Modern Vespa

Jah,

That Scarabeo is a classic beauty.

Back to the subject - I do not like back top cases. I appreciate those that
do. If my scooter was parked all day at work, it would be nice to have
a top case for helmet storage.

Bob Copeland

This was my idea too. When I had the Vespa, I was in a job where I was expected to wear a suit. Ended up keeping the 'shiny shoes' at the office, pants folded into the top box (worked surprisingly well) and the suit jacket under a off-road style, long riding jacket. We had a small gym & changing room at the office.

Later, just to carry my laptop and 'office jeans', I wear a small motorcycle backbag. For longer trips I have a Kriega backbag that is honestly comfortable over a proper riding jacket. I've even learned to like the fact that I can easily keep my stuff with me instead of leaving it to the bike.

Well……. as a RTW traveler pointed out. Buy the small panniers and fill them with what you actually need. Buy the large ones and you'll fill them with what you think you need.

Over the decades I'm split just about 50/50 on top cases vs rack only.

I always ended up filling top cases with stuff, all sorts of well, crap. You know, I may need this, I might need that, This I must have. Before ya know it, no room for your helmet or groceries.

Presently I'm using a soft collapsible tail trunk. It works for me.

So any milk craters out there?

One of my customers. That guy has been through hell. He's overcome stuff I wouldn't wish on anyone in this forum. I'm very happy he's able to ride and enjoy his bike.

I prefer the looks of my GTS without a top box but don't hate it with one. I commute to work on my Vespa and my full face helmet won't fit under the seat. I'll take Duty over Beauty.

Well said.

I suspect there's a correlation between fairweather riders preferring form, and every day commuters preferring function.

High heels look sexier than boots... Until it's time to do something more than just look pretty.

Minor deviation, mini-rant. As a craftsperson, it's something that drives me nuts.

Why do major designers always seem to make it form VS function...like it has to be one or the other? I'm of the FFF school of thought: Form Fits (or Follows) Function. Good design should excel at the task it's made to do AND look good doing it.
I wish manufacturers in the PTW industry would stop designing purely for looks and recognize that a chunk of riders use these things as more than weekend pleasure toys.
I wish third-party companies would take the design of a vehicle into consideration and remember to consider aesthetics when they make things like windscreens and luggage, instead of solely considering function and how to bolt it on. Just color matching is lazy design.

In ceramics, there's a saying.
"If you want it to sell, make it well. If you can't make it well, make it big. If you can't make it big, make it shiny. If you can't make it shiny, make it blue."
I'm tired of "blue" accessories for my PTWs.
/rant.

Yeah, but about that girlfriend who always wears Doc Martens.

I like my Kappa.

I bought this for my other Vespa. Thought I'd try it here for either my modular helmet or armored over-pants. The pants are mesh but it's always warm here so they come off when I arrive. Shorts on underneath. Thought I'd try putting them in the case. Once I put it on, it looked better to me than I thought it would. But then, I like red.

Before & After, you decide. Granted solo seat makes a big difference in appearance..

Yes I have to admit, sans top box it exudes a sense of carefree 'joie de vivre' way of life and travelling, whereas with the top box it gives an image of purposeful responsibility and functionality.

In car terms it's comparable to a sports car singledom opposed to a family with pickup truck or SUV.

And the picture of my Sprint just above, after looking at it again, is really a Vespa powered by auxiliary marine outboard motor. I can ride directly into a lake and switch power to the rear engine and extend the airfoils go like hell!

I am forever in search for the "perfect" topbox, much like I was in search of the perfect backpack when I was in the Air Force. I never found either. But boy have I built up quite the collection!

I do have 3 that I like. For long trips I have a GIVI V46. For work I have a firstgear Laguna bag.

The last one isn't really a topbox but a GIVI tunnel bag.

Honestly, no box appeals but some kind of box is handy.

Don in KC

I know what the perfect backpack is. It's the one that got discontinued 2 years ago and the last place you could get one just went out of stock the day before you found them.
I'm told I have a Thing for bags.

Now here's an ugly top box. I'll be delivering food 2 hours a day. Fair weather and non-rush hour. Weekday lunch and weekend mornings, unless I need more than a couple hundred a week. 4 wingnuts and its off.

Sold my matching Vespa topbox and the folding rear rack as well.
I pretty much got what I paid for it.
I thought it looked good but was not really happy with it.
Going with a Kappa small box and another type of rear rack that will hold the kappa.
I also purchased a big givi for longer trips.

Not sure if this helps, but I installed a flat plate on my Sei Giorni. The rack is from Vespa and the two black tubes each hold a 30 oz. MSR fuel bottle. I'm looking for bolts with lower-profile heads.

Jurko- gotta link for that spiffy mounting plate?

My Stella is already butt ugly, so the topcase doesn't hurt one bit.

I know a place that sells apple crates for cheap. I plan on mounting one onto the back for the summer.

The BV350 looked good with a top box. The GTV is an ongoing search for an "alternative". First I flipped the springs to the stay down position. Then……..

See, a sexy bike like this just wouldn't look the same without a trunk.

+1 for the "luggage" look for holding my helmet and a few essentials.

Hi the flat plate is fabulous. can you give us a link ???

Here's my vintage box

AvbIz,

I love the bag look. Great looking scoot. I was thinking about
getting the Vespa Leather Bag for my back chrome rack.

evilmonkey,

You win all awards with that great looking vintage box.
You take the classic vintage look of modern Vespa and
top it off with a vintage box. Man, you are some kind of
design artist. Double up, it also has utility.

Bob Copeland
Minnesota

For Duck Dodgers as well. It's a Micatech rack that I bought in 2014.
It's two plates fastened together. I ended up separating them and using the top one. It seems sturdy enough.

https://www.webbikeworld.com/micatech-pack-rack-micatech-top-case/

why 'top' case (or top box as we say over here)

why not back case, rear case, scoot boot (or trunk as you say over there)?

I liked and got a lot of positive comments on the Cabella's roll bag for my Gt 200. Picking a BV 250 tomorrow with a matching top case. Not in love with the look, but like the idea of the utility of it. It's quick detach, might have to look for another leather bag as an alternate.....

How was/is the gt200 as a scooter? Looks in great condition. Show us you new ride tomorrow? What's the sheeps skin for?

It was a great scooter! Sorry I moved on. Had the chance to get a super low mileage 23 yr old Triumph, and don't ride enough to justify multiple bikes. The sport bike position turned out to be too much for me so it's time to get upright again. I've got an old neck fracture. The sheepskin was just a little padding and let me move around on the seat easier……

The aesthetics with a top case are all wrong...

(Would you put a roof rack on a Porsche GT4?)

In my mind it is because it sits there like silicone D-cups in a strapless bra...

No visible means of support !

If the top case it were carried on a stylish bracket that supported it on the bodywork above the rear light, I would feel less affronted I'm sure.

I am a 'form follows function' advocate and the structure of the rear bracket just doesn't look right to me - even for a 5kg maximum weight limit.

So something like this?

I can't bring myself to spoil the looks of a Vespa with a Top Box either so I'm looking for a secure as possible bag for the rear rack.
I picked up 20L of Cider and 8 bottles of Perry last weekend using old fashioned bungee cords.

Wow, that must have been some party!

It may look better but I sure enjoy the storage . Function over form for me .

Try doing this with a top box/top case.

Forget the container, I want to see what that does to the suspension!

Do not like topcases on any motorcycle (but have aluminum sidecases so there's that 😎. Haven't decided if I would like one on a scooter. Think the Vespa topcases look ok and then there is that whole practicality thing? Sure is nice to carry stuff whilst out on 2 wheels...perfect solution a quick-release topcase??

It's weight vs. volume.

When ya bid a shipping quote, volume matters. DAMHIK