• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Ammunition Case as Hard bags

  • Thread starter Thread starter GQROD
  • Start date Start date
Thank you. It's understandable the look is not for everyone, better bikes deserve better looking luggage, I'll weigh everything once i'm done with the welding.

It's true it does look boxy, but more aerodynamic boxes would have made this bike look like a scooter which i did not want.

The old bmw's had somewhat similiar style boxes which i always liked.

f0512.jpg


f1255.jpg
f0508.jpg
This is the style of box that is mounted much higher than mine, and lends itself to that scooter look that i didn't want, on mine placing the weight lower will not hinder handling.

Most importantly is the trade off in performance versus style compared to cost.

There are new $1000.00 hard bags that look great, or used $500.00 hard bags from other models if you can find them and they need paint, seals etc.

Or don't look right on a sport bike due to their odd shape ( goldwing bags etc ). more expensive boxes also look great but don't really have as much practical space-can't beat a box for sheer space.

Ultimatley i don't plan on riding Two Up any time soon so i can go as high as 200 pounds and not have performance affected to the point where i'd feel the bike is compromised too much.

The boxes aren't prom queens but they are tough. Just like the GS's
 
Last edited:
Ok just weighed eveything.

Large ammo box weighs 19 pounds :eek: empty!


however i have made my frame so that it will mount the large box on the rear and the two small boxes on either side of the bike.

I made the frame so that i have the option of changing what size boxes i mount according to what kind of riding i'm doing, so it's not like i'll be laden down every ride with two large boxes. ( believe me a small price to pay for all the available storage, especially on long trips! )

Small ammo box weighs 2 pounds each.

My frame weighs 2 pounds

All weights measured on a bathroom scale, zero-ed out.
 
Last edited:
Ok finally got the supports welded onto the top mount and welded the rear DOM mounts.

I also cut the lower cross ( seen in the pics )bar in order to allow removal of the rear tire without having to take the steel frame i made off the bike. Decided to only mount the small box in the rear leaving the big box for either side of the bike.

Now i can re-install the frame on to the bike and mark the position for the mounts/pins that will get welded to the boxes themselves.
 
I love using the boxes...

maggotbags5.JPG



maggotbags1.JPG



maggotbags2.JPG



maggotbags4.JPG


That's my setup with my CX500...sold the bike bit still got the boxes. Haven't figured out how to mount them to the GS yet, but I'm working on it. I could carry 50lbs of gear in one and my laptop and accessories and lunch in the other...about 100lbs all together in the boxes...and all it did was lighten up the steering a bit.
 
Makenzie71 That's awesome!!, they look like they are mounted a little high ( oops i didn't see the exhaust running underneath-lol ), but otherwise it looks great on your ride!

And you are right about cargo capacity that is why i went with the larger boxes.

My riding group is going to Ocala National Forest for a day's ride at the end of the month, needless to say for a day long ride i'll need to carry suppplies and this to me was the best way to do it.

I'll take pics tomorrow of the quick release set up i'm making, ton of work fabricating and welding but worth it to be able to change box sizes quickly. Right now i'm working out a base in order to mount yellow LED signal lights into the veritcal oval spaces on the box handles.
 
Last edited:
I got my boxes from www.aimsurplus.com
I have also seen them at www.ammunitiontogo.com

www.dansammo.com

google "surplus ammunition" and you will usually find these larger cans in the inventory of people who sell it. usually around 15-20 bucks apiece but the shipping will kill ya!

ps these babies are also bear proof. your bike will be in pieces but the cans will be fine!
 
willycrash said:
I got my boxes from www.aimsurplus.com
I have also seen them at www.ammunitiontogo.com

www.dansammo.com

google "surplus ammunition" and you will usually find these larger cans in the inventory of people who sell it. usually around 15-20 bucks apiece but the shipping will kill ya!

ps these babies are also bear proof. your bike will be in pieces but the cans will be fine!
Click to expand...

BEAR PROOF !!!! Now that's what i'm talking about, i hope you weren't in between your bike and that angry bear.

Thanks for the links, i just finished welding the mounts on the large box so tomorrow the small ones will get their mounts welded then it's time for paint prep.

I oredered an extra one i needed from this place ArmySurplusWorld.com their shipping was only $9.00 UPS ground.
 
Last edited:
love these, I'm looking to replace the bags on my GK with something larger. Might look into this idea.
 
BigLou said:
love these, I'm looking to replace the bags on my GK with something larger. Might look into this idea.
Click to expand...

These boxes are so cheap it just makes a lot of sense to go this route unless you can find factory luggage just as cheap. But for this bike there was no factory luggage.

Bolting these on to a frame is way easier than welding, as seen in the prior posts, so if you do it, bolting it is the way to go.

Because i wanted to interchange box sizes quickly i went with welding simple version of quick release mounts. I'll post pics tomorrow after i'm done with welding the mounts on the small boxes.
 
The camo seat cover looks really good with the boxes it ties everything in nicely!

How did you mount yours jed.only?
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the link, i recieved a e-mail from the link i posted that the shipping is actually $15.86 for the 30 cal can i ordered, not $9.00, it's higher but not too bad considering it weighs 19 pounds.
 
Last edited:
You guys would fit right in on the Moto Guzzi forum. We've been cheap...I mean frugal for decades.

Lots of Guzzis running around with ammo box luggage.

What's that Guzzi wannabe thing with the ammo boxes? :D
 
Yeah purists here hate anything that wasn't blessed by Mr. Suzuki, but mr. suzuki didn't make cheap bags for my bike so on with the show!!

Got pics of Guzzi's with the ammo boxes?
 
that isnt my bike. i found it while google-ing 1100 stuff and remembered seeing your thread, so i thought id share what i found by accident.
 
Thanks, as mentioned in my earlier post i finished welding the pins/mounts on the two small boxes and the one large box more pics at the link in my signature.

AmmoBoxes-07.jpg


Now i can start prepping for paint LOTS "O" GRINDING to do yet.
 
Finished grinding the welds on the boxes, and rusty areas on the boxes.

Sprayed with DUplicolor green metal etching primer which i have found works excellent on bare steel, (not so good on alluminum or galvanized steel.)

I also stripped the steel bar that holds the rear brake caliper and sprayed that with metal etching primer since it too was rusty.

Still waiting for the second large box to arrive in order to mock up and weld mounts to it, so the frame is bare until i'm done with that.

A little bondo work and surface sanding and paint will be next.

Pics to follow at photobucket once i'm further along on the paint prep.
 
Got the filler sanded, applyed duplicolor grey fill and sand primer to the mounts, and red glazing putty to fill the scratches, on the three boxes. Still gotta sand the glazing putty, prime,sand and finally apply some color coats. Pics to follow.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top