After a bit of faff with a Givi Trekker 58L top box which I had to return (I eventually got a full refund as the lock was fitted incorrectly, it would only release the keys when open but not when locked) I thought, throw caution to the wind and lets save a few quid and go Chinese. So, I took a punt on a 65L 'generic' aluminium top box for a very reasonable £145 to the door. I fitted it today to the original Tiger 1200 rack (a fair bit of drilling required) and it's looking good. I slapped on a few decals I had lying around, which some folks may recognise. Is it as good as a Givi ? Err, no - but it's not far off, 7 out of 10 I'd say. The standard locks are appaling quality and will be replaced (£19 for two), the lid hinge pins are open to being tapped out (I have a cunning solution to this) but everything else looks good. The waterproof rand is nice & squishy, forming a very tight seal so should be watertight. The mounting plate is good (the 'universal' fitting kit went in the bin mind...) and has bolted up well. It's much better finished internally than a Givi box and at 65L volume is cavernous, easily enough room for two full face lids, gloves etc. It even has two handy pouches built into the padded lid and an elesticated strap to help keep things in place. I also quickly checked and both panniers can open without issue, but it is close. It may look a bit odd on a smaller bike due to its generous proportions, but on a bike the size of the Tigger it looks like it was made for the job - happy.
