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VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda Forza.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2016 2:20 pm
by pullin_gs
Trunk (delivered to my door) cost me $30. Add in another $2 for spacers and all-in price is $32.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181614525441
Optional: Add another $6 for stainless metric screws, $5 for red paint and total "all-in" price is $43.

I used the black metal mounting plate that came with the trunk. I painted it red.
I first removed the rear plastic panel....store away....dont need it anymore.
Then I carefully measured the threaded mounting holes that are already on the forza frame.
Then I drilled holes in the plate which are spaced as measured.
I purchased 1 inch high nylon spacers.
From same hardware store, I bought four stainless (to prevent rust) bolts of the correct size.
Once everything test-mounted, I painted to metal plate red and let it dry for two days.
Then I bolted up the new plate.
Done!

Optional: Drill holes into the rear forza plastic panel the size of the spacers and mount the panel. This makes for a super-clean professional looking installation.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Sun May 29, 2016 9:49 am
by montliz44
Well done, Pullin -- Strong contendah for the coveted PCX/Forza MacGyver award.

Johnny

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Tue May 31, 2016 6:36 pm
by pullin_gs
montliz44 wrote:Well done, Pullin -- Strong contendah for the coveted PCX/Forza MacGyver award.

Johnny
Thanks. The quality of the trunk is OK. The weakest link is the latching mechanism which locks the trunk to the plate. I expect if something breaks it will be that.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2016 12:59 pm
by romei
Well Done!

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2016 5:29 am
by PingGam
Looks good.
Have you ridden it with a passenger, doesn't look like too much room?

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 4:43 pm
by pullin_gs
Its a squeeze with a passenger, but possible.
I forgot to mention that the trunk is fitted very close to the back seat.
The back seat will open fine with the trunk on, but the seat does touch the trunk when it is swung open.
In hindsight I would have drilled the plate holes to give 1/4" or 1/2" more space.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2016 8:40 pm
by davenowherejones
Your plate looks strong enough to take a few more holes. If it becomes a nuisance I think you could move it back 1/2 inch. No one would see the extra holes.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:53 am
by davenowherejones
I like what you did. I am looking for a 55 litre top case that can take the abuse of a Forza on a gravel road. I have a GIVI plastic case and it rattles & buzzes like crazy. My previous GIVI was also the same. No more GIVI for me.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:54 am
by homie
is that a full size garage? WOW those 4Z's are HUGE!

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2016 5:10 pm
by pullin_gs
Very happy with this trunk.
I'm looking to mount some LED brake lights on them.
Will update thread as soon as I pick some out and install them.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 5:18 am
by fish
Is that a Corvair in the garage?
63?
Picture & info please.
Fish

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 4:03 pm
by rmc10
Great job on the trunk. I have one on order. Does the red paint that you painted the bracket with match your bike. I have been looking for some touchup paint R354 but haven't found any yet. I guess I will let the paint store match it up. rmc10

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:04 pm
by pullin_gs
fish wrote:Is that a Corvair in the garage?
63?
Picture & info please.
Fish
1963 Corvette SWC

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 5:10 pm
by pullin_gs
3 month update.....
Over time, the box latch mechanism has gotten loose.
It is a very thin spring-loaded sheet-metal latch.
I commute every day, have backed into the wall (gently) a few times, and have loaded it up with 30 pounds a time or two.
The latch does not take abuse well.

I need to add a screw to clamp the trunk to the frame where the latch would normally hold it in place.
It is just a matter of time before the latch gives.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 8:43 pm
by davenowherejones
My GIVI rattles so much I might put a couple of bolts through the case and thru the mounting plate with some kind of wing nut on the bottom.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:37 am
by pullin_gs
18 month / 8000mile update.
Case is still holding up well, but is starting to fade, especially on top where it gets more sun/weather exposure.
Also the cheap plastic emblem peeled off of the top about 6 months ago leaving an ugly oval glue/paper outline.
The latch has held up nicely....I have not needed to service anything on the case yet.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 12:57 pm
by davenowherejones
I might as well give an update on my 55 litre Givi.

Givi supplied me with thicker rubber bumpers to stop most of the rattling.

The case seems to pop open on the highway sometimes or I am getting senile, forgetting to latch it shut. Probably the latter.

I do not like the key arrangement. It is possible to put the key inside the case and lock it inside. Not good.

I have not been able to get a spare key, oddball shape and size.

55 litres is too small for my Icon Variant helmet, Olympia Armoured jacket & liner, Olympia Armoured pants & riding boots. Helmet has to hang on Forza, some stuff has to go under the seat. Last night I ended up wearing my armoured pants into the pub. Some nights I wish it was kevlar. Bunch of rowdy drunks. I can't have my Pepsi in peace.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:41 pm
by MBMyer
davenowherejones wrote:I like what you did. I am looking for a 55 litre top case that can take the abuse of a Forza on a gravel road. I have a GIVI plastic case and it rattles & buzzes like crazy. My previous GIVI was also the same. No more GIVI for me.
I hated the Givi rattle as well, so I added some weatherstrip to the inside of the lid. It takes a bit more force to latch the thing closed, but it doesn’t rattle any more.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 5:46 pm
by MBMyer
davenowherejones wrote:I do not like the key arrangement. It is possible to put the key inside the case and lock it inside. Not good.
I took an old radio knob, cut one of the Givi keys, and epoxied the key into the knob. Now, I have a stealth key in there all the time. When parked, I turn the key just slightly to the right so that it can’t be pulled out but the lid button can’t be pressed.

Hold on... I’ll go take a couple of pictures. They’ll be harsh because the sun has already set here so I’ll have to use a flash.

Re: VERY inexpensive Trunk and mounting plate for Honda For

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:10 pm
by MBMyer
Here’s more or less what people see when they walk past the bike. It looks like nothing.
IMG_2674.JPG
IMG_2674.JPG (762.44 KiB) Viewed 2124 times
Here’s the key-and-knob on the dining room table.
IMG_2677.JPG
IMG_2677.JPG (1.23 MiB) Viewed 2124 times

I had done a similar thing with the Goldwing. The gas hatch and side pocket had locks that took the bike’s key. I got extra keys, bought some extra radio knobs (so that they looked exactly like the other knobs on the "dashboard") and created permanently installed keys so that all I had to do was twist the knobs. In 152K miles, no one ever messed with them. They just looked like a natural part of the bike, and not at all like keyed latches.

Michael