Modern Vespa

Those of you who read my recent thread, Top Box Lock Cover question will know that I recently added a Vespa Top Box to my GTS300 and I used a Vespa "dedicated" Flat Rack to do it.
The case IS properly installed, even torqued to specs, BUT when taken for a test ride there was a noticeable RATTLE coming from the Top Case with every bump in the road. Reading thru the Posts here I saw that in the flat rack versus folding rack discussions, the flat rack was the way to go for a permanent Top Case install, but I saw no mention of a rattle when using one.
(take a breath)
Looking at the case's rear "hook" I saw that the rear rail was NOT firmly held by it. With this mount, there is NO adjusting of the case's position relative to the rack as there is one screw going straight into one hole. Screwed in, lock nutted, and it's solid. Except it's not. There was room for it to move up and down given enough force. Maybe when it's full this wouldn't be an issue, but usually that won't be the case. And I hate rattles.
(take another breath)
MY solution, pictured here, was to cut a one-inch, 2-ply, square of leftover bicycle inner tubing, place it between the hook and the frame, and secure it with a zip tie. So, I'm asking, finally, the following:
1. is this a known issue?
2. did I use an acceptable solution, maybe the only solution?
(exhale)

My fix for top box lid rattle

I like the idea of putting a thin piece of foam, like a mouse pad, between the box and the rack!

This was my first thought.

I had the same problem, but solved it in a different way. I removed the lock and cut/filed its hole around the bottom, so that I could fit the lock about 1 mm lower. RE-install lock and problem solved.

I've had a couple GTS 300's, each with a Vespa flat rack + top case, and the top cases have always rattled a little bit when going over various road imperfections, but have never come off or loosened.

So, to your first question, I would say the rattle is "normal." I like your solution though!

I never minded the rattle on the LX as under brakes it sounded exactly like Anakin's pod racer on the movie that purported to be part of the Star Wars series.

Every now and again my CBR400 would make the noise of a Tie Fighter doing a barrel roll or similar. Childishly, i always thought it was really cool. It had a straight-through stainless exhaust.

(For clarity, the CBR had the straighthrough exhaust, The Tie Fighter has an ion drive or some sort of otherworld technology so technically doesnt have an exhaust pipe)

You have proof of concept here but I would suggest doubling up on the zip tie. In my experience they become brittle when subjected to shock loading like that, and weaken considerably over time.

You're talking about repositioning the Top Case's lock for its LID? Or are you saying you moved the hole for the bolt back so the case would sit further forward? Either surgery sounds like it would violate the warranty, but I'd love to see a photo!

Thanks for this! I don't see much stress going much to the tie as I positioned it, but I DID add a few spares to my kit, just in case.
How do you survive the tourists from the cruises on their rent-a-bikes (on the wrong side of the road)?

On the zip tie: my point was that if you double up now and reduce the shock loading on the one tie, you may never have to replace either of them.

I don't recommend anyone rent a scooter in Bermuda unless they are riding alone and are already an experienced rider. If you're there with somebody else, pony up and take a taxi. It isn't really that much fun. It rains often is some seasons, and you aren't even ALLOWED to drive anything over 150cc on the streets, except on special parade days.

Fact is, and I don't mean to sound cavalier, tourists on unfamiliar scooters on the opposite side of the road hit a lot of inanimate objects and tend to damage themselves disproportionately more than they endanger locals. One of the most popular Bermuda rental scooters is the two-stroke PGO Ligero 50cc, a reskinned version of the machine Americans know as the trusty Genuine Buddy. I consider it barely adequate for one person. But tourists ride them with pillons and aggressively smash into walls, fly off embankments, rear-end stopped vehicles, and only occasionally interact head-on with native two-wheelers.

I spend much more time in the NYC area than Bermuda these days, although the opposite was the case and I was in Bermuda when I joined MV.

I cruised there three times, never tempted to ride a scooter; I came for a Dark and Stormy... and a Cuban cigar. It's an Island thing...

No, I extended the hole for the lock downwards so that I could position the lock 1-2 mm lower. Then the lid has to close a little further for the lock to engage, and that eliminates the play/rattle.
I'm not going to pull it apart again to take a photo - the difference is hardly visible anyway, just a slightly longer hole. There is nothing to see on the outside.

IF I also have a "rattle" from the lid locking loosely (and it sounds like it's not uncommon) I probably won't use this solution first. But it's good to know you found one that worked.