Top box trauma

Wed, 24 Nov 2010

I've struggled with my Honda hard luggage over the past few months, I have to admit.

To much office hilarity (and piss taking) I managed to lose the top box just a few miles from the office. I thought the locating mechanism was fastened securely but the first rapid getaway from the first set of traffic lights on Upper Street proved me wrong.

It was at least a mile before I noticed that my top box was absent. The tough ABS took the impact well and thankfully some kind, conscientious sort put it out of harm's way on the pavement. My Mac Book inside was undamaged.

I've also been struggling to fit my Arai RX7R in either of the panniers or the top box. It's not a problem with a full face lid without all the scoops and air intake thingies but it was only yesterday that I found a way of fitting the RX7 into the top box. Only five months later. Well, they say practice makes perfect.

But I redefined the use of hard luggage yesterday. I suddenly found myself in a situation where I was stood in the car park at Stansted with a 35kg net full of Seville oranges and an hour long ride home. I tried both panniers first. No way were they going in. It took me a few minutes to manipulate the oranges within their net to get the top box lid closed but close it did.

Can't say it helped the high speed handling too much but my home made marmalade prospects now look much rosier.

By mark forsyth