Bit the bullet and fitted a GIVI rack

[MIXR]

Finally decided to replace the small GIVI topcase that I've been running for many thousands of miles with something larger and more solid for some big trips coming up.

Decided to purchase the GIVI SR683 frame and pay the bucks for a larger Monokey case. What a great piece of gear. Solid as a rock, easy fit, and doesn't look too out of place. For those who have been stuffing about with 'manufactured' racks and fittings like me, this is an excellent option that is thoroughly recommended if you need a solid rack for pillions or large cases. Pricey here in Aus, but seems to be money well-spent. It comes standard with a GIVI Monokey base plate.

I know that the big topcases don't suit everyone, but I find it useful as a 'suitcase' that leaves the side cases for spares, tools, wets, extra gloves, jacket liner, first aid kit and so on. I always travel with the side cases, but now just leave the topcase off unless a trip is on.

If you have been contemplating a big topcase, this is definitely the way to go, especially as the GIVI gear seems to be a good bit cheaper Stateside than here (even allowing for a good exchange rate).




EDIT - Don't confuse this SR683 with an earlier version that only had two uprights and didn't bolt to the rail 'wings'. It just used the fwd and rear rail mounts. This one uses the rear rail mounts and 'wings'. The earlier version also needed the charcoal cannister to be removed.

[Optimus Prime]

I have also recently fit this setup and am very happy with it.

[tor1150r]

MIXR

Looks great! This is something I am considering for long trips with my wife.
What is the max load for this rack? The BMW shelf I have now is, I believe, 5 kg max.

[BoiseBeamer]

Very interesting. I ride a lot of miles on the R, and the biggest problem I've had over 25 years of motorcycle touring is what to do with the helmet and jacket when I want to get off and walk around. A particular problem last summer on a 2500 mile tour with the wife (she rides a copper Rockster) with the weather up in the 90's--not conducive to strolling with a heavy jacket on. I'd never carry anything in it when I'm riding, but I've often considered the value of a top case for this kind of temporary storage when parked. Empty, it's effect on handling should be minimal, and would serve well as a backrest on those occasions when you're carrying a passenger.

I'd like to see more of your fitment. It looks like the Givi mount simply replaces the BMW luggage plate, with the addition of a couple of vertical struts. If that's the case, can you explain where the struts attach to the bike? Does it actually make use of the BMW bracketry? I'm assuming it doesn't affect the use of the OEM side cases? More pictures?

BTW, I agree--Givi quality is topnotch. I've been running their mini fairing for a 14,000-mile year now;it's still like new and looks like it was made for the bike.

Thanks for the information.

[R1150RDave]

Givi dont make a suitable topcase kit for R1150R for fitting to bike without the BMW sidecase fitment anymore, but Kappa do. But I understand it all comes out of the same factory and looks the same and parts are interchangable with Givi. I bought one, its good.

[MIXR]

Weight - The whole bracket set is heavy in its own right. The weight carrying specification is (like most stuff) identified as only 10 kg as I recall (the paperwork is at home), but realistically could carry quadruple that amount. It's very solid and does not flex. This is (in reality) far stronger than the BMW tailrack I had fitted before, by about a hundred times!

It would not be the brackets that would fail, but the bolts that mount the frame to the bike. However, there are TWO allen head bolts (with washers and nylock nuts on the top mounts) at each of the four fixing points - That's EIGHT bolts in total! With all my riding experience, I think the problem would be bike handling rather than frame overload if excessive weight was located in the topcase.

Remember, this sits behind the rear axle line, so a large topcase should be restricted to 'bulky' stuff (clothes) rather than dense/heavy stuff (booze or tools!). I've gone for the really basic E45N case because it matches the side cases. Very simple, not fancy, very big (but not the biggest).

The mounts that you cannot see in the pics are the rear rail attachment points for the lower support arms. The GIVI frame just slides in between the rail and the bike, using the two rail mount bolts. All new bolts are supplied. Very clever and solved the problems with the earlier version.

Absolutely no issues with cannister or sidecase fitment, or anything else. I'll take some more pics this weekend.

[Guest]

Not sure if anyone cares - here's my $0.02 on the Givi.
Have had the same setup for +/- 1yr. Consensus would be - very practical - great for storage - also great for a back rest for the lil missus.

However, I cannot stand the way it looks. I mean Pearly truly is fugly with this thing on it. For those of us who enjoy the lines of this bike - with this thing on it - fogedaboutit.. makes 'ole pearly look almost as bad as one of the blue r's.....

[Guest]

I need to take credit for the comment above

[PearlyWhite]

Wow-that whole signing in thing - very difficult tonight.

[boxermania]

MIXR, that is a neat installation. The bracketry is massive.....you can probably caryy 100 pounds on those brackets.

Hey, with that GIVI case loaded it should be easy to wheelie the bike.....

[MIXR]

Well Pearly - I'll agree that it changes some of the lines of the bike a bit, but it actually looks better in the flesh than in the pics. In fact, the R without side cases on looks very odd as it's too 'heavy-looking' at the front end. The rack makes the bike even up a bit, so it actually complements the bike in my eyes when it's stripped down.

Also, I did say that topcases were not everyone's idea of a good thing. This is purely a matter of function over form. From a practical perspective, the set-up is highly recommended.

[DJ Downunder]

This is something I am considering for long trips with my wife.
What is the max load for this rack?

That rack looks kinda hard...you should let her sit on the seat...

btw...nice mod MIXR...now you can sit three people on ya bike...can we get a pic of that?..

DJ

[MIXR]

Sure DJ - I'll get my daughters out in their bikinis - I'm sure that would liven up the board.

(Actually - Not a chance in hell they'll be appearing here!!!)

[kjax909]

For anyone interested who doesn't like the looks of the Givi topcase, you can easily fit a BMW top case to the Givi mounts. Looking at MIXR's first picture in this post, the BMW baseplate lines up mostly w/ the Givi brackets (don't use the Givi baseplate). You just need two pieces of flat stock, drilled where appropriate (one for each Givi bracket) to align the BMW base plate to the brackets. You don't even need pictures. Once you lay the BMW base plate on the Givi brackets, it's clear exactly how to mate them together. I just did this a few weeks ago and really like the results. I had previously home-fashioned some mounting brackets for a top case, but the Givis look way better and were clearly stronger, so I switched over.

[xaque]

For anyone interested who doesn't like the looks of the Givi topcase, you can easily fit a BMW top case to the Givi mounts. Looking at MIXR's first picture in this post, the BMW baseplate lines up mostly w/ the Givi brackets (don't use the Givi baseplate). You just need two pieces of flat stock, drilled where appropriate (one for each Givi bracket) to align the BMW base plate to the brackets. You don't even need pictures. Once you lay the BMW base plate on the Givi brackets, it's clear exactly how to mate them together. I just did this a few weeks ago and really like the results. I had previously home-fashioned some mounting brackets for a top case, but the Givis look way better and were clearly stronger, so I switched over.

Ooooo!!!!

That is the best thing I've heard in a while (I'm wicked finicky about how top cases look)...

Kjax, would it be possible to post a picture (or you can send me images and I'll host/post them for you)?

Hmm.. great... now I've started day-dreaming about a BMW topcase on my r.. thanks alot!




-Xaque-

[MIXR]

Joe - A good point that I had actually considered. Two points stopped me. First - I just couldn't find a sensibly priced BMW box for love or money over the past few weeks. Second - The givi plate actually has 'sides' that droop down and effectively 'hides' some of the bracketry. This makes a much neater look than a BMW (or other) plate that sits 'on top' of the GIVI frame. I'd really like an RS box that has the deeper side pockets because that would achieve the same thing, but alas - none around! I'm happy with the GIVI - It works.

[kjax909]

I'll try to get some pictures posted this week.

[kjax909]

Here's a picture of the BMW top case base plate mounted on the Givi brackets (picture is from the ground looking up). As you can see, all I had to fabricate were two pieces of flat stock to mate to the rear screw holes of the BMW base plate and to let the top case sit far back enough so the passenger gets full use of the rear seat. It's solid as a rock and looks just like stock.

http://r1150r.smugmug.com/photos/36858912-S.jpg