Side Luggage Racks, 2004+Up?

[Electrojake]

After two tedious days of searching GStwins and the entire web I have become much better informed.
I have learned that side racks for a GS500F are either home-made or non-existent.

I would dump this "F" bike and buy a "DL" so I could at least find aftermarket touring bling for it, <FRUSTRATED!>, but it seems I'm missing the $8000 necessary to do that right now.
Speaking of money, a FiveStars rack (with an integrated tail rack that I really don't want or need), and a set of hard side bags would set me back about $500.00.
Please, all I want is a place to stash some tools, a can of Yoo-Hoo, and a couple of Twinkies for the ride.
I found a lot of sweet soft bags like Cortech at 17 Liters and Nelson Riggs side bags at 20 & 13 Liters. (As you can tell I want small!)
But I prefer hard luggage for the added protection and security they would provide.

These GIVI E21 units were the smallest hard luggage I could find, (21 Liters).


Yeah they're ugly but the price is right.
And most important, they're small!
Now if only GIVI would make a rack for a post 2004 "F" bike.
I was thinking of buying the two "mystery racks" that GIVI lists on their web site, the 524 and the 526. I have a hammer and a blow torch. I'm sure I could pound-out something that would fit a late model "F" bike out of the "almost fits" parts they would send me. (Gee, that sounds like fun, eh?)
But I would rather a more straight-forward installation experience.

Thank You for this opportunity to vent.
Sometimes it helps a lot.
-Ej-

[bassmechanicsz]

y not just use a tank bag and you can bring it with you whenever you get to a destination.  Mary wrote up a good review on the rapid transit tank bag which has backpack straps that come with it making it easy to carry around with you.  I have the same tank bag and it is very useful.  I also have soft side bags but still find the tank bag more useful.

[gsJack]

Check out the Shad racks and cases from Binetto, less expensive than FiveStars:

http://www.binetto.com/SHAD-Motorcases/SHAD-Suzuki-Motorcase-Mounting-Attachment-Kits.aspx

I prefer a top case only for my use.  Mounted my small Givi case on a Suzuki rack on my 02 GS and added braces.  I made a small rack for my 97 GS mounted to the passanger grab handle for soft luggage for $15 which I used for years.  If I needed another rack to mount a case on a GS I'd just make one for $15-20.  A small Givi hard case is less than $100 and comes with a mounting plate that bolts to a rack.

[Electrojake]

Tank bags are cool, but they provide a rather unique purpose. More like a woman's purse; tank bags carry the critical stuff that a rider would always want close at hand.

What I need is more of a fixed-permanent storage answer.
Something that will hold tool kit, tire kit, maps, small emergency water & fuel bottles, first aid, etc...
Additionally, when I park I usually take my GPS & GMRS equipment off the bars and lock it in my hard case.
(out of sight, out of mind)

Perhaps I should take gsJack's advice and consider a tail-case.
(god-awful ugly... All of em').
However, if I could find a tail mounted hard-case that was small and secure, I might be able to live with it.

I'll post pics of whatever it is I buy and mount to the bike.
Thanks for the input!
-Ej-

[BaltimoreGS]

Not the best looking thing but the price is right:  http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/emgo/portable_motorcycle_travel_trunk_tail_bag.html

-Jessie

[Bluesmudge]

Not the best looking thing but the price is right:  http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/emgo/portable_motorcycle_travel_trunk_tail_bag.html

-Jessie

Thats what I got on my GS and it looks just fine!

[BaltimoreGS]

Not the best looking thing but the price is right:  http://www.newenoughhp.com/luggage/tail_bags/emgo/portable_motorcycle_travel_trunk_tail_bag.html

-Jessie

Thats what I got on my GS and it looks just fine!

No offense meant, I'd buy one at that price.  I think the Givi has a much smoother look to it though.

-Jessie

[PachmanP]

You say you couldn't find anything for an 04+, but did you come across anything that would work for an earlier year? I would imagine that would work as well.  The manufacterer might not have updated the literature or something.

[crazyfish]

You can mount a givi wingrack to a gs without too much trouble. Ive had one on mine for about a year and a half now and had no problems. You can pick up a wingrack pretty cheap on ebay and you can make some diy brakets out of metal roofing struts available at your local diy store (B&Q or whatever for cheap).

I can get you some pics of what it looks like with the rack on and the fittings soon but the bike is in pieces at the moment....

[Electrojake]

A Wingrack? Hmmm, interesting.
Definitely worth a closer look.
Thanks for the lead.

For now I ended up ordering a set of these Nelson-Riggs CL-900 bags. . .


They are only 13 liter but at least I will have "something" to store a little equipment in while I'm working up the courage to buy a set of GIVI E21 hard bags and a 526 mounting kit.
The nature of the GS500F's rear plastic trim make it awkward to mount a set of small bags in a flat fashion. When strapped down they'll be kind of pointing up. (No biggy).

Regardless, I'll post some pics soon as the bags arrive (and the bike gets reassembled). It's been in pieces in my garage awaiting a number of repair parts that seem to NEVER show-up.
Geez, I thought it was only Beamer guys that had to wait weeks upon weeks for parts.
Besides, being a vehicle modder type-of-guy I'm used to being waist deep in really cool aftermarket "stuff" that upon closer inspection turned out to be more fodder for the "brand new but totally useless junk pile" out in my shed. 

Thanks for the continued input!
-Ej-

P.S. The voices in my head keep telling me to simply strip all the damn plastic off this new GS500F and turn it into the workable utility machine that it should be instead of the plastic faired, decal laden, bulbous albatross that it is now.
(And just think of how much more "stuff" I can add to the brand-new-but-totally-useless-pile in my shed!)
-Ej-

[BaltimoreGS]

I have a similar set of bags, they don't stick out too far when loaded.  You can mount them under the seat so they can't be stolen. While a step below hard luggage they are still very useful 

-Jessie

My current bag set up on the SV



On the GS it's easy to mount soft luggage below the seat

[Electrojake]

Thanks for the pics.
Both bikes are nice but that GS shot is sweet!
A nice photo in a nice environment.
-Ej-

[BaltimoreGS]

Thanks.  The biggest thing I miss about that job is working on personal projects in a big heated shop   

-Jessie