Back in December I posted about my
Connie Camper - work in progress project. As these things go for me, it has been an off-and-on project with some distractions along the way, but as promised/threatened, here’s the final project update.
The basic luggage mounts are unchanged from the conclusion of my original post. The seat has been cut down to make a ‘Monoposto Russell Day Long’ and the space between the fender and the bottom of the top-case has been filled with a home-built aluminum tool / storage box.
From this side you can see one of the distractions that came up since my last update on this project … the bright aluminum lower link is my home-built item that allowed installation of a C14 shock but retained stock ride height. Kinda clunky-square piece but it works great.
The key-locks above each turn signal hint at the tool storage behind the hinged plate and under the top-case. The brake/turn lights are my old Whelen LED lightheads that I’ve had since 2005, slightly re-positioned (higher) with this new luggage setup.
The tool storage box lid raised and held with a bungee. I learned during this project that the entire rear bolt-on subframe of the Connie C10 is aluminum!
The tool storage and all the stuff I’m carrying with room left over for lots more. The box is 13”wide x 7”high at the opening x 18.5”deep. The bottom has a stepped-slope following the fender as close as possible. The Stanley bag is a perfect fit, holding a complete full-size set of tools for the C10, the other stuff is my Slime Pump and tire plug kit. I’m my own mechanic and this will let me do from wheel bearings to whatever engine seal I need wherever I am found. (TWT = Two Wheeled Texans)
The front of the tool storage box and the original Connie helmet locks mounted to the front of the lower bags (reinforcing plate inside, of course). I wear a 1-piece Roadcrafter (ATGATT) and with a cable through the sleeve and the chinbar of my helmet I can leave it all secure on the bike while hiking or crawling museums/galleries. The cut-down Russell is a great seat.
The rig is narrower than stock, holds more gear (tent poles and chair are inside the bags), is rigid as heck, and there’s no way any of these bags will pop open in any circumstance. The SKB bags have key locks, unlike Pelican brand cases. Certainly not for everyone, the look is utilitarian to say the least, but it sure fits my solo camper needs to a Tee.
