[Rich Wentz]

Thanks to Poncho I managed to obtain a Viking leather lined trunk . Not from Viking because they suck. UPS basically lost my trunk and Viking refused to send me another trunk or refund me my money until the UPS investigation was completed. Which was a mess... Never buy from them . But with that said it is a pretty good trunk.
As for the trunk: The leather matches the bike and the OEM leather bags attached. To install I used the accessory parcel carrier and bracket then bolted it with stainless bolts, washers and locking nuts. Took me maybe 2 hours but most of that was finding tools. Pretty easy install. Once again, thank you , Poncho for saving me the BS of dealing with Viking again.

 

[Poncho]

mucho gracias amigo

 

[Poncho]

it is a shame that Viking Bags treated you so poorly. UPS is responsible for losing the package and will re-imburse the Shipper only when it runs its course. the bad part is that Viking Bags chose to behave like a small company and made you wait for UPS to pony up which can take 90 days. Your CC company did their job and bent Vikings arm to make it right.. The unfortunate part is the Viking could have taken this Problem and turned it into an Opportunity by shipping you a replacement bag , even if it was contingent upon UPS. You would have become their unsung hero broadcasting their praise for stepping up and doing the right thing.. taking care of customers is taking care of business.. they chose not to. shame shame.


it is UPS fault for their residential service policy of just dropping packages on peoples front door porches. these easy targets get stolen. thieves will follow behind UPS trucks just barely out of site. UPS business model, they prefer to pay (they have insurance - which of course you pay for in cost of shipping) for percentage of loss rather than incur the cost and time/effort to change their delivery requirements. leave a note on the door and customer can pick up package at center.


So, as a matter of routine, I never have any of my personal stuff shipped to residence address, but rather everything comes here to my business shop. UPS is required to only deliver it here and get a signature. No exceptions. they still screw the pooch occasionally. I always use just my AmEx card for all online orders. AmEx will not only go to bat for any dispute, but they will immediately do the refund while they slug it out.. Vendors who chose to behave poorly only get their business diminished as it should be.


on an up note, I have rec'd more than a few orders from Viking with no problems (see above) and they do have a quality product at very reasonable prices.. Every holiday, which I am always busy doing something else so I will miss it again, they have a 20-25% discount on their gear. so if you can have it shipped to a biz address or hold it at a ups substation, you might consider giving Viking another chance to redeem themselves.

 

[Afta]

I have the exact same one. I haven't installed it yet, I hope to do some type of quick connect so I can ditch it when I dont want it.

Looks great! Enjoy !

 

[Crabballs]

That is a very nice top case, I gotta get one for sure. I threw together a quick and dirty prototype for the luggage rack I'll be using. Bolts right to the grab bars and is so strong you can stand on it. This will give me time to make the changes I want and incorporate a quick release system so I can change out accessories in seconds. Once perfected I will get it powder coated mat black instead of the crappy spray paint I used. First pic is of the rack naked and the second is with my trusty sun faded Husky insulated lunch bag I've been using for the last couple of years.

Beats the **** out of strapping it to the top seat.

 

[Poncho]

cb, that lunch bag looks like something you found on the side of the road in a ditch.. and has fallen a few more times off your bike.. so that welded 1" square steel tube or alum? must be heavier than.. than whatever you are putting on it. Rember everything is only as strong as the weakest link. your bolting it up sideways to those seat horns. and transferring the load thru the horns to the fender supports.
Just be mindful when your standing on that thing, those little 8mm bolts do have a load tolerance and sheer point. it might be better to bolt that thing direct to fender support and not depend on those horn castings.


also that flag pole. I cant see what it is anchored to but appears to be just one anchor point. any flag in the wind, and sizeable are worse, will put enormous torque on your anchors.. its always best to have at least 2 anchors in line. the further apart they are, the more the can resist wind/flag tork.
but then this mast might just be a boat night lite?

 

[Crabballs]

cb, that lunch bag looks like something you found on the side of the road in a ditch.. and has fallen a few more times off your bike.. so that welded 1" square steel tube or alum? must be heavier than.. than whatever you are putting on it. Rember everything is only as strong as the weakest link. your bolting it up sideways to those seat horns. and transferring the load thru the horns to the fender supports.
Just be mindful when your standing on that thing, those little 8mm bolts do have a load tolerance and sheer point. it might be better to bolt that thing direct to fender support and not depend on those horn castings.


also that flag pole. I cant see what it is anchored to but appears to be just one anchor point. any flag in the wind, and sizeable are worse, will put enormous torque on your anchors.. its always best to have at least 2 anchors in line. the further apart they are, the more the can resist wind/flag tork.
but then this mast might just be a boat night lite?

The bottom picture doesn't do the bag justice as it is a year old and decomposed even more from the sun. It never hit the ground and gets used every day. It comfortably hold 12 fresh ears of white sweet corn!!!


As for the 1" steel tubing, it is thin wall and much lighter than it looks and extremely strong. As for the forces you mention, lever and fulcrum have been considered and will never be exceeded in my application. If it were a concern of mine I would fabricate points to attach where the rear seat bolts in giving me six points instead of four. As for the horns, these are Japanese castings and are much stronger than ones from China or India. Only castings I'll buy from India would be a brass cuspidor. Depends on how things go and I get this design finalized the way I want I can throw one together out of aluminum, then again, maybe not. I got options.



No flag pole, it is an antenna and it has three anchor points and the bracket is rock solid. The mast has a pivot point that will allow it to fold back should it strike a low hanging branch. It won't go back that much if I keep the rack on, just snap. You see, I did think of everything!!!

 

[Afta]

The things you guys come up with!!! LOL. Anyway, I'm glad to see others trying to make these bikes work for us. The accessories are a pain to find so why not do it yourself.

 

[Crabballs]

The things you guys come up with!!! LOL. Anyway, I'm glad to see others trying to make these bikes work for us. The accessories are a pain to find so why not do it yourself.

You got that right! Plus some of these "accessories" are overpriced and of poor quality. I have incorporated Bluetooth into the bike and the phone/nav connect as soon as I start the bike. Keeping it simple and highly functional for my needs is the goal. Most manufacturers don't consider the end-user in most cases.

 

[Poncho]

well somebody probably has a Heli pad on the back of their sled.. a platform to launch a cam-drone can follow them and record from above and behind. when battery gets low, it just homes in on the pad, lands and auto docks.


but that antenna thing, that works good to.. for ?

 

[sanmo]

CB radio? The only time I see those massive antennas is on the escort vehicles accompanying extra-wide loads on the freeways.
Disappointed that the contraption in the back is just a luggage carrier. Was hoping that it was a catapult of sorts to demolish offending cagers?

 

[Crabballs]

well somebody probably has a Heli pad on the back of their sled.. a platform to launch a cam-drone can follow them and record from above and behind. when battery gets low, it just homes in on the pad, lands and auto docks.


but that antenna thing, that works good to.. for ?

The great thing about a large platform is I can always mount a quarter keg of beer or a nice BBQ grill for tailgating! I know our bikes would look really nice with a Harley tour pack on the back and provide lots of storage. Even fool the HD crowd from behind. Still think a nice cow catcher on the front will be stylish!!!

 

[Crabballs]

CB radio? The only time I see those massive antennas is on the escort vehicles accompanying extra-wide loads on the freeways.
Disappointed that the contraption in the back is just a luggage carrier. Was hoping that it was a catapult of sorts to demolish offending cagers?

Nope. It is a 50 watt 2m/440 FM amateur radio.

 

[Poncho]

Nope. It is a 50 watt 2m/440 FM amateur radio.

440FM , is that like all the old Elvis songs and old Tennessee country western channel?

 

[Crabballs]

440FM , is that like all the old Elvis songs and old Tennessee country western channel?

Naw, it's a good ole' boy's bible revival channel.

 

[Poncho]

Naw, it's a good ole' boy's bible revival channel.

HellFire and Brimstone! I guess that's not too far from old country western.. for some?

 

[Crabballs]

HellFire and Brimstone! I guess that's not too far from old country western.. for some?

Trust me, when something is fighting me I've been known to read a few scriptures from the good book. But my old favorite is from my old Alma mater "Motha F#$%$# U.

 

[Poncho]

. But my old favorite is from my old Alma mater "Motha F#$%$# U.

graduate of Whatsa Matta U.?

 

[Crabballs]

graduate of Whatsa Matta U.?

I did get an honorary degree from there.