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Non-BMW top box?

31K views 74 replies 32 participants last post by  Biscuits 
#1 ·
I was wondering if anybody has an experience with a Givi or other aftermarket top box for a 2013 F800GT? I really could use a top box to complement my BMW saddle bags but the BMW top box, while very attractive, is very small. Do the non-BMW boxes mount well and are the extra brake lights a working option for a BMW bike?

Oh, and pictures would be helpful.

Thanks!

-Rebecca
 
#30 ·
Thank you Tonya! I love seeing more and more women on the roads!

Are you able to get into a full tuck with the larger tank bag? I find I like to get all the way down at highway speeds to get out of the airstream into the incredible quiet behind the screen. It's surprisingly comfortable and wonderfully quiet there.

-Rebecca
 
#31 ·
Thank you Tonya! I love seeing more and more women on the roads!

Are you able to get into a full tuck with the larger tank bag? I find I like to get all the way down at highway speeds to get out of the airstream into the incredible quiet behind the screen. It's surprisingly comfortable and wonderfully quiet there.

-Rebecca
Rebecca, I actually lay on the tank bag on highway speeds! It provides a rest for me!! [:D]
 
#35 ·
... I apologize if the picture may have rotated. I'm not sure how that may have happened.
Pictures taken from camera phones and many other smarter digital cameras have a rotation attribute stamped on them that tells the viewing software which way up is supposed to actually be. The camera always takes the image from one true angle then says rotate it so the side that was up when it was shot is the side up when displayed.
Imagine taking a sideways photo on film, if you look at the film strip horizontally your sideways shots are 90 degrees the wrong way.

In the case of this image the rotation information is missing so the web browser just thinks it must be in it's original position of horizontal and shows it that way.
This picture is 864 pixels wide by 648 pixels tall.
You can open it in any image editing software, rotate it properly and re-save it and it should be 648 by 864 and display properly from that point on.
 
#44 · (Edited)
The Givi universal plates will fit the GT rack. However, I believe the fittings for the Monokey and Monolock boxes might be different.

I have the E45 Monolock box and it has two lugs on its front edge which hook under the raised tab on the universal plate. Looks like the Monokey universal plate has two lugs which fit into the front of the box ?

Edit; Here's a video which explains the difference: -
 

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#46 · (Edited)
I was going to say that I have both the Monolock and the Monokey top boxes and they both attach to the same Givi mounting plate as shown in your attached photo. But, I was wrong. [:I] After watching that video I realized that I had two types of Monokey boxes that just look different and open differently, but both are basically the same. Anyway, they work well and are good value for the money.
 
#47 ·
I have a Givi Monolock mounting plate on both my F800R and Honda Super Cub C125. The 34 litre Givi topbox lives on my Beemer and a 30 litre on my Super Cub. The good thing is that they are interchangeable between the two bikes.

Tire Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle Automotive lighting

Tire Sky Wheel Fuel tank Vehicle
 
#53 ·
An update for anyone fitting Givi monolock top box regarding the Allen bolts. Fitted the universal mounting plate but needed longer bolts. Just to clarify they are M6, (6mm) diameter as per the standard bolts supplied with the universal kit, but l needed 2 x 40mm and 2 x 50 mm in Length, job done.
Just trying to sort led connections for the canbus wiring to fit an led light in the case reflector, but that can wait.
 
#51 · (Edited)
Yes, that's how it worked. Longer bolts were required but no drilling of the GT's carrier.
Ian

Tip: - Watch out for the rubber buffers. They really like to stick to the bottom of the box and are easily lost. I glued the replacements into the plate !
 
#54 ·
Thread bump for this one. And as much a fashion question as anything else.

I'm finding the BMW top case too small. I like use the bike as transport and leave my jacket, kevlar overpants, helmet and boots in the bike luggage. There just is not enough room.

Is it possible to adapt the rack with a mounting plate and fit one of the large top boxes from one of the big BMW tourers?

Alternatively, here comes the fashion question part, what's the opinion on how this fake aluminium look Givi case would look on the bike?
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/206537
There is also a 53 litre version.

Another option is this, but might be a bit too cheap looking and says it only has a 3kg load capacity.
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/392929

This is an old thread; is there any difference in the rack on a facelift 2017 F800GT which would affect the mounting?
 
#58 · (Edited)
Thread bump for this one. And as much a fashion question as anything else.

I'm finding the BMW top case too small. I like use the bike as transport and leave my jacket, kevlar overpants, helmet and boots in the bike luggage. There just is not enough room.

Is it possible to adapt the rack with a mounting plate and fit one of the large top boxes from one of the big BMW tourers? ...
Yes, I have fitted the 52l top box from the R1200RT onto my F800GT rack. It looked like it would just drop on but it does not! It needs a bit of dremeling of the rack to make it work. But the end results is an OEM box which can be set up to the ignition keying so only one key is needed on the keyring.
 
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#55 ·
A big question in my mind, is if you'll be using any side cases too. If I couldn't use side cases because of lane splitting, I'd look into how I could secure my gear. On trips, I'll use a retractable computer cable look with a loud alarm. I can snake it through my jacket sleeve, or helmet chin bar. It has a built-in motion sensor, so the gear is pretty secure from a casual thief.

I use a Givi E460N Monokey case on this bike. The pictures don't look all that "pretty", but it hasn't kept me from getting more comments on the looks of the bike in one year than I've received on all my previous bikes together.

Another case I'd recommend is the Givi e450N Momokey. So many cases get their capacity by having a tall leading front side, then taper off for a 'streamlined look...but in reality, that leading side is like a barn door.


Also, keep in mind that the weight and size of the top case counts against your weight capacity and can act like a sail. Biggest is not always best.

Chris
 
#57 ·
A big question in my mind, is if you'll be using any side cases too. If I couldn't use side cases because of lane splitting, I'd look into how I could secure my gear. On trips, I'll use a retractable computer cable look with a loud alarm. I can snake it through my jacket sleeve, or helmet chin bar. It has a built-in motion sensor, so the gear is pretty secure from a casual thief.

---

Also, keep in mind that the weight and size of the top case counts against your weight capacity and can act like a sail. Biggest is not always best.

Chris
Last bike was a Honda Pan European (ST-1300 in North America), that had a lot of luggage space... nothing is free though so the wet weight is 100kg heavier than the F800GT. Anyway, that had bigger panniers and a bigger top box.

I am running the F800GT with side panniers and top box on all the time. I find the side panniers don't make much of a difference with filtering. They are only barely wider than the mirrors and I never fold mirrors when filtering anyway.

Yes, the windage area of a large case had occurred to me.

I really like my Shad SH45. Great size and shape. Shad makes the BMW cases, so it's good quality. The mounting plate goes great on top of the existing rack. I chose it to replace my original BMW top case which broke off while riding.
@ccramerusc, how do you find the bike at highway speeds with the SH45 fitted?
 
#56 ·
I really like my Shad SH45. Great size and shape. Shad makes the BMW cases, so it's good quality. The mounting plate goes great on top of the existing rack. I chose it to replace my original BMW top case which broke off while riding.

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#59 ·
I was wondering if anybody has an experience with a Givi or other aftermarket top box for a 2013 F800GT? I really could use a top box to complement my BMW saddle bags but the BMW top box, while very attractive, is very small. Do the non-BMW boxes mount well and are the extra brake lights a working option for a BMW bike?

Oh, and pictures would be helpful.
Sorry, too lazy to get you the pic. But I have a Givi on mine. It fitted easily, looks good, works well, and I am very happy with it. AND it cost a whole lot less than one with the 3 special letters.
 
#60 ·
I have just sold my GT [:(] and took the modified rack and 52l top box off first. So if anyone wants to buy them (or just the rack) then I am your man!

I will try and put an accessories "for sale" ad up over the weekend as I have a few other bits taken of the GT that are just taking up space in the garage now.
 
#62 ·
I bought a Shad SH45 for mine. Great box, nice size for the GT and looks almost OE. The retaining straps inside the box for example are exactly the same as in the OE panniers. All made by Shad of course. The problem I had was the Shad specific mounting plate. Plastic plate sits on top and is bolted through some flat steel plates from underneath. The spacing collars were too large a diameter for the bolts and the bolts were far too long. The worst thing though was that the rear fixing latch on the plastic plate has a reinforcing steel bracket wrapped around it. When you bolt the plastic plate down, the steel bracket digs into the paint on your rack. Ok if you never want to take it off I suppose. This is a pity, the boxes are great, engineering for the attachment plate is however well below par. I ended up with a Givi specific mounting plate, a new rack and two Givi topboxes. A B33 for commuting and a V47 for touring. Excellent boxes and an excellent mounting solution that doesn't damage the rack.
 
#63 ·
I also have a shad SH45 on the back of my ST. I find it to be the prefect size and shape. Big enough, but not overkill. Maybe the racks are different on the GT, but the mounting plate fits perfectly on my ST. It's been holding on solidly for about 7 years and 40k miles now. That's much longer than my original BMW case lasted.

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#64 ·
Cramer, yes I agree, the SH45 is just the right size. The GT rack is exactly the same as the ST and the Shad plate is definitely secure. What I was commenting on was that the reinforcing metal strip on the latch part of the mounting plate digs into the paint of the rack. If you took the plate off you'd see two neat, deep cuts into the paint, but you'd only notice them with the Shad plate removed. The dedicated Givi plate on the other hand can be removed when you sell the bike, leaving no damage to the rack.
 
#65 ·
Rich, you got me worried, so I went to the garage to take a close look. I think it must depend on where and how you mount the plate because that certainly is not happening on mine. The metal strip does not touch my rack at all. Here are some pics to show how mine is mounted.


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