[maydaymike]

Is anyone here using an asymmetrical luggage setup with a givi e45 on the left and an e36 on the right? It looks like the rack on the 650 is offset about 1.5 inches, and this setup will cause the outside edges of the cases to be the same distance from the center of the bike. Yes, I know it will be wide! Please post pics if possible.

 

[K1W1]

I don't think that the Givi rack is actually offset. Have you measured one or are you just looking at photos?

 

[maydaymike]

Measured the one that is installed on my bike. The rack for the Wee is about 1.5 inches further away from the centerline of the bike on the exhaust side.

 

[K1W1]

I'll have to go measure mine after breakfast now.

Edit:

Well well you are correct. I guess it shows how much it worries me.
I suppose that there is no reason why you could not use asymmetrical cases if you wanted to.

 

[baiku]

Measured the one that is installed on my bike. The rack for the Wee is about 1.5 inches further away from the centerline of the bike on the exhaust side.

Interesting! The E45 is 1.2 inches deeper (30mm for the Antipodeans!) than the E36, so one of each, on the correct side, would 'balance' the bike for width about the centerline.

But, which rack is on your bike? SW-Motech, Givi, or other?

 

[maydaymike]

I have the Givi rack on my bike.

 

[baiku]

I have the Givi rack on my bike.

Thanks, MDM. The asymmetrical arrangement sounds like a winner. The E36 and E45 have the same height and width, and just enough difference in depth to balance the distance on the right/left sides.

 

[decodent]

Works like a charm ...

This is a great way to go. I first heard about - and used - this "asymmetrical" set-up on my KLR. Dual-Star recommended it.

After destroying the KLR in a "Doug vs. the Antelope" crash, I upgraded to the Wee. Lo' and behold, the Givi rack on the Wee had the same asymmetrical design. So I used the two different sizes on it too.

Looks great.

Again, I'll get pics when I get back home to the bike ...

 

[maydaymike]

I was pretty sure I read about it on here. Anyway, pics would be nice. I'll probably be ordering mine in the near future.

 

[oldturtle]

Twisted throttle had info at cycle show on using Trax Alu-Box 45L/37L bags and Quick-Loc Evo carriers. Appears to be narrower than the Givi option and looks bad.

 

[maydaymike]

I already have an e45 on top, and I want 'em all to match.

 

[decodent]

My Givi setup plus Cabelas drybag

Trying to remember the set-up I have, but I think that's what I've got too. Anyway, it's all Givi, and it works great.

And, when I want/need to take extra gear, I strap a blue Cabelas Boundary Water drybag across the rack using ROC straps. Really nice, clean look.

So basically my travel set-up is:

• Givi Top Case ("the office") - inc. laptop, computer case, etc., plus all misc gear I need that doesn't fit into the Wolfman tank bag. If I head into a coffeeshop, I can often pull out the computer case and stick the helmet inside.
• Smaller Givi case right side ("the Garage") - motorcycle cover, heated jacket, moto tools, Slime pump.
• Larger Givi case left side ("Housing") - sleep bag system, 3/4 ultra thermarest, Big Agnes Seedhouse2 SL, and a really small stove with mug.
• Cabela's Drybag (the "Wardrobe") - All clothes, shoes, iPod speaker system, etc. All held down by Roc Straps. A plus on the Cabelas is that I can use the rolltop buckle/straps to secure down my Darien Light jacket if I go inside somewhere.

I might also strap on "The Chair" and Chacos under/on the Drybag.

I can go indefinitely on this system.

If you want - pics to follow when I get back home.

I already have an e45 on top, and I want 'em all to match.

 

[decodent]

Pics of set-up ...

Ok, finally got around to taking some pics. SmugMug is back online. So here's what it looks like (sorry about the clutter in the garage, but I hope you can still see what it looks like):

You can see more pics here:

http://douggreene.smugmug.com/gallery/6976725_iKZz2#446530872_frQBo

 

[maydaymike]

Thanks for the pics. I thought it would work pretty good. I'll be ordering mine in the next week or so.

 

[decodent]

Since the cases end up being the same width out from the bike, I think it balances the bike out nicely.

 

[LowAndSilent]

It does look quite nice. Really does seem to balance out the bike. I would have just got two E36's (to go along with my E45 top), but I've decided that I'll probably end up doing this if it helps to balance out the bike and gives me quite a bit more storage.

That's if I ever get my Givi racks.

 

[Doc59]

Great post, finally got me off my arse to do something with my 650. When I bought the bike it came with free Givi luggage (e41's and a top box). I'm not a fan of side loading boxes but finding out they were assymetrical and reading this http://11109.rapidforum.com/topic=108570257838 gave me ideas. I had TT Zegas on my BMW F650 (35 and 41 litre) so this weekend I attacked them with a drill and mounted them to the givi racks on my DL. Aside from turning them into swiss cheese, it worked perfectly. I'll be buying a couple of sheets of 2mm aluminium to stiffen the insides and cover the extra holes and now I have boxes that can be swapped between bikes or will fit any with the givi racks. Total width, a touch under 40" so actually narrower than the E41's on the bike and much better to pack.

 

[greywolf]

While the outside reach on each may be closer to the same, the difference in bag appearance makes it less desirable for my taste. Inner bags handle the negatives of side opening bags. It also helps to leave them closed except after taking them off. Stuff you need during the trip can go in the top case. It's better to have lightweight items like rain gear up top and keep the heavy stuff like the disc lock low and forward anyway.

 

[decodent]

Nice padded luggage fits Givi cases ... for $7.00.

(Just posted this as a new thread, but it seems relevant here - this helps negate the problems with side-opening cases)

Ok, remember how that cool it is when you stumble across one of those things that's "just too good to be true"? Well, this one started with my mom.

"Hey Doug, you know what you can get me for Christmas?"

"What, mom?"

Trader Joe's has a nice insulated shopping bag. Get me one of those."

"Ok, mom."

So I did. Wow, these bags are nice. They're insulated, have a decent zipper, nice handles, seem to be well made, and they cost seven bucks.

Welp, as fate would have it, I ended up using it myself before I even got it to mom. Great for schlepping foods to those pre-Xmas potlucks, etc. So I bought another one, but - again - used it for myself. Finally I ended up buying everybody in the family one.

Then, one day while I was unloading from yet another Trader Joe's run, I was parked next to the Wee with its Givi cases. I looked at the bag, then at a Givi, and back again ...

Dang, me thinks, this bag looks about the same size as the Givi. So I brought the bag over to the Wee, opened up the Givi, and - lo and behold! - it's a perfect fit. I gotta let the inmates know about this one! But I know they'll want pics.

Now that we're through the holidays and things have settled down, I've taken pics. I'm tellin' ya, for seven bucks - heck, for five times that much - you couldn't find a better soft piece of luggage to go in there!

So here it is: the ultimate $7.00 Givi luggage!

Fits in it nice and snug!

Nice form factor, and the color matches my Wee. Plus it's got a VW bus on the outside! Long live Dead Heads!

Opens all the way around the top! EZ access. Plus you can use for beer runs once you're in camp!

It's got a nice little mesh pocket for keeping small things organized.

And it's got these handles so you can easily carry it. You can even sort of sling it over your shoulder!

Pretty cool, eh?

 

[LowAndSilent]

(Just posted this as a new thread, but it seems relevant here - this helps negate the problems with side-opening cases)

Ok, remember how that cool it is when you stumble across one of those things that's "just too good to be true"? Well, this one started with my mom.

"Hey Doug, you know what you can get me for Christmas?"

"What, mom?"

Trader Joe's has a nice insulated shopping bag. Get me one of those."

"Ok, mom."

So I did. Wow, these bags are nice. They're insulated, have a decent zipper, nice handles, seem to be well made, and they cost seven bucks.

Welp, as fate would have it, I ended up using it myself before I even got it to mom. Great for schlepping foods to those pre-Xmas potlucks, etc. So I bought another one, but - again - used it for myself. Finally I ended up buying everybody in the family one.

Then, one day while I was unloading from yet another Trader Joe's run, I was parked next to the Wee with its Givi cases. I looked at the bag, then at a Givi, and back again ...

Dang, me thinks, this bag looks about the same size as the Givi. So I brought the bag over to the Wee, opened up the Givi, and - lo and behold! - it's a perfect fit. I gotta let the inmates know about this one! But I know they'll want pics.

Now that we're through the holidays and things have settled down, I've taken pics. I'm tellin' ya, for seven bucks - heck, for five times that much - you couldn't find a better soft piece of luggage to go in there!

So here it is: the ultimate $7.00 Givi luggage!

Fits in it nice and snug!

Nice form factor, and the color matches my Wee. Plus it's got a VW bus on the outside! Long live Dead Heads!

Opens all the way around the top! EZ access. Plus you can use for beer runs once you're in camp!

It's got a nice little mesh pocket for keeping small things organized.

And it's got these handles so you can easily carry it. You can even sort of sling it over your shoulder!

Pretty cool, eh?

I'm guessing that it will only fit in the Givi E45 case, as that's the only one you show with the bag in. Tried with the E36?