Givi Top box for Tenere
 

First post - at least it's a contribution rather than a question :-)

I picked up 2 Tenere's at the weekend for a RTW trip next year. I haven't decided what alloy panniers to go for yet, but have decided on the 52 litre givi top box.

Pics attached;
http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/15/minidscf2687vz1.jpg

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/4...scf2679mu5.jpg



http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/590...scf2677gk0.jpg

Welcome to the forums, and good choice of rides. =)

Nice setup,

Why two do you just plan to change them halfway round???..:toothy5: to keepm, the mileage down? :096:

Thust you are enjoying them both, and look forward to reading your reports and seeing the pictures. Good luck with the trip.:icon_compress::angel2:

Rtw
 

Nice! Is the second bike for your camera crew, medic, fixer, and not-so-well-known mate? :dink:

But of course :-)

We have a group of 3 that have bought black Tenere's for a RTW trip next year - theory being we can more easily diagnose any problems by swapping parts between bikes, share spares (water pump seals, sprockets, rear-shock, that kind of thing), etc.

Yes, it makes a lot of sense, and you can spread the weight between you. I still like the idea of taking a medic though... !

Thx for the contribution. You made my day. My tenere is one week old and yesterday i was trying to figure out how to make my old 45litre or even better, a new bigger one, fit on it.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bonimacx...FORk3dVNpvFZg#

It's a matter of choice, but for me I'll never ever fit a topbox on any of my bikes. Too much weight on top, causing instability? And besides that, I think it looks ugly, but that's a matter of taste, ain't it? When you're considering a RTW trip, ask the experts and they'll say, keep the weight as low(in weight and to the ground) as possible; but then again, so many experts, so many opinions! If you're happy with them, that's what counts! Greetz, Hans.

I agree with Dallas. The beauty point is a subjective one, so I am not going to go there. However, I think there is an inherent danger in your setup, BonniYam. My feeling is that your bike may ride like a speed boat with the front elevating slightly upward, which affects negatively the steering ability and driveability. Mind you, even the Yamaha manual does not recommend having both their top case and the side cases mounted at the same time. They recommend only one or the other. I know other blogmates did it, but the point of minimizing weight and minimizing weight at top and towards the back is well worth to be considered.

@dallas, @josephau, you got a point. It looks ugly indeed and It's alway's good to keep the weight as low as possible.
As you wrote: So many experts, so many opinions... indeed.
This woman ( http://www.benkapulko.com/eng/index....ame=motorcycle ) made a 5 years RTW trip (solo!) with a bmwF650, aluminium side panniers and a 52 litre givi top case. Seems she felt fine with such a hugh top case.
One has to make a choice somewhere. all related to personal needs, what roads one chooses, how fast and driving style i suppose.

Interesting, i didn't know that. I'm gonna check the manual.

I agree with everything said - don't want to have too much weight too high up, or too far back, and they do look ugly.
The plan is thus:
Carry everything required in 2 panniers, leaving the top box basically empty.
This means when I get to a destination, I can throw my lid, and jacket in the top box, and walk around in relative comfort.

hahahah Not to laugh at you but the idea has been tried before so many times. Humans have the nature to fill any luggage they bring, normally with stuff they dont need. So the emtpy top box idea is a good one (ive tried thought about doing it before) but you will always put stuff in the topbox as its easy access, and it will keep filling up until you cant get your helmet in let alone any more stuff.

Im planning a 4 week hoilday to europe with a mate (2 bikes, mine being an XTR) and already i know im going to have to have stuff in the top box and thats with 2 panniers (textile), tank bag, and pillion roll for my tent/sleeping bag etc.

I've covered way too many miles on my Z with both the Yam panniers, top box and a bag on the seat. Doesn't look great, mainly because Yamaha have the panniers and the box out-of-line - looks like somethings not been fitted right!

Anyway, back to the point, I was carefull to put the heavier items in the bottom of the panniers (and near the front) keeping the topbox free as a 'day box', so things I was likely to need quickly (first aid kit, hat, sunglasses, food for the day, documents etc) and filled the rest of the space with the light stuff Sleeping bag, document etc. Also had a HG Toureg tank bag with phone, chargers, laptop (a small ASUS EEZ PC with a GSM stick, great for keeping in contact), as well as a handle bar bag to keep the camera, and some cash for easy access, toll roads, filling stations (no need to get your wallet out!).

I never found the bike top heavy, even when I dropped it in Sweden on some gravel roads, picked it up no problem - and no I'm not some super-fit-Arnie-type, but I got it back on it's wheels first go and without too much effort.

What you do have to do is make sure you tighen up the pre-load on the suspension, it's set very soft out of the factory, but once you crank it up the bike rides just like it did the day you picked it up.

Have you seen the black Metale Mule panniers?
https://www.metalmule.com/shop-onlin...facturer_id,0/

They are expensive, but the strongest on the market and boy, so beautiful on a black tenere.
Think i'm gonna buy them.

.............and truly stunning on the Yorkshire Racing Gold (Khaki) version!:icon_joker:

I've had a top box on all my bikes and never had a problem with weight distribution or turbulence (even cruising at 140mph on my old FireStorm). The box is currently on my XTX and you wouldn't notice it was there when riding even when fully loaded up.

It may make a difference to you if you are riding slowly offroad but other than that you won't even notice it is there. Don't listen to that old chestnut about turbulance. Especially with on a 45bhp bike with a fully kitted up rider sat up front.

Al.

Where did you get the top box adaptor plate for the Givi?
Cheers.

From my local Yamaha dealer - West London Yamaha

Any Givi dealer will be able to source a top plate.

I am interested in knowing how the plate fixes to the bike, looking at the photo's it does not use the rear handrail bolts or the two bolts at the rear. I have the same Givi rack and the old version but neither will line up with the existing bolts. I assume there is an adapter plate ?

There are 2 metal brackets that attach with 4 bolts; 2 on the rear hand rail, and 2 at the rear. The Givi plate attachs to these metal brackets.

Hopefully the photo shows this:


http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/3988/minidscf2683.jpg

Thats exactly what i needed to know, thanks. I was going to try and make my own adapter up but the Givi adapter seems to place the box further back which saves me booting it everytime i try to swing me leg over. cheers

Make your own adaptor, i did for the xtr and got to position it where i wanted. and if i really wanted to i could make another bracket which would allow me to move it between positions but dont need to so will not bother.

Hi have you a picture of the brackets without the top plate fitted.

Thanks Gary

I too have a Givi Maxia topbox which i used on my previous bike (NT700V) with no problems. Have ordered the mounting plate so i'll use it on my Tenere. I can see the concerns regarding too much weight at such a high and rearward place but the answer is simple: load most of the heavy stuff in the panniers and tabk bag and keep the topbox for light items.
Incidentally, does anyone know if the genuine yamaha panniers can be fitted with a givi top box setup? I can't forsee a problem with it, just wondered if anyone had experience of fitting both items together on the bike..

I got a piece of Ali Checkered plate and shaped it with a grinder, lined up the 2 bolt holes on the grab handles and the 2 holes at the back, drilled them through, bolted it on and positioned the givi rack on top where i wanted it and bolted it on, Whole thing cost �5 and theres no way its coming of.
With the givi rack on you can hardly see the ali plate.
BTW i got ungraded in metal work cse, I'm such a dumb ass.

55 Tech Top Box?
 

Is anyone still out there monitoring this thread? I'm curious if there's any further observations/thoughts on these.

I'm probably going to be using my Ten for courier work in Sydney, and I think I'm about to pull the trigger on a Givi E55 Tech top box for that purpose (well, and to improve day to day utility in general). I'd also be getting the brake light kit, for obvious reasons.

I reckon it'd be great for long trips on road, but would obviously leave it at home when I'm planning to get more gravel in my travel.

Anyone suggest cheapest possible supplier (around Sydney I guess)?

check if you can get any Kappa boxes. They are made at the same factory as Givi, are 100% compatible and cheaper.

Just make sure you buy the correct plate ie Monolock or Monokey for which ever box you buy.
The picture 5 posts up of the mounting plate is a Monokey.

Thanks guys, that's great. I managed to jag another job, so it looks like I won't be doing the courier gig after all. But I will still probably get a top box for general use, so you points are well taken. The Kappa boxes sound like they might be a better option too. As much as I like the Givi ones, they do cost a heap. :087: