Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: 556ALPHA on February 22, 2012, 10:05:52 AM
-
I recently purchased a used Corbin Trunk and sold my Givi E55. The E55 was an outstanding trunk and if the Corbin had a quick release I would have used the Givi for local use and the Corbin for trips. First things first, the Corbin is LARGE. It does have lines to match the bike and the color is pretty close. It has integrated brake and running lights which is a plus. The backrest is very nice and it can hold a good amount of items. I chose to make a change from the Givi E55 because I am setting my bike up for touring purposes and the backrest was a requirement. I have installed items such as a V-Stream, Mayer Saddle, Passenger Boards, Highway pegs, and a few other items to make longer trips more comfortable. I appreciate the sport aspect of the bike but I cannot afford to get caught enjoying it if you know what I mean.
When I initially installed the Corbin it did not fit the bike and my wife. The backrest was angled too far backwards and the trunk itself was too far back. The backrest height was ok but I wanted it to be just a little higher. The body lines that Corbin took the time to integrate did not correspond with the same angle of the saddlebags and I noticed it right away. The trunk drooped in the rear and stuck out way to far. Also the rear factory brake light was hard to see due to the trunks length and proximity to the tail light. The Corbin bolts directly to the rear rails and does not use a rack. I know these are small things but I suspect some of you guys are like me. I contacted Phil who IMO is the resident expert here on the rack area and fabrication. After about a month of collaboration he came up with a great solution for all of my issues with trial and error applications. The changes in appearance may take a second look to catch, but as with things like risers and other mods a small difference in measurements here or there can make all the difference in comfort. In addition the trunk now has a little front to rear adjustment if needed to find the perfect location thanks to Phil.
Although the trunk is very large I felt more comfortable loading much more weight into the Givi E55. The Corbin is a heavy trunk without adding a lot of weight. I will now load lighter things in the trunk and place the heavier things in the side bags. Moving the trunk forward puts more weight on the bike itself instead of hanging off the rear, which hopefully reduces stress on both the trunk and the factory rails. I think Corbin could have done a much better job with fabrication and design. If it was made just a little more smaller with less length and had a quick release option it would be 10X the trunk it is. I hope this helps anyone interested in the Corbin Trunk as I found very little info on the web. Here are some photos of the materials and the trunk with before and after shots.
Before, notice the body lines and location of the trunk in relation to the bike and passenger:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02667.jpg)
After
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02777.jpg)
Backrest angle and height before:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02660-1.jpg)
After
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02788.jpg)
-
Pictures of Phils great fabrication:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02744.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02749.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02750.jpg)
-
Additional photos
Before:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/IMG_0671.jpg)
After:
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02769.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02778.jpg)
-
Last Photos
Before
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/LS.jpg)
After
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02771.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02770.jpg)
Before
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/redo1.jpg)
After
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02820a.jpg)
-
Thanks Alpha! Well done Phil!
-
Phil, I'm not saying yes just yet, but will you be able to make a set of these for me too?
I have a bid in for a used Corbin, and I may need these at a later date.
-
556ALPHA :)
il passeggero dove si regge ora con le mani,..dalle foto sembra che dai maniglioni non sia più possibile ora ???
MGvalerio. :)
-
556ALPHA :)
il passeggero dove si regge ora con le mani,..dalle foto sembra che dai maniglioni non sia più possibile ora ???
MGvalerio. :)
where a passenger stands now with his hands, .. from the pictures it seems that the panic is no longer possible now
-
My passenger doesn't use these as grab handles.
-
They are still accessible, the box only came forward a little more than 1.25 inches. You can see the room for the hands in this photo
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02780.jpg)
-
What is the deal with the knobs on the side cases?
-
I used bottle tops with JB Weld and made keys that stay in the bags unless there are valuables inside and I am away from the bike in public.
-
Plastic 20 oz? Like the idea..
-
As funny as it may sound I went down the sauce aisle until I found something I liked both as a condiment and as a texture/color match. I cannot remember what I used but there were a ton of choices.
-
Worcestershire sauce lol
-
Phil, I'm not saying yes just yet, but will you be able to make a set of these for me too?
+1 Phil could you give us a quote? I agree Corbin needs to make a few changes in their trunk. However, first and foremost they need to work on the quality control. The paint job on my trunk is cracking all over the place. It has the worst paint job that I have ever seen.
-
If you guys want to add photos of your bike with the Corbin mounted I think that would be valuable so please feel free to post them.. Thanks.
-
Beautiful kit. The Corbin trunk really looks great in Candy Red. I've gotta to hand it to Corbin. They are not afraid to step out of the norm to create something remarkable, knowing not everybody is going to like it.
I do like the fore-n-aft adjustability with the adapter mounts. Very nicely machined pieces.
-
They are still accessible, the box only came forward a little more than 1.25 inches. You can see the room for the hands in this photo
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02780.jpg)
OK,...veramente bella la tua GTR e molto comoda ora. ;DOK, your GTR ... really nice and very comfortable now
-
I bought a Corbin seat and was looking at those trunks but they sit soooo far back ???
I called Corbin and asked why don't they make something in between and they said to keep checking because they are working on a Concours 14 in their shop, she said they are working on Cop bike storage trunks right now and who knows what might come out ? I never plan on having a passenger so I might get a Cop trunk ?
Has anyone taken that BIG TRUNK and put it where the rear seat is??????
I guess you would have to have a rear hinge so you could still get at the side storage.
-
Hey Alfa,
How did you set up the rear floorboards, and would they work with the projektD peg lowering kit? Also, where did you purchase this setup?
Thanks
Mark
-
Mark,
All the info on the boards are in this thread. If you have any questions just shoot me a PM.
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6028.msg70694#msg70694 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=6028.msg70694#msg70694)
-
Just bought the same trunk from the same seller, alpha. Can't wait to get it.
Obviously I'll wait till I actually install it before I judge, but based on your pics, I think I'm okay with the height of the Corbin trunk as is, but I agree it needs to be moved forward. I probably won't have passengers on long rides, but I do plan to do 'round the neighborhood rides with my 3 lil' ones, so I may want the box moved as far forward as possible, just shy of interferring with the saddlebags.
-
Congrats, that was a great price. Post some pics when ya get it installed. I have mine adjusted all the way back. If you want the box forward for small ones Phil has the original set we started off with, it would be perfect as it was way too close for my wife. Shoot him a PM, I am sure he would be willing to work with you. The lights in the trunk are ok but I disliked the fact that the length of the trunk made the factory tail light hard to see, the original rail from Phil was a one piece design and would work fine. The seller is great with communication and has experience from shipping mine. Three letters, UPS. Good luck.
-
I am working with the seller right now on shipping. I actually found FedEx Home delivery to be $75 and UPS Ground $90. Hopefully, he can work out a convenient location to drop off the package with FedEx. I've always liked FedEx Home Delivery best. I used to order a lot of RC airplanes stuff from IL, and I would get packages via either UPS or FedEx. FedEx Home Delivery beats UPS ground by 1-3 days every single time. FedEx even delivers on Sat. sometimes.
Phil's orginal mount sounds like the ticket. I'm afraid I am too new to know Phil's forum name here, sorry.
-
Looking forward to seeing pictures. My reference was to a USPS disaster with the seller. Fedex is my first choice as well. It took 10 shipping days to go less than 300 miles for mine, he used USPS. That is why I advised something else.
-
I am working with the seller right now on shipping. I actually found FedEx Home delivery to be $75 and UPS Ground $90. Hopefully, he can work out a convenient location to drop off the package with FedEx. I've always liked FedEx Home Delivery best. I used to order a lot of RC airplanes stuff from IL, and I would get packages via either UPS or FedEx. FedEx Home Delivery beats UPS ground by 1-3 days every single time. FedEx even delivers on Sat. sometimes.
Phil's orginal mount sounds like the ticket. I'm afraid I am too new to know Phil's forum name here, sorry.
Here is Phils member info:
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=profile;u=430 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?action=profile;u=430)
-
Phil got a hold of me. Thanks.
-
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02769.jpg)
(http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc110/2007electraroad/DSC02778.jpg)
Looks great Alpha I mean CDR! 8) :thumbs:
So why the name change bro?? Inlighten us please... ???
-
I'll try to quantify what these brackets do. Tilting the trunk 4.5 deg. up at the rear, brings the top of the backrest (assuming 12" high) about 1-1/4" forward. There is a sliding bracket to which the trunk attaches, that in its rear-most position is about 1-1/8" forward from the stock position.
The sliding bracket offers about 1-1/4" of additional movment to the front. So, the brackets will mount the trunk forward between 2-3/8" to 3-5/8". These are approximations since I don't have a trunk to measure. The object was to make the backrest more vertical and move it forward for passenger comfort, while at the same time correct an appearance issue with the ribs in the Corbin trunk not being parallel with the ribs in the saddle-bags.
-
I'll try to quantify what these brackets do. Tilting the trunk 4.5 deg. up at the rear, brings the top of the backrest (assuming 12" high) about 1-1/4" forward. There is a sliding bracket to which the trunk attaches, that in its rear-most position is about 1-1/8" forward from the stock position.
The sliding bracket offers about 1-1/4" of additional movment to the front. So, the brackets will mount the trunk forward between 2-3/8" to 3-5/8". These are approximations since I don't have a trunk to measure. The object was to make the backrest more vertical and move it forward for passenger comfort, while at the same time correct an appearance issue with the ribs in the Corbin trunk not being parallel with the ribs in the saddle-bags.
Phil, I think you and CDR did quite well. I can't help but think Corbin's original intent may have been to make the lines parallel, but somehow missed the boat in the production process.