CCHOUSEKY
Kentucky Wildcat Fanatic
So, you all that have been here for a while might remember that initially I set my FZ6 up for touring/commuting duty. Bar risers, Givi topcase, etc. Then I got swept up in the "conversion fever" (and don't regret it for one second...but I blame armystrong and Wavex! 
).
However, I realized that I liked the Givi setup and when I had a chance to get the E21 hard sidecases from semongtaulie earlier this year, I jumped at it. Of course, I still had the topcase rack, so I started contemplating getting another one of those (previously I had the V46, but I sold it to another member during my naked conversion phase). I didn't want to bust the bank, so I opted for the E45NJ topcase this time, and I have to say, I love it. It's much more squared than the V46 and frankly, I like the "industrial" design.
I got it in today and popped it on and really like it! I'm now ready for whatever riding throws at me. I can be sleek and naked (removing all the racks takes about 10 minutes), or I can be ready for a cross-country jaunt (none are planned...but hey, you never know!)
Here's a few pics of where I started and the progression my bike has gone through over the years.
My first season with the bike (2007). Set up for touring duty:
After my naked conversion:
E21 sidecases added (along with rim stripes this past weekend):
Today: E45 topcase added:
BUT WAIT!!! There's more! (In my best "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!" voice)
I work in a sign shop, so we've got lots of different retro-reflective materials to play with (and the plotters to design things on). I decided the stock red stripe on the topcase just wasn't going to do on my blue bike, so out came the measuring tape, cut went the plotter, and before you know it, I'd transformed the red stripe into a blue one. I haven't got a shot of it on the bike yet, but I think it'll work MUCH better. Have I mentioned I'm obsessed with blue? :thumbup:
So, as you can see, my bike has gone from one extreme to the other and back again. That's what I love about these bikes...they're so darn customizable! For a little bit of money, you can turn it into just about anything you want.
). However, I realized that I liked the Givi setup and when I had a chance to get the E21 hard sidecases from semongtaulie earlier this year, I jumped at it. Of course, I still had the topcase rack, so I started contemplating getting another one of those (previously I had the V46, but I sold it to another member during my naked conversion phase). I didn't want to bust the bank, so I opted for the E45NJ topcase this time, and I have to say, I love it. It's much more squared than the V46 and frankly, I like the "industrial" design.
I got it in today and popped it on and really like it! I'm now ready for whatever riding throws at me. I can be sleek and naked (removing all the racks takes about 10 minutes), or I can be ready for a cross-country jaunt (none are planned...but hey, you never know!)
Here's a few pics of where I started and the progression my bike has gone through over the years.
My first season with the bike (2007). Set up for touring duty:
After my naked conversion:
E21 sidecases added (along with rim stripes this past weekend):
Today: E45 topcase added:
BUT WAIT!!! There's more! (In my best "Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!!" voice
)I work in a sign shop, so we've got lots of different retro-reflective materials to play with (and the plotters to design things on). I decided the stock red stripe on the topcase just wasn't going to do on my blue bike, so out came the measuring tape, cut went the plotter, and before you know it, I'd transformed the red stripe into a blue one. I haven't got a shot of it on the bike yet, but I think it'll work MUCH better. Have I mentioned I'm obsessed with blue? :thumbup:
So, as you can see, my bike has gone from one extreme to the other and back again. That's what I love about these bikes...they're so darn customizable! For a little bit of money, you can turn it into just about anything you want.
