I got the Givi Monorack for my '96 E & aside from some issues with rear fender clearance, it mounts to the bike just fine. The problem is that the case I got (E450) came with a "universal" base plate that I cannot figure out how to install for the life of me. It appears as though it's supposed to be a universal plate for all luggage racks, but does not work at all with their own brand Monorack. Does anyone know what plate I need to get to make this work, & where I can get it from?

PICTURES! please!

The Givi Monoracks can be bought for either Monokey or Monolock case mounting and they ask you to specify when you order which one you want.  Since your E450 which is a Monolock case won't fit your rack directly the rack must be a Monokey rack. The enclosed mounting plate that comes with the Monolock cases is intended for mounting to tubular luggage racks of various makes and not to either the Givi Monokey or Monolock racks.  Here's one solution I found where the poster mounted his Monolock base plate to a Monokey rack.  Looks like a simple solution to your problem:

http://www.ntvhonda.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=luggage&action=display&thread=268

Hm, guess that's what I get for getting a monorack from ebay. Well fortunately, a friend of mine happened to have the plate & joint set from a monokey rack that he sold me for $20. The screws he gave me that bind the plate to the rack arms are too short, so I'll head to the hardware store tomorrow & hopefully get everything assembled. Pictures to come upon complete assembly.