If you were going to have an entra, larger 'tool box', to carry the OEM and perhaps additional tools on the 14, which place do you think would be a better mounting location, say:

This one would require an extended swingarm, but seems a great location, and could hold a very good tool set, as well as having a "floor" for electronics

Below, less overall space but still could house a very good tool set, also leaving room under the seat for other stuff

or ?

* Last updated by: JDC on 12/3/2009 @ 7:00 PM *

I think the second idea would be least conspicuous as long as the toolbox was not so wide it came all the way to the edge of the fairing and you could see it was there. Maybe 7 " wide and painted black, not too bad if you have to lug tools. For my purposes, i don't bother with carrying tools. If I were going to tour, i would just have a backpack or beetle bags that would come off as soon as I came back to sport riding.

I do like the idea of carrying a heavy tool kit down low rather than on top of the bike.

I think those thin seats like the one on your bike add so much to the appearance of a 14. Very nice. I would like to get one or one similar.

You wouldn't want to put anything on the swingarm, because it would be (partially) added to unsprung weight, which is bad for handling and braking.

Only partially, but enought to matter.

I'm with privateer. Those tools will turn to powder if not poke a hole in the box jumping up and down with each bump. Looks like a fun project.

My deal would be to use sheet aluminum and a rivet gun for box and mounting purposes. I'd hot gun a cutout under the ECU. Use the license plate bracket as a brace. I doubt you need the brace, but to make a larger box, you gotta hug up to things.

Maybe a triangle box would hold wider shouldered tools or make both boxes side to side. Slide the box down the fender hole, being the box's closed end fit snug going down for rain and all that. The other end has the bent "L" to overlap the fender to rivet the flaps. Caulk the underside with sealer so it fills the cutout gaps. Something like that.

And by the looks of it, I'd remove a shock bolt off the swing and send the wheel up the fender so you know what you have left to work with. Measure twice/cut once and all that.

Privateer,

Good info about the unsprung weight. I had thought, though, to have the tools strapped down... but you got me to thinking about all the direct vibration, as well, which would not be good for electronics in a swingarm box. And that idea of unsprung weight.

Being close up to the main swingarm assembly I'd think that with the box and inside contents, maybe 2-3 lbs., mounted solidly with not items inside moving around, that it would be stable?

Hum....

* Last updated by: JDC on 12/7/2009 @ 8:15 AM *

dont forget that when you are at higher speeds your tire partially expands. might run into clearance issues at higher speeds with it mounted on the swingarm

Jessee,

Yes, good caution. I have made several inches gap in front of the tire on the mockup box. I am about 7-8 inches extended and the box is currently about 5-6" wide-front to back.

I think with vibration mounts, it ought to be ok and the center being so close to the pivot point that the weight addition of the gadgets and box will be about negligible.