don't have to carry it and you don't have to put it on after a Great Dane pissed in it.

They are unattractive. They are dorky. Guess what, despite the movie playing in your head, you will never look like anything but a geek on your scooter (unless you're a hot chick - hello all you MV hot chicks, how you doin?), so embrace the geekdom. Enjoy the practicality of the top case and let it seal forever the social pariah you have become with your scooter.

Just make sure you get an easily detachable top case. Some kind of mounting base remains and you will likely be able to figure a way to strap down a suitcase.

Use a Givi (my preference) and not only is easily detachable which I love for touring. Pop the case off the mounting plate and carry it in. You can switch out to a suitcase if you want to catch a flight or need to carry a computer and bunch of files/documents into a meeting.