Givi panniers and top box

[loxsmith]

I had Givi boxes on my previous bike (CBR1100XX), when I ordered the DL1000 the pannier brackets were not readily available but the top box mounting plate was. The top box mounting plate is moulded plastic and does not inspire me as being very durable.
The pannier brackets are at least 4 weeks away from hitting the shores. I am tossing up whether to cancel the order for the brackets and invest in some Jesse luggage that I believe will be on display at the Horizons Unlimited meeting later this month.
I have used Givi extensively over the years (but only on road) and it has proved to be snow, dust and waterproof no matter what I through at it.
My question is do the plastic boxes hold up well to vibration/off road treatment???

I will be doing mostly long distance road rides with some formed dirt road stuff thrown in like Brisbane to Birdsville etc etc.

Keen to hear others opinions

Glen

[Jantar]

I had Givi boxes on my previous bike (CBR1100XX), when I ordered the DL1000 the pannier brackets were not readily available but the top box mounting plate was. The top box mounting plate is moulded plastic and does not inspire me as being very durable.
The pannier brackets are at least 4 weeks away from hitting the shores.
When I bought my Vee 6 months ago, part of the deal was that the bike shop would supply Givi racks and transfer my E36s from my GS1200 to the Vee. I had to wait from July to Decemeber for the racks to arrive, and so far I have only traveeled around 1200 km with the panniers. This was almost all on sealed road, but they certainly seem to do the do the job OK.

I'll shortly be tackling the South Island Passes ride, so that'll be a good test to see how they manage long stretches of rough roads.

I did note that the weight limit on the top box rack is only 5kg while the boxes themselves have a capacity of 10kg.

[Laava]

I fitted Givi monokey sideracks last Thur and have done 1200km so far loaded up. If you already have the panniers, the wait would be worth it IMO. I had my original wingrack as well and fitted the top box rack directly to the Strom rack with 6x 6mm bolts/nuts carefully positioned and plenty of vibe dampening membrane between. If you are keen on doing it and have your old top box rack, I could post a pic or two to make it clear.:)

[K1W1]

I did note that the weight limit on the top box rack is only 5kg while the boxes themselves have a capacity of 10kg.

I've always believed that the manufacturers weight limits are more to do with public liability than what their products will actually hold. Top boxes especially have very low limits so there is no suggestion that they cause balance issues on the bike.
Of course if individuals choose to exceed the manufacturers stated limits that this something they do entirely at their own risk.

[greywolf]

I can show you my scars that came from a speed/heavy tail box induced tank slapper. Weight far removed from the center of mass of a naked bike is a bad thing. The limits are not about what the luggage rack can support. They are about what happens to the bike's stability.

[kamloopsal]

For what it's worth. I have chatted with LOTS of riders using 'plastic' luggage, both mainstream and Chinese 'knock offs'. Apart from some mounting issues, they seem very happy. Last year I was talking to a guy in Vancouver who had just returned from a trip to Bolivia. He started out with Oxford soft luggage (like mine) but had installed 'cheappie' hard bags to give better protection from theft and crashes. They were still on the bike and he intended to leave them on for a trip to Alaska.
Although we are 'just up the road' from the US, like you, we are hit with outrageous shipping charges. However, we have the luxury(?) of local pick-up within a day's ride :).

Off the topic:
I lived in West Australia for 7 years in the early 70s. Perth, Dampier, Broome and Mt. Tom Price (when it was still a Hammersly Iron 'tent city').

Have a good one!

Al

[loxsmith]

I must admit that the Givi luggage (E52 top box & E41 panniers) that I have has covered over 50000km and as I mentioned they are still weather proof. It is more the different mounting system between the Blackbird and the DL1000 that is the issue. The DL does not appear to use the wing rack mounting system, rather a tubular steel frame???? The panniers are brilliant design with the combination lock operated small lid that allows small items such as gloves etc to be stowed without opening the full lid.

[buckethead]

Im on my 2nd dl1000 and am using the same E460 top box and C41 keyless sideboxes with the original mounts I took of the 02 strom ,we did 1600km around the north island this xmas on the 06 and they are still as good as new ,unfortuatly I left the Givi crash bars on the 02 and when ,nov 06 ,saw it was 4 sale offered to buy them off him ,to told that he took tem off cause they did not look good AND he said he had dumped them.still the new ones will be here in march sometime Im told.THe zuk dealer tells me that NZ importer wont warrent the due to a history of cracking,strange I would not think givi would market or sell themTN528 engine guards.any one know about this?