If you were using your GS500 as a commuting bike, and wanted space for rain gear, some groceries, some tools, my lunch, etc..., what would you rather have:

a single hard topside givi or soft saddlebags?


can anybody give pros and cons of each?

also, i was looking at the givi monolocks - do they come with their own mounting hardware/rack?

thanks in advance...

Quote from: takiIf you were using your GS500 as a commuting bike, and wanted space for rain gear, some groceries, some tools, my lunch, etc..., what would you rather have:

a single hard topside givi or soft saddlebags?


can anybody give pros and cons of each?

also, i was looking at the givi monolocks - do they come with their own mounting hardware/rack?

thanks in advance...

I went with two givi 36 liter saddlebags on a 5star rack.  The 36 will fit a full face helmet (if you take out the document holder)  Before that I tried a cheap top box from JC Whitney (uses a givi type attachment but with closer spacing on the lugs) that worker quite well except that the stress on the Suzuki rack I had before the 5star rack actually caused the mountin points under the seat to fracture.

unfortunately, the five stars racks don't appear to be available anywhere that i've seen.
riderhaus no longer carries them.

cheers,
will

www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/GStwinMembers/CalPrice/GiviTopBox_Rack.jpg

I went with the Givi hard TopBox, you can see on the pic the base that you get included, this clamps onto pretty much any rack. The bits and bobs required are supplied. I can get my full face helmet, gloves and a screwed-up leather jacket (without armour) in my 35L box, along with the bits that live in there, a cargo net, some leggings and a couple of bungees.

Here's a (poor quality)pic showing the box fitted on the rack.



and another of the rack fitting under the seat.

Quote from: takiwhat would you rather have:

a single hard topside givi or soft saddlebags?

If you can afford it, the hard bag is more convenient - unless you need to carry the luggage a long distance and you've found some saddlebags that you can strap on your back.

Quote from: takican anybody give pros and cons of each?

Hard bag = waterproof, easy attach/detach, lockable

Soft Saddlebags = less expensive, no need for bike-specific rack

Quote from: takialso, i was looking at the givi monolocks - do they come with their own mounting hardware/rack?

Nope, that's an extra expense.  I don't know where you're located, but the Givi USA or main Givi sites can help you find a dealer.  If you're in the US you should also visit the Arizona Motorsports Group Online Catalog.

As it happens, I gave my 40-liter, Givi-compatible (but cheaper) Kappa bag a moderate workout yesterday:

This is outside the last store on my shopping trip:


And this is after I got home and unloaded:


As you can see, there was still a bit of room in the bag!

For more pictures of my hard luggage and racks, see my Riderhaus page.  As someone already mentioned, Riderhaus no longer offers the Five Stars racks, but that page may give you some ideas....  :dunno:  But if you're only looking for a topbox, the Monorack should work fine.  I wish I knew of a US source for the Kappa bags, but I don't.

Quote from: mjmBefore that I tried a cheap top box from JC Whitney (uses a givi type attachment but with closer spacing on the lugs) that worker quite well except that the stress on the Suzuki rack I had before the 5star rack actually caused the mountin points under the seat to fracture.

I mounted a Givi 33 liter monolock bag to the Suzuki luggage rack.  The Monolock case comes with a mounting plate and hardware and the whole thing looked great.  After a month or so, I noticed the same cracking starting on the frome mounting member.  Bolts on with the same 2 bolts that mount the passanger grab handle.  I just added a couple braces at the rear made of .75x.75" aluminum angle and attached them to a 12" cross piece of angle mounted to the very top of the rear fender and to the rear of the rack with the mounting bolts that hold the Givi mounting plate clamps.

If I had it to do over, I would do it the same way.  The Suzuki rack places the Givi trunk at a nice angle and as close to the bike's body work as possible.  Have seen the cases mounted on the Givi racks and they stick up much higher than I like.

I used soft luggage for years and don't know why I waited so long to get a waterproof locking hard case.  It's great.





I think it would work just as well with the homemade rack I put on the old 97 GS if I added the bracing struts like on the newer 02 GS with the Suzuki rack.

Quote from: gsJackThe Monolock case comes with a mounting plate and hardware

Oops -- I stand corrected!  But I only meant to assert that the RACK was extra.

Quote from: gsJackI just added a couple braces at the rear made of .75x.75" aluminum angle and attached them to a 12" cross piece of angle mounted to the very top of the rear fender and to the rear of the rack with the mounting bolts that hold the Givi mounting plate clamps.

Hmmm.  Jack, is there any way to take a picture of what you just described?  I'd love to see the arrangement.

Quote from: gsJackThe Suzuki rack places the Givi trunk at a nice angle and as close to the bike's body work as possible.  Have seen the cases mounted on the Givi racks and they stick up much higher than I like.

Good point!  Any idea if/where the Suzuki rack is still available?

Thanks for all your responses - as always lots of good information...


of course, i still havent decided....i found a place that has givi monolock cases (www.happy-trail.com) for decent prices (they have an assortment of monolock cases for approx. $100), but they state the racks they have only work with the monokey cases...and they dont list the 2000 gs500...im sure any gs500 rack will work though...

on the other hand, tourmaster cortech saddlebags cost $135...

decisions, decisions...

Quote from: takiThanks for all your responses - as always lots of good information...


of course, i still havent decided....i found a place that has givi monolock cases (www.happy-trail.com) for decent prices (they have an assortment of monolock cases for approx. $100), but they state the racks they have only work with the monokey cases...and they dont list the 2000 gs500...im sure any gs500 rack will work though...

on the other hand, tourmaster cortech saddlebags cost $135...

decisions, decisions...

Taki-  I got my Givi E33 case from Arizona Motor Sports for about the same price as the ones you found.  They list different Givi mouinting racks for various  year GS500s and one should fit yours.  These racks are for top case only and not saddlebags and will mount both Monokey and Monolock cases, but an adapter might be required.  Check out if interested.

http://store.azmusa.com/azmotorsports/

Kerry- Guess it's about time to do it.   :lol:  I replaced my 333 speed dial-up puter last winter with a 2.6 GHz model and DSL service and never got around to installing the programs for my trusty old Polaroid 320 digital box camera.  I'll shoot some pics and get these programs installed in the new puter.  The Polaroid box camera takes pics like the one above of my homemade rack.  No sharp closeups, but if I stay back about 3' it gives a good enough image to display something online in a hurry.  Hope to get it up and running tonight if possible.  

Ever since Suzuki came out with their fancy new website for current models, I have not been able to connect with their previous sites for 97 and 02 models and accesories.  I found that rack pic above at Andretti site and the part # for my rack which I bought from RonAyers for about $77 plus ship was 99950-70267.  The aluminum angle and ss screws were only a few dollars.  Still less than the Givi rack which is about $120, my labor is free since I'm retired now.   :lol:  :lol:

http://www.ronayers.com/main.cfm

http://www.andrettipowersports.com

I didn't think that Suzuki made a rack for the older GS?  Part number?  

My thought on the high placement of the Givi racks, is that if you get a Givi topcase with pillion backrest, then the higher placement may work better.  The top plate on Kerry's Five Stars rack looks lower than the Givi racks too: it looks like it's right on a plane with the back of the seat (same height, same angle).

Quote from: gsJackI found that rack pic above at Andretti site and the part # for my rack which I bought from RonAyers for about $77 plus ship was 99950-70267.

Cool!  So the direct link to the Suzuki rack is

http://www.ronayers.com/browseparts.cfm?searchstring=99950-70267[/list:u]Next question for gsJack: Have you tried this rack on your '97, or does it only work with the '01+ body styles?

taki, if I were you I would consider getting a topbox setup like gsJack's for commuting, groceries, etc.  AND a set of soft saddlebags for multi-day or camping trips.  You wouldn't need to get everything at once; concentrate on the one you think would give you the best return-on-investment first and then save up for the other.

The decisions are yours to make, of course.  As always, I'll be curious to know what arrangement you end up with.

Next question for gsJack: Have you tried this rack on your '97, or does it only work with the '01+ body styles? >>>>

Kerry & Rema-  The rack I puschased was listed only for the 01-02 models.  A picture of it was shown to me by a local dealer friend before I made my own rack for the 97 GS.  Not knowing why it wouldn't fit the older models, I went ahead and made my own rack.

When I got the rack for the 02, I first tried it on the 97 to see why it wasn't listed for older models.  It bolts right on the 97 and should work on the older models.  It just touches the bodywork where it extends out from the mounting point, but should work OK.  I would use it on the 97 as is if required, however, if I wanted to use it on the older bike regularly I would grind off a little of the side covers where it touches for a little clearance.  Would not be much and shouldn't even be noticeable.

It does look better on the 02 model though.  

I think my rack is a "Renthall" or "Rennett" same as the crashbars. It was supplied by the dealer when I bought the bike.

Here's some quick pics of the Givi E33 top case mounted to the Suzuki rack on my 02 GS500 with the support struts I added.  Sorry for the poor quality, gotta bet a better digital camera one of these days.



The 12" cross piece is mounted to the flat on the top of the rear fender and the braces are connected with small pieces of angle cut from the same .75x.75"x3' piece of aluminum angle that the braces and cross piece were cut from.  The tops of the struts(braces) are connected with similar small angles to the bolts that hold the clamps holding the Givi mtg plate on the rack.

gsJack...am i doing something wrong? all I see is a red x where the picture should be....

the pic's just not showing up.

I have had the Givi Arrow saddlebags for a few months now.  While they are perfect for an overnight scoot back home, I find myself paranoid about leaving anything in them at school or at my apartment.  Someone has already stolen 2 baseball hats, and the rain covers when parked in my apt car port (who steals used baseball hats of bands they've never heard of??!! ).  I think they were trying to take the bags completely but the zip ties thwarted the attempt :lol:

I've also noticed a couple spots where the soft bags rubbed through the paint on my tail plastics (like a car cover can do to painted side view mirrors).  It doesn't really bother me but my bike is a definite 20 footer and I would want someone to know before they put those on their bike.

Anyway, after that experience I say get something you can lock so you aren't as worried about your things.  I miss my favorite hats

Just to make a few notes for myself (please correct me if wrong):

Cases:

Givi makes "Monolock" top boxes, which have 6.6lb cargo limit (flimsy?), look cool, are cheap ($80-$150), and come with mounting plate to attach to any tubular top rack (FiveStars, Suzuki, GSJack, whatever).  

Givi also makes "Monokey" boxes which can be used on top or on the side, have 22lb cargo limit (sturdy)... but these Monokey boxes will only attach to Givi's "Monorack",  "Wingrack", or other racks using a Givi adapter plate ($50?).  Most Monokey cases cost $180 and on upwards.  A best buy on Monokey cases is the old block-style case for $121+$21 s&h at http://www.happy-trail.com/category.aspx?categoryid=28&openid=28 ,  or $145+$0 s&h at http://www.cyclestuffusa.com/givmone36and.html .

Racks:

Suzuki makes a $70 OEM rack for the '01/'02, it looks good, and it will sorta fit the '89-'00 bikes with some rubbing on top edge (?) of the plastic tail sides.  It could be used to carry any of the cheaper Monolock cases, which come with a tubular-rack-to-monolock mounting plalte.  In stock trim, it may not be sturdy-enough, and is aided by adding some DIY support brackets.

Givi makes a Monorack for the '89-'00 GS500s, which will carry a Monokey case on top ($113 @ http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?store_code=CST&screen=PROD&product_code=F477, or $119 @ http://store.azmusa.com/suzmon3.html). You can also carry the cheaper Monolock cases if you buy a $30 adapter plate.

FiveStars sells a 89Euro tubular top rack for GS500 ('89-'00: 2482-1000-0580, '01/'02: 2482-2000-05800 at JFMotorsporrt.de), which, like the OEM Suzuki rack, will carry a Monolock top case (using the plate supplied with the case), or will carry a Monokey case if you buy a $50 plate from Givi.  The FiveStars rack also allows you to add sidecases with an additional 119Euro tubular side racks (2444-1000-0400 or 2444-2000-0400 for '01/'02).

I am unable to find a Givi Wingrack fitment kit for GS500.  And Givi doesn't appear to sell a tubular rack for GS500.  I guess if you want side cases, try to get both Five Stars racks for 208Euro, or make some D-I-Y mounting hardware for the Givi Wingrack.

Renntec also makes the sport rack ('89-00: REN7029B, '01/'02 REN7269B) for $100 at   http://www.revsperformance.com/renntec/sports_racks.htm

Some questions I have:

Kerry, did you use a Monokey case as top box, or is that a Monolock? If a Monokey, did you need to add a $50 adapter plate? If it's a Monolock, what do you think about their sturdiness?  I'm mostly interested in security over crash protection.  

Cal, that looks like a Monolock case?  If so, what do you think of the sturdiness of the case (versus the Monokey cases, if you had time to compare)?  

Steve-C, did you fabricate your own Wingrack mounting kit?  I'll be darned if I can find one for sale (or listed on Givi's website).

I found this no name topside box at JC Whitney for approx $60.00...I assume this is the box that MJM is talking about...

MJM - can you tell us about the quality of this box?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-4329/c-10111