Givi / MadStad mods

[DrDale]

Just installed Givi V-46 tail case, Givi crash bars and Madstad adjustable windshield bracket.

Two thumbs up on the Madstad! Big improvement in buffeting and wind flow. Not much increased turbulance as speed increases. I have it adjusted a bit below half way up, most of the way back.

Givi V-46. Nice trunk. vague installation instructions, but fairly easy installation. Best to take off the entire back rack and grab rails to do the job. Probably should've got the E-52 big mongo.

Givi crash bars. Installation fairly straight forward - torqued everything to specs posted on this site - 25 ft lb. noticed a bit of vibration, mostly in the footpegs, but some in the seat also. Just returned from a 300 mile trip, including some high speed expressway riding. Vibes got REALLY BAD at 75-80 mph. Especially in the handlebars. Did about 50 miles at this speed. Some numbness and ache in hands and forearms presisted for over 3 hours after ride was finished. Reaching down to grip the crash bars - very noticable hard vibration. I may try some of the fixes I've seen posted here - rubber washers, silicone at the front joint, ect. More likely I'll just remove the bars and ride without. I have a 1,000 mile ride from here in Michigan to Illinois for the flat-track Nationals Labor Day weekend. Couldn't tolerate a ride of that distance with these vibrations.

Not sure at this point, but...I'm inclined to sell the Givi bars and try the SW Motech - nothing bad posted about them (except they don't have as good of crash protection as the Givi. I believe I saw a couple of posts regarding tip-overs with the Motech bars that didn't adequately protect the fairing. Thinking about it....one crash trashes the set of bars to the tune of about $150 (w/shipping). My insurance deductable is $250 - so I'm only really saving $100 IF I do a tip-over. Not sure if it's worth it. Certainly not worth the vibration and aggravatioin.

Also....I'm 5'6" and no real problems with the height of the 650 V-strom (new April 06). Now that the suspension is broken in and set properly, it's not that bad. Important to adjust for a passenger or solo. I'm coming from 30 years of riding dirt bikes - all of which are pretty tall.

All that said...I love this bike. Getting better all the time.

Comments and suggestions (especially regarding the crash bars) welcome.

[DrDale]

Opps! Found out I'd inadvertently left the cross-bars that came on the Givi braces on when I initially installed them on the bike. The back of the instructions say "WARNING" the flat cross bars must be removed before installation....... DUH! I should've known better. Apoligies to Givi.

I'm going to reinstall the crash/engine guards. I've ordered new stainless steel bolts and picked up some rubber washers from the hardware store. Should solve the problem.

[water warrior]

Hey Doc, you have me baffled. What cross bars ?? Part of the bars, part of the bike ? Never did read the back of the instructions. On a 650, right ?

[DrDale]

WW - the bars came with a flat black bar which connected between the two inner mounts (of four) on each side crash bar. You know....there are four mounts (with bolts) on each side - two are sort of back/lower, two are front/upper. the bar connected these. I initially thought that this bar was actually something new to REDUCE the dreaded Givi bar vibrations. Apparently, it must be something that's included in shipping, perhaps to help the bars keep their shape during the shipping process, not sure tho why it was included. I've seen some pictures posted on the site showing the crash bars installed with this bar showing. It's supposed to be removed before installation.

[DrDale]

WW - the bars came with a flat black bar which connected between the two inner mounts (of four) on each side crash bar. You know....there are four mounts (with bolts) on each side - two are sort of back/lower, two are front/upper. the bar connected these. I initially thought that this bar was actually something new to REDUCE the dreaded Givi bar vibrations. Apparently, it must be something that's included in shipping, perhaps to help the bars keep their shape during the shipping process, not sure tho why it was included. I've seen some pictures posted on the site showing the crash bars installed with this bar showing. It's supposed to be removed before installation. Yes.....650

[DrDale]

OK....tried the rubber washers, o-rings on the center spacer thingy, proper torque on the bolts, ect. Still has some noticable vibrations, first noticed in the footpegs, then the seat, then the handlebars. Taking the Givi crash guards off - gonna put them on e-bay when I get back from my trip to Illinois. 1,000 mile round trip. Just don't want to deal with the vibes for a ride that long.

I may try the Motcech guards at a later date, maybe not.

[pilbaralad]

How did you go with removing the bars? replaced them with something else yet? I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had this problem.I am about to order the 650K7 and was ging to have the crash bars fitted for delivery but now I'm not so sure.

Cheers

Brett

[Martin]

Probably should've got the E-52 big mongo.

Hope the 46 works out for you but I went with "big mongo" and am glad I did...

My bike boots, pants and jacket can be crammed into it but just barely; there's no way it would all fit in a 46 litre case and it's really convenient to be able to hide all my riding gear (except for the helmet) in there and walk around in street clothes or go hiking.

- Martin

[water warrior]

Dr. D........Interesting. Apparently I did not get the extra pieces that you got. My bars came wrapped up real snug in a whole lot of plastic wrap.

[water warrior]

Pilbaralad, get the bars or another brand soonest. Crash bars will save your bank account if the bike gets dropped.. The bad vibes do not show up on all bikes. My bike has some vibes but I won't take them off. After a dead drop on concrete with the bars on I shudder to think of the damage without them. It only cost me a clutch lever, not a fairing.

[pilbaralad]

I read in a post that someone put silicone in the bar ends and that stopped vibration. Is the vibration engine generated or wind generated or both. Sounds like a good idea if the bars are mild steel as it could stop water ingress and rusting from the inside out.

I will get the bars and see what happens.

[water warrior]

Mostly engine generated. About 5000 RPM on my bike but some have reported a little each side of 5000. It is really not enough to bother me unless I try to ride too long and then my old bones act up anyways so I take a break.

[pilbaralad]

Water Warrior........wow 1364 posts, ever get time to ride your bike? :wink:

[allonsye]

Mostly engine generated. About 5000 RPM on my bike but some have reported a little each side of 5000. It is really not enough to bother me unless I try to ride too long and then my old bones act up anyways so I take a break.

Ditto w/Warrior on this one. I've the Hepco's. As I indicated in another post - all that steel tubing has got to act like a giant tuning fork transmitting every firing pulse from the engine. There's going to be some virbration. Another one of those pesky trade-offs.

[water warrior]

Oh my goodness and such. That is a lot of posts isn't it.
Doesn't mean too much though, I just like to hear myself type. lol. And ocassionally I get to post something worthwhile.