Day two of the build ... but mostly I rode!
Put the Givi trunk on. 47 liter. It's probably one size too big for the scoot, but I NEED THE SPACE! It looks like it would hold TWO full face helmets PLUS a lot more.
A more accurate description of the install:
1) Bracket Install: Wrestled the upper shock bolts off ... thank God I had a 14mm offset ratcheting box wrench! Harbor Freight - three in the set - a life saver. I should have just taken off the rear tupperware, but N-O-O-O-O, I had to follow the #$*^-ing directions! The bolts went back in easier than they came out. The rest was uneventful.
2) Top Case: Used the template to drill holes for the backrest. No problem, except I had to thump it pretty hard to latch it to the adapter plate ... just new, i guess.
3) Stop Light Kit !!! - WOW - what an evolution ... something like childbirth, I imagine. Take the top cover off the case - "build" the light strip - drill here, knockout this plug and that plug - knit one - perl two - etc, etc. Actually, it's an ingenious design: through spring loaded contact points, power is led from the case lid to the boay, and from the body to the mount plate. You can just rip off the trunk without worrying about any connectors, and there's even a little cover for the exposed contacts on the mount plate. Good luck keeping THAT in your possession for more than a month!
4) NO instruction on how or where to lead the wire into the brake light area for hookup. After the completeness and precision of everything else, I was surprised by this laps. No big deal - I'm not hooking it up until I decide whether I'm adding an LED stop light strip in the vicinity - probably on a flasher. They supply two piercing snap couplers for final hookup, but I'm a solder and shrink-tube kind of guy.
I put the trailer on, spent half an hour flattening all my cardboard (a month's worth) and towed it about 20 miles to recycling. Made a BJ's run (like Sam's Club) on the way back. The trailer wanted to fishtail with the cardboard, 'cause it was evenly loaded, but trailed straight as an arrow with the groceries front loaded for weight. Fastest I did was about 65 mph - no problems ... and a few smiles and comments on the trailer. One guy at BJ's told me he was watching me pack the trailer and didn't think I'd get it all in ... BUT I DID!
Another "comparison" note I left out of my original post:
The dual front disc brakes of the Kymco are FAR superior in ability and agility to the Burgman. I feel more secure on the Kymco.
Observations from removing the seat storage pan: I sure looks like they could have put a little bigger gas tank in .. and THEY SHOULD HAVE!
Also looks like the rear wheel would take a taller tire ... there's a full inch or more of room between the stock tire and the engine stuff (actually, I think it was the starter motor ... I forget). Maybe the fender is the limiting factor - I didn't check it. Learning as I go.
Anybody try a higher profile tire on a 500Ri yet?
