Project-G G-String Bikini Top

[black roadster]

I got the G-string bikini top installed this weekend and let me provide my thoughts. First let me say, I am very familiar with Robbins tops. I've installed probably 50 Robbins tops in all the different variants including the NC top. I will only install Robbins tops as other brands have burned me. You can really see the quality of a Robbins over other tops.


The Project-G quality is up there. Not to the level of Robbins but the quality is still VERY high. To be fair, Robbins is a HUGE company who have been making tops for over 100 years so they've had the time and resources to perfect things. That being said, the Project-G product looks to be very well made. My only concern is the plastic buckles on the straps breaking as they age and dry out in the sun. I think Project-G planned for this as the straps come separate from the top so they can be easily replaced if a plastic buckle breaks. I initially thought the straps should have been sewn on but now I see why it's better that they aren't. Also the rear straps have lots of length. You end up with a huge "tail" after you tighten the rear straps to the Frankenstein bolts. I may trim them. Currently they are tucked under the soft top boot.


I chose to weld on the end caps. I had a bit of confusion figuring out which way they go but once I figured it out, a few welds and a bit of grinding to smooth things out followed by repainting the front bow a semi-gloss black and it looks factory.


Installation of the top to the bow was straight forward but since I got contrasting stitching, you have to be meticulous to make sure everything is straight as it really shows if not. I would have liked holes in the side flaps that attach under the weather strip rails as an alignment guide. Here again, Robbins tops have a hole. They also used a hard but flexible plastic for the front portion that goes under the long front trim piece between the latches. the G-String is just canvas or vinyl. Probably strong enough but harder to align as the material wants to bunch up or stretch with the screws in. This made it harder to align everything so the front stitching was straight.


The center brace was easy enough to trim. A Dremel is probably the best tool for the job. I used a hole saw to cut the rear portion. This gave me the nice semicircular cut so it wraps around the roll bar. The Dremel sanding drum cleaned up the cut and allowed for fine-tuning the fit. Remember to cut too long and trim a little bit at a time. I was thinking of padding the roll bar but the center brace would interfere with any padding or cover. Bummer but not a deal breaker. The hard plastic center brace needs to be wedged between the front bow handle and the roll bar. The plastic has started scuffing my roll bar. I'm trying to figure out a way to add a rubber cap to the rear of the center brace to help protect the bar as I take it in and out.


Final fit and finish is great. One note. The side straps go behind the roll bar. I initially ran them before the roll bar and the sides were all flappy and loose. Once I installed it properly, they are much more snug. It looks awesome. Performance seems great. I'll know more when it heats up over the next few days to see how well it works in keeping me cool. The one warning I have is be careful of an unexpected rain shower. Setting the bikini top up or taking it down takes a bit longer than just dropping or raising the top. Especially if you're running the soft top boot too.


An interesting 2nd generation G-string idea would be zip in and out rear window and side curtains to let it be a bit more rain friendly. I wouldn't expect the weather resistance of the factory top but it would protect the interior in light to moderate rain showers and it would be easier to convince me to pull the factory top.


Overall score: 9 out of 10


I am very impressed with the product. I think my experience with the high quality of Robbins tops made me more critical and lost Project-G that perfect score so I can see most people seeing no fault with it. I really don't see any fault with it either. Just some room for minor (very minor!) improvements.

[motorollow]

How much different is it than a top with a zippered window?

[tailchaser]

Glad it works for you, but they can make sense on a Jeep where raising the top is tedious, but I fail to see the point other than "looking cool" for a Miata.

[Nails]

Isn't that BR's motto? Look cool not functional.

Except, I think it missed the looking cool part as well. I guess it's the tonneau underneath that emphasizes the absurd.

[Gmrlocal1]

man haters. I think this shit looks awesome! I want one soo bad!! you should have made this post on clubroadster. either way good review.

[miataspeedracer]

It's...different. Not hatin', not lovin'.

Wondering if it might look more "natural" without the tonneau cover installed. The two pieces seem to contradict one another.

[MX5_Miata]

Love it.

[JDSM]

looks awesome! i can't wait to polish my hood!

[black roadster]

Glad it works for you, but they can make sense on a Jeep where raising the top is tedious, but I fail to see the point other than "looking cool" for a Miata.

The point is to be top down in the summer without baking in the sun. It's similar to folks with zip out windows running around with top up and rear window unzipped to provide a nice cross breeze. I imagine it's very similar to a top with a zippered rear window open but I have a NB glass window top. It works great. No buffeting or flapping. I like it for it's functionality but yeah, it looks cool too. I did remove the wind blocker because that does defeat the purpose. I thought the boot cover tidied everything up. Besides, would it look silly seeing it with a convertible top dropped and this in it's place?

[motorollow]

Too much extra weight for me.

[juxt3r]

Looks nice! Digging the contrasting stitching. I'm almost surprised you haven't taken this little number to an upholstery shop to have a checker pattern stitched in (which I think would look kick ass, but that's just me).

Don't much care for the zip-in window idea, though. Reminds me of the pain-in-the-rump that was my dad's MGB top. bleh.

[black roadster]

Looks nice! Digging the contrasting stitching. I'm almost surprised you haven't taken this little number to an upholstery shop to have a checker pattern stitched in (which I think would look kick ass, but that's just me).

I thought about it but can you imagine the shit they'd give me then! It's not ruled out though. I saw Woolery's attempt at matching his BRG with yellow stripes and I wasn't impressed.

[driftdevil]

This would look better on a car that does not have a soft top and wants a little break from the sun when the hardtop isn't on the car.

[black roadster]

This would look better on a car that does not have a soft top and wants a little break from the sun when the hardtop isn't on the car.

I agree but I can't bring myself to pull the soft top though because, 1. I don't have my hardtop right now and 2. that occasional unexpected rainstorm.

[trickyrix]

It's... interesting. And... different. Maybe it's the angles of the pix, but I just don't think it looks very good. I'd rather have a soft top with a zip-out window (either glass or plastic). I guess I don't get it.

And, sorry, but LOL @ zip-in windows. They were dogshit from MG and Jeep, and they'd still be dogshit, IMO.

[JDSM]

I like the look...

[91NA6]

I like the g string bikini top. It helps not get burnt by the sun but enjoy the openness of having the top down.

However, I personally would prefer to run this on a hardtop only car. So when you take your hardtop off to go on a fair weather cruise voila. Bikini.

It's not for everyone but if you like it, you make it your own anyways.

[MadMonkey]

I REALLY, REALLY want to like it, but I just can't bring myself to. Revlimiter has/had one as well, and it looks like it should be really cool but isn't quite there.

[whoswatchingme]

I like them too but can think of many things i would buy first for the miata but blackroadster has much more done to his already.

[Stoly]

Looks really good! I had the chance to ride in revlimiter's car with the top and it really is a functional piece when the sun is beating down. Didn't flap around and added some much needed shade while still allowing the breeze in.