BMW F800 Forum banner

How to modify the Givi mount for less width and less height (S/ST)

44K views 74 replies 32 participants last post by  daykay 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello, I was wondering if anybody has installed the Givi V35 bags on the 800ST, using the PLX687 side case brackets. If so, do you have any words of advice or pictures to share that would make my installation easy? I heard it is quite difficult compared to installing on the F800S..
Mike from Ontario, Canada
 
#6 ·
Mike from Ontario,

I agree with Rider, Dave and Glenn. No real problem with installation except for the turn signals. I had read somewhere that you can stretch the wiring, without splicing, to move the signals --no dice. I spliced extra wiring and used the cloth type electrical tape from the hardware store (the kind you used to wrap your hockey sticks and baseball bats with). Looks almost stock.

Along with my wife having problems swinging her leg over the bags, I didn't like the look of the bags (rear-end in the air, like a cat in heat). I lowered the back of the bags 5-1/2 inches so the look more like they belong on a sport-tourer, similar to a FJR-1300.

Mark from Sandwich
 
#8 ·
Mike from Ontario,

Along with my wife having problems swinging her leg over the bags, I didn't like the look of the bags (rear-end in the air, like a cat in heat). I lowered the back of the bags 5-1/2 inches so the look more like they belong on a sport-tourer, similar to a FJR-1300.

Mark from Sandwich
do you have pics? I'm looking at the ST, got rid of my FJR last summer, but IMHO, the Givi's look better than the stock ST bags...
Did you have any problems with the exhaust can when lowering the bags?
(dont' have my ST...yet... stuck with the Harley for now... but at least it has 2 wheels! <BG>

Thanks
Mary
 
#9 ·
Hi Rob

I need some panniers to carry a Laptop, I seem to remember a thread showing pictures of your bike with the Givi V35 panniers attached, please ignore me this message if I am mistaken. I take it you have to buy a separate GIVI pannier mount kit as well as the two Pannier cases. Can I ask you if you have a part number for the mount kit and is it easy to fit. Could I also ask you the internal dimensions of the panniers. I currently have a BMW topbox, but the F800ST panniers won't take a top box and are too expensive.

Thanks

Dink99
 
#10 ·
Hi Dink,

You are mistaken. I have a set of Hepco Becker Journey's that are going on my bike. They just arrived yesterday which means I should have pictures this week.

I do however run F800 Depot, and as such know about the mount for the V35's. You need this: http://f800depot.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29&products_id=90

Generally, the install is pretty easy - the only difficult part is relocating the rear turn signals. Some seem to have a long enough wiring harness, some dont. If you dont it requires a trip to the local hardware store for supplies. There are a couple threads around here referencing this. Searching should turn up a bit more than this thread, and feel free to PM me here or email me via the contact form on the Depot if you have any additional questions. :)
 
#16 ·
givi install

I recently got my f800st and am looking to add side cases. I like the givi plx cases but can't figure out where givi moves the direction signals to. Do they add a bracket and hang them off the stop light? Are they more exposed if the bike should go down? Could someone please comment. Thanks Karl
 
#17 ·
Karl:

The Givi rack incldes a new mount for the signals. You remove the lights, add the bracket, and reattach the lights to the new bracket. It moves the lights up a a couple of inches. The wiring is long enough to stretch to the new location with no trouble (although if the they had added another half an inch, rewiring would have been required).
 

Attachments

#19 ·
VLT,

Here are some pictures of my lowered Givi V35 bags. The first picture shows the original bag position on the right and my lowered position on the left. You can see a bungee cord holding the muffler because I hadn't decided how much to lower it yet. The next picture is the stock bag position and the last picture is my lowered position. I made the custom brackets and had to cut the Givi mounts and weld in some flat stock, then have the parts powder coated. I'm happy with the results -- much easier to get on the bike now, too.







Mark
 
#20 ·
Hi Mark,
I've been watching this topic with more than a passing interest as this is a modification I've been contemplating myself.
Having seen the pictures, (they're worth a thousand words), I must say that the bags (panniers), now suit the bike a lot better than the original setup.
I now have my winter project lined up thanks to you.
Well done for a major improvement to the F800.[:D][:D][:D]
 
#47 ·
How about some pictures of the modified Givi brackets. Bike looks great with the bags lowered
Hi all,
I've now completed the modifications to the Givi pannier racks as shown in the photo.
Now I need to write it up and post the relevant pics of what and how it was done.
Having tried the bike out on a 180 mile run with the panniers on, I have to say that looks apart, the difference in being able to get my leg over is tremendous.
 

Attachments

#23 ·
The bike looks vastly superior with the lowered bags. They look as though they belong, rather than being tacked on. It appears that the bags are moved inward a bit to fit closer to the bike. I also like the line of the lowered muffler. Like you, I don't like the high *ss look that seems to be the style in recent years.

If you have the time, I'd really like to see pics of the rack mods and the new muffler bracket. Did the muffler simply rotate downward without fuss?

George
 
#24 ·
I'll try to post some pictures of the brackets this evening.

To lower the muffler I just used a piece of 1" angle iron with a couple of holes in it to go between the muffler hanger and the frame (measurements to follow). The muffler joint at the pipe is a sort of ball and socket -- it can be loosened and placed in almost any position you want. When tightened up it is pretty solid. Don't know how an after-market can would work.

Mark
 
#25 ·
Here are some pictures of modificatons to my Givi PLX687 case mounts. I wasn't smart enough to take "before" pictures, but if you have them you know what they look like. Apologies for the dirty bike - got caught in the rain today.

The first picture is the bracket for lowering the muffler. It's just a bit of 1" angle iron. The bolt holes are 2-3/4 inches apart, center to center. The bracket is barely noticable, especially when the bags are on.



The next shots are of the main top bracket that attaches to the bikes rack bolts. This part is removable from the rest of the mount by taking off 2 allen screws hidden under a plastic cover. I cut them and used 1-1/2" x 1/8" flat stock to lower the part that mounts to the main mount loop. A slight bend had to be added to the flat stock to get it to fit right. I also cut the BMW bag mounts that came on the bike back to fit with the modified mounts -- I find them handy for bungee cords.



This is the front arm that is part of the main loop, where it attaches to the footpeg. It is bent slightly from dropping the back of the bags.



The next 2 pictures are of the 'drop' bracket. The top is attached to the Givi bracket and the bottom to the main loop. The spacers that Givi supplied for between the main loop and that top bracket are not used, which causes the bag to be about 3/4" closer to the bike. The bolt holes are 5-1/4" apart, center to center.



This is a stabilizer bar that connects the two bag mounts together under the fender. Made this out of a piece of 1/4" pipe that I welded nuts onto. I also had to cut a couple of half-moon notches in the fender so it would clear. It makes the bag mounts pretty rigid. A piece of flat stock could be used here so you wouldn't have to notch the fender.



I spent quite a bit of time fiddling with the position of the various parts before I started cutting and welding. To finish up I had all of the parts powder coated. This wasn't a quick and easy mod, but I did it last winter, so I got to play in the garage when it was too crappy to ride, anyway.

Mark
 
#34 ·
The next shots are of the main top bracket that attaches to the bikes rack bolts. This part is removable from the rest of the mount by taking off 2 allen screws hidden under a plastic cover. I cut them and used 1-1/2" x 1/8" flat stock to lower the part that mounts to the main mount loop. A slight bend had to be added to the flat stock to get it to fit right. I also cut the BMW bag mounts that came on the bike back to fit with the modified mounts -- I find them handy for bungee cords.

I wanted to correct the statement that I used 1-1/2" x 1/8" flat stock on this modification. I actually used 1-1/2" x 3/16" flat stock. This doesn't sound like much, but I'm sure it makes a big difference in stiffness.

Mark
 
#26 ·
I think it was well worth the time you spent. It's a nice, neat job and really improves the look and functionality of the bike.

Thanks for posting the pictures and dimensions. The multiple angles of the pictures make it easy to understand what you've done.

George
 
#28 ·
The multiple angles of the pictures make it easy to understand what you've done.

George
Gosh, I wish I spoke this language. It is a great looking mod! Where was I when they were teaching this?!:confused:
 
#27 · (Edited)
I returned today to look at that lowered installation again. I like it a lot! The pitched mounted position did annoy me a bit but was something I figured I'd live with. Now I'm on a mission...I want this installation!:) It's been added to my growing list of winter mods.

Thanks for posting this...
 
#29 ·
Mark,

Please indulge a few questions regarding your Givi mod. If I were to take this job to someone, would it be a welder? Is this something that with your instructions the average tool savvy person could do? Might the average bike shop be able to do it?

If someone does this job for me, what's a ball park figure on the amount of time this demands? Thanks so much!
 
#31 ·
Mark,

Please indulge a few questions regarding your Givi mod. If I were to take this job to someone, would it be a welder? Is this something that with your instructions the average tool savvy person could do? Might the average bike shop be able to do it?

If someone does this job for me, what's a ball park figure on the amount of time this demands? Thanks so much!
Hi Shrosa,
Certainly the person who would be able to carry out these mods would be a welder. I speak as a retired fabricator/welder with 45 years experience behind me. A good mechanic should be able to do the work providing they have the necessary welding skills and the equipment. If the brackets break with the luggage on, you would be in real trouble.
Mark,
Your excellent modification is something that I intend doing over the winter season while I am using the other, older (188,000 miles) bike.
I 'll endeavour to keep a record of all the dimensions and materials involved and post the results on here for all to use when completed.
 
#30 ·
Shrosa,

I read your last post during break at work and have been thinking of it since. I really don't know where you could have work like this done. A bike dealership won't do this kind of work, they're too busy and usually don't like to do things out of the ordinary -- I know this from personal experience. You may be able to find a one man bike shop who has a little fabrication experience and needs some work over the winter. You also may be able to find a small fabrication shop or weld shop that might take this on. Maybe one of the members of this forum might have an idea.

Making the muffler hanger, long brackets in the rear, and the under the fender support would be pretty easy and quick. Most of the time needed would involve cutting the top bracket, cutting and shaping the flat stock to extend the bracket, messing around getting the bracket to fit right, and welding the assembly.

Of course, you might take the pictures and your bike into someone that does fabrication for a living (I don't) and they may tell you that they can do it fairly easily and quickly.

Sorry I can't be more help on this. If you do find out that you need more pictures or dimentions let me know.

Mark
 
#32 ·
Shrosa,

Sorry I can't be more help on this. If you do find out that you need more pictures or dimentions let me know.

Mark
Mark, you've been incredibly helpful! This tells me a lot. This gives me plenty of time to begin a search. By next summer, I expect to have this mod made. Thanks so much!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top