Another Bandit luggage question... Givi E21's?

[Tazman2]

Not the smaller E21s the larger side opening boxes!

[rockitcity]

Just thought I'd finish this project in case anyone looks for it in the future.

I got the Givi top box plate mounted to the Suzuki rack. It was fairly straightforward, but somewhat difficult due to the existing holes in the rack I decided to use. Hard to get the nuts to go on the long-ish bolts. Probably would have been quicker to just drill a few more holes in the rack, but the install is clean and sturdy. Here, you can see the top plate as mounted, and can see that it has moved the top case back around 4". This gives me clearance so the E-21's can open. The dimpled plastic merely covers the mounting holes in the top plate to the rack.



While I was at it, I decided to test if a larger side case could be installed on the existing racks. I used the top box as a test subject.



Here's another shot. You can see the difference in bulk between a larger case and the E-21's. If I were going on a multi-week trip, I might spring for something like the Bestem or JC Whitney cases for the sides.

Anyone know if Bestem/Whitney cases fit the standard Givi mounting system? I know from my old V-Strom they are similar, but don't know if they are an exact fit. This presumed compatibility was one of the reasons I went with the E-21's and the Givi rack instead of the PLX system which only allows the use of the V-35 side cases.




Overall I'm pretty pleased with the results. It's a compromise between functionality, practicality, cost, and appearance. I really preferred the look of the Suzuki V-35 side bags with the red covers, but really felt they would not be practical on LA freeways, nor did I really want to spend the cash to get them. I figure with the more generic E-21's I can always sell them if this arrangement doesn't work out, or if I move to another bike in the future. So I have the size of the soft bags with the security and water resistance of the hard luggage.

PS: I got the lock kit from Twisted Throttle to key all three bags alike, so I only have two keys on my key ring. This does make a difference when the keys are mounted in the ignition switch and bouncing around. They were easy to install and reasonably priced, so I think I am done with this project. Well, I might put some reflectors on the bags, but that's no big deal.

Bob

[max1138]

be careful trying that out at high speed suzuki doesn't offer a monokey mount for these bikes for fear of high speed instability with bigger boxes and heavier loads. Moving the center back could make. Any existing instability worse. I have givi lugs added to the stock Suzuki rack with a 36 or 45 liter box and can feel it go out of sorts above 85 or so. Not terribly but its there. Be careful testing it out.

[kewwig]

Originally Posted by max1138

be careful trying that out at high speed suzuki doesn't offer a monokey mount for these bikes for fear of high speed instability with bigger boxes and heavier loads. Moving the center back could make. Any existing instability worse. I have givi lugs added to the stock Suzuki rack with a 36 or 45 liter box and can feel it go out of sorts above 85 or so. Not terribly but its there. Be careful testing it out.

Not sure what you mean. Here the GSX1250FA is offered with the Kappa V35 equivalents plus a monokey topbox, and the GSF was offered in the UK as the GT and in Canada as the SEA with the same setup (albeit V35s and a V46 equivalent). No manufacturer recommends speeds over 80mph with bags

[achesley]

I've had my set up of PLX Givi sidecases and monokey E45 topbox for the last two years on the PLXs and one year on the E45. Have been up to 126 mph with them fully loaded with no problems. This is with a loaded tankbag also in place. Wanted full touring load for test. This was just slowly bringing up the speed to test stability for the bike and not my normal travel speed. I just wanted to not have a surprise in the future. Bike was very solid at this speed even weaving it around a bit.

[rockitcity]

Originally Posted by max1138

be careful trying that out at high speed suzuki doesn't offer a monokey mount for these bikes for fear of high speed instability with bigger boxes and heavier loads. Moving the center back could make. Any existing instability worse. I have givi lugs added to the stock Suzuki rack with a 36 or 45 liter box and can feel it go out of sorts above 85 or so. Not terribly but its there. Be careful testing it out.

Thanks for the cautionary advice. In reality, I'll probably never put larger cases on the side. I will probably just use a duffel on the passenger seat for longer trips. (Don't do much of that anyway. Wife prefers creature comforts in a car as opposed to motorcycle adventures.) I just wanted to see what it would look like with the larger side case.

I usually have my top box reserved for helmet and gloves, so it's usually empty when riding. Got the side cases mainly for stowing gear I want to wear in the morning but not in the afternoon, like jacket and pants liners, shoes, etc. I think this will work out well for my needs.

[Tazman2]

Originally Posted by max1138

be careful trying that out at high speed suzuki doesn't offer a monokey mount for these bikes for fear of high speed instability with bigger boxes and heavier loads. Moving the center back could make. Any existing instability worse. I have givi lugs added to the stock Suzuki rack with a 36 or 45 liter box and can feel it go out of sorts above 85 or so. Not terribly but its there. Be careful testing it out.

I had the same issue kind of. Balanced the weight of the bags contents some and it helped tons. Maybe one side is 2-3x heavier then the other!? That would make things interesting! Al though I sometimes get a slight headshake with the top box on but less so then when I had JUST the top one!

EDIT: These are the inner bags I was referring to.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/givi-...0-e460-v46-e52

[max1138]

what Im referring to is an odd wiggle or lightness coming from the rear of the bike at speed with a e36/45 mounted on the rack. at speeds above 85 or so with the 3 case setup on the rear wants to dance a bit. nothing really dramatic up to 120 so far but its a noticeable difference in how the bike behaves compared to running without a topbox.
with rockcitys topbox being mounted further rearward I wonder if the turbulence I feel could be exaggerated by moving the box further back. going into a wobbler at 100 plus aint fun.

[rockitcity]

Well I had it up over 90 (indicated) on my morning commute today with some tools in the side case and top box holding my briefcase. Bike felt perfectly stable. About the only difference I feel is when at a stop I can feel the inertia of the bags when I am tilting the bike back and forth. I don't think the additional 4" mounting of the top box will make much difference. As I previously mentioned, it's mostly empty when I am riding. It certainly doesn't look an more ungainly than the Givi top box mount, which seems to put the box not only further back but also higher up.

I may increase the rear pre-load to compensate for the extra 15 lbs. or so of the racks and cases. I weigh 170 lbs., and have had the rear preload on the next to lowest setting for ride comfort. My bike has 22,600 miles on it so far, and some would say the suspension may be getting tired. I don't really have another recent point of reference to compare, but it seems adequate.

After seeing that video on another site of the new FJR 1300 hooking a rear bag and plunging onto a dock below, I am being a little more cautious making tight turns. However, lane splitting does not seem to be any more of a problem than with the Cortech soft bags I had previously used. (In case anyone missed it, here's the link)

Lolo tombe dans le Port de Saint Martin en Ré en Yamaha FJR 1300 - YouTube

Lolo tombe dans le Port de Saint Martin en Ré en Yamaha FJR 1300 - YouTube

[Day Trippin]

Originally Posted by max1138

what Im referring to is an odd wiggle or lightness coming from the rear of the bike at speed with a e36/45 mounted on the rack. at speeds above 85 or so with the 3 case setup on the rear wants to dance a bit. nothing really dramatic up to 120 so far but its a noticeable difference in how the bike behaves compared to running without a topbox.
with rockcitys topbox being mounted further rearward I wonder if the turbulence I feel could be exaggerated by moving the box further back. going into a wobbler at 100 plus aint fun.

I've had no issues with this at all. I am running big Givis all around. I am a MadStad screen with a laminar lip as well. I have run well in excess of 100 mph with no issues even with my wife on the back.

The Bandit was rock solid at these speeds. I did have the preload all the way cranked on the rear and all the way in on the forks. For the most part I don't even notice the big bags on the back other then the effect on mileage and I haven't pushed over 135 (per GPS) with the bags on.

On a recent trip we spent a large amount of our time running in excess of 100 mph while cruising with a bunch of Ferraris and Lambos in south Florida. My wife didn't even start jabbing me in the ribs until I went over 130 and noticed the GPS wasn't in KM/H any more.