Hard topside givi, or soft saddlebags?

[Steve-C]

Hi,

I used the universal fitting kit.  It comes with 2x short, 2x medium and 2x long bars, a whole bunch of nuts, bolts etc.  It goes on well, feels strong and doesn't look like overkill on the GS.  Be prepared for hours of fiddling though!

I've finally got round to having some free evenings, so I'll be revamping my web site soon. (Mk III!)  I'll put pics and a how to up on the site.

I'll post a link when it's done.

Steve

[taki]

Steve-C -- i would be interested very much in your setup...the universal mounting kit costs half the price as compared to the gs500 specific mounting kit...

thanks..

[vegasda9]

Hey everyone, this is something i've also been interested in. In looking through the //www.TwistedThrottle.com site (Links from www.riderhaus.com), they are a importer of the Krauser brand of racks for both top rack and side bags. This looks nice on the GS:




The instructions are in a different language and the diagrams are less than desirable, but they do look nice installed.

Here are the part numbers and pricing:
4003.004.101     $201.51    Siderack
4003.004.201     $139.19    Toprack

[Steve-C]

There is a GS specific kit for Givi?!

You mean I didn't have to spend 6 hours in total getting everything to line up?!

:x

I will be taking pics of the whole thing at some point in the not too distant future

[taki]

There sure is a specific kit for the GS 500....i have emailed several internet sellers, and none of them have it in stock...at least GIVI number F524...

one internet seller even said it would take 2-3 months to get it....thats why im looking at other options...

Im currently looking at the Renntec luggage rack, and a givi monolock case...but, im still looking at options...

[Steve-C]

The 524F is only for fitting a topcase.  They don't do one to fit the wingrack (top case and panniers)

Shame though, cause the wingrack will need some extra bracing at some point!  It's solid on there, but I believe in overkill!

They do seem to have one that will mount the tubular rack:


but man is that ugly compared to the wingrack!  Especially the indicators...and they look really vulnerable stuck way out there!


[/img]

[gsJack]

Lots of interesting case mounts shown, but I still prefer the case mounted lower and just behind the seat in place of the passanger grab handle like it is using the Suzuki rack.  Looks like the pics I posted above were not visible to anyone but me.   I moved them from Yahoo briefcase to Yahoo pics and wonder if they will display now.   :dunno:

Testing-



They show for me, can anyone else see them?  If not try url below and if that doesn't work, cut and paste it in address box.  Gotta figure out how to display pics here using my SBC Yahoo DSL.

http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/412282fdz9f22bcea/b858/__sr_/f668.jpg?ph_cPOBBrmxD_gjW

[Kerry]

Yep, I see the pics.

Lookin' good!  

[gsJack]

Yep, I see the pics.

Lookin' good!  

Thanks Kerry.

[indestructibleman]

i unfortunately still can't see the embedded pic, and i can't get that link to open.

[70 Cam Guy]

i unfortunately still can't see the embedded pic, and i can't get that link to open.

I also still cannot see the pics.

I have been using www.photobucket.com with good success for hosting my pics.  Its free toregister but you do have limited bandwidth

[gsJack]

i unfortunately still can't see the embedded pic, and i can't get that link to open.

I also still cannot see the pics.

I have been using www.photobucket.com with good success for hosting my pics.  Its free toregister but you do have limited bandwidth

OK, I put it on photobucket.com.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/?action=view&current=GiviRackPics.jpg

Also, I've corrected my Yahoo url.  I noticed the "pic" under your sig leads to your Yahoo photo album.  Here's the link to my album which just has that one pic in it so far.  I was trying to link just the pic url only before.  Does this work now?

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

I'm getting the larger original size pics from photobucket, the pics from my Yahoo album were reduced in size.

[Kerry]

gsJack, I could see the pictures 3 (of your) posts back while I was at work, but I get the dreaded red X from home.

Unfortunately, both of the links in your last post go to login pages.  

Try this:

* Browse right to one of the photos you want to share on the GStwin forum.

* Right-click on the image itself and choose Properties from the popup menu.

* Copy the URL from the Properties box.

* Paste

that URL into your GStwin post.[/list:u]No guarantee that this will work, but it's worth a shot.  If it doesn't work, PM me and we can make alternate arrangements.

[gsJack]

gsJack, I could see the pictures 3 (of your) posts back while I was at work, but I get the dreaded red X from home.

Unfortunately, both of the links in your last post go to login pages.  

Try this:

* Browse right to one of the photos you want to share on the GStwin forum.

* Right-click on the image itself and choose Properties from the popup menu.

* Copy the URL from the Properties box.

* Paste

that URL into your GStwin post.[/list:u]No guarantee that this will work, but it's worth a shot.  If it doesn't work, PM me and we can make alternate arrangements.

Mmmmmmmm, thought I did it that way the first time, Kerry.  I'll try it again.  URL's from right click on the photo from both sources:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GiviRackPics.jpg

http://us.f2.yahoofs.com/users/412282fdz9f22bcea/b858/__sr_/f668.jpg?phWgcOBBj54m_gjW

Do either of these links work now?  The six pics were put together in Adobe photo program, converted to jpg, and uplooaded as one.  Photobucket still gives the largest photo.  

[Cal Price]

I can see 'em. Good illustration of the "lower profile" carrier.

[Steve-C]

Links work fine for me too.  Carrier looks good!  If it wasn't for the wingrack, I think I'd prefer the lower profile option too.

[70 Cam Guy]

Hey that looks pretty good!  Definitely a fine option to consider

[iisan7]

I followed a fellow poster's link to see ronayers.com where the Suzuki rack is *not* out of stock, but before I get the givi box I'm toying with the idea of the cheaper JC Whitney locking box. Has anyone used it?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/c-10111/s-10101/p-140050/mediaCode-ZX/appId-237837

[Steve-C]

Never used it, but my bike came with a similar sized Givi box.  After getting the bigger 2 helmet box, I would never go back to something so small.  I like being able to store my helmet and jacket in the top box.

Go with the Givi, even if you only want the small box now, it gives you the option of upgrading later.

[taki]

I ended up getting the JC Whitney top box, and a luggage rack from the following place:

http://www.revsperformance.com/renntec/sports_racks.htm

The box is decent, but its nothing special (other than the price) the only comparison i have is my father-in-laws Kappa luggage on his V-Strom 1000 which is a very nice luggage set...

yes, the JC Whitney box is cheaper (i believe its made by EMGO, because if you look at the EMGO catalog, you will see basically the same box), and will hold my medium sized full face helmet, flashlight, small socket set, and rain gear no problem, but i dont think it would hold my jacket and helmet at the same time...but thats no problem...i use the helmet lock, and lock my jacket...

Since this is my first bike, and im trying to keep costs down, this is just fine for me...if i was on my second bike, then i would have probably sprung for a monorack and a GIVI top box....

i would also look on EBAY for GIVI boxes - theres an EBAYer called midwest cycle that is closing out all their display models...for example:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2496284267&category=35580

decent price...