HowTo: Shad top box install on 2021 RT base

[Peter Aawen]

I don't change my own oil. I'm supposed to get the 1st service for free. We'll see if they stand behind that. Even if they make me pay, I think having a dealer do the 1st service makes sense. They're supposed to know the bikes inside and out so they can check the torque settings on the bolts, etc. They should also know what to check for and they'll have the right tools to do so. Not sure what I'll do for any further oil changes.

Hahahaha! :roflblack: :clap: :roflblack: roflmao That's funny! Great joke, good one! :thumbup:


Oh, hang on pps: were you trying to be serious?!? :shocked:

Sorry, I thought you'd read all the & complaints about (many) dealers/dealer techs & understood how few of them seem to have any idea about all that stuff?! :dontknow:

I do hope you have a good experience if you go down that path, or at the least, you don't end up with things broken, mirrors falling off, bolts or sump plugs stripped or broken off, oil over-filled, drain plugs not replaced, or any of the myriad of other things stuffed up/done by incompetent/unskilled/not even vaguely trained dealer techs like so many of the rest of us! :banghead:

 

[MONK]

While I don't have a lot of confidence in my dealer, I have somewhat more confidence in the Can Am mechanic (SteveO) at the dealership. If he does the initial service (which, again, is supposed to be free) and something falls off, he can buy me a new bike (and pay for my medical expenses).

 

[stebrock]

...."NOTE: The center lock is a bitchkitty to turn. Maybe mine will get better over time but I had to use a pair of pliers to turn it. No way I could do it by hand. At first, I thought it was broken. That's how tough it is to turn"....

I had the same problem when I tried to remove my top case. If you look closely the bolt that runs through the center lock it has a lock nut on the underside. if you loosen this nut it makes it easier to lock/unlock.

 

[MONK]

I had the same problem when I tried to remove my top case. If you look closely the bolt that runs through the center lock it has a lock nut on the underside. if you loosen this nut it makes it easier to lock/unlock.

Heh. I did. That's the ONLY way I could get it to turn. I didn't want to loosen it too much and have things fall off. I can probably get another 3/4 turn out of it and may very well do so.

 

[ollicat]

The built in handle is handy, eh? I don't see a Shad 53X top case. Maybe that's a discontinued model? What Kawasaki do you have? I've had a couple of Nomads.

Sorry typo, 58X. I have a Vulcan Nomad 1700. I took off the rear seat back and used the stock rack to mount the Shad base onto. Works perfectly.

 

[MONK]

Sorry typo, 58X. I have a Vulcan Nomad 1700. I took off the rear seat back and used the stock rack to mount the Shad base onto. Works perfectly.

Nice bike. I traded a 2014 Nomad on this RT. I had an '06 (1600) Nomad years ago, too. Nice bikes.

 

[ollicat]

Nice bike. I traded a 2014 Nomad on this RT. I had an '06 (1600) Nomad years ago, too. Nice bikes.

I still have my 2010 Nomad, 83,000 miles and counting. Trouble free

 

[MONK]

Cuz I can't leave anything alone, I went ahead and installed the backrest(s). I think it looks much better, more complete.
BEFORE:


AFTER:


I won't bore you with the installation video. Here's one directly from Shad so it's shorter, quieter and easier to understand.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

With inspiration from MONK, I added a Shad top case to my base model RT.

This is sort of a trial/test for me so I bought a really inexpensive case as my intention is to only use it for occasional overnight trips. However, now that I have it installed, it looks like a great place to stash my helmet and gloves when I stop for breaks and food. So, I may wind up leaving it on there all the time or buy a nicer one (that uses the same mount plate).

I didn't go with the biggest nor the smallest box but it easily holds my large full face helmet with room to spare. Shad says you can put 2 helmets in there but I suspect they would need to be small helmets and probably not full face helmets. Also, as I noted, it is one of the least expensive top cases Shad offers so there is a bit of flex in the bottom due to the thin plastic. I will not put anything heavy in there - mostly clothes and the like. (I lost a GIVI top case on my motorcycle some years ago so I am very leery of putting anything of value in one of these things.)

The black finish matches the black plastic on the bike. If I decide to leave it on the bike all the time, I will likely take it to a body shop to at least get the top lid painted to match the paint on the bike or upgrade to a nicer case and have it painted. I did that to a BMW top case and they only charged me $150 - but that was before COVID.

It is very sturdy. The LinQ rack is hard and heavy plastic with reinforcing ribs. The Shad plate is the same. I opted to drill the 3" hole in the plate where I thought it would not affect the strength of the plate. Even after drilling the hole, I couldn't flex or bend the plate at all.

The only tricky part as MONK noted, it laying out the plate on the LinQ rack so that the holes that need to be drilled line up with flat parts on the underside of the LinQ rack - you need to miss the ribs and the curved areas and give clearance for washers next to ribs and curved areas. You also have to drill the 3" hole appropriately. This is the fiddly part and just takes time to layout and play with it. I used blue tape and some string to keep everything centered and located where I wanted it.

Install time was maybe an hour and a half taking my time. I have $450 invested.

 

[eddieshep999]

Monk I fitted the Shad 58X on my F3T
I added rubber matting I the top box I used a rubber mat from a car floor mat cut to size another item you may find useful is the Shad expanding case
See

https://shad.co.uk/collections/moto...p-box-expandable-inner-bag-sh58x-sh59x-x0ib10

 

[knobby]

I mentioned this on another thread, but my new 2021 RTL came with a plastic "wrench" to aid in removal of the top case. I believe it may be P/N 529000146 but an internet search didn't turn up anything.

 

[MONK]

I don't remove the trunk much (it helps hold my cover on since I no longer have a "garage") but I'll have to look into that.