K11 Owners Group

tooslow · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:40 am Post subject: Givi rack mount

Anyone out there ever mounted a Givi E250 Universal rack on the stock K11LT rack? I have a Givi 52 I want to use instead of the little 35 litre BMW box. I just got back in the fold, bought a 1994 KLT, after 15 years and 5 oilheads.

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:28 am Post subject:

Just my opinion:

I'd buy a Givi E181 from Twisted Throttle. It's easy to drill the holes in the tail cowl as there are mouting "posts" inside the tail cowl. Then you can get rid of the factory rear rack (sell it for $100) pull the plastic inserts and add grab handles.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade/productview/206/172/

The factory rear rack for LTs is flimsy and bounces around. The Givi setup is much better IMO.

_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:59 pm Post subject:

*Cough*

_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

tooslow · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject:

So does it tack best upwind or down wind with the big mainsail?

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject:

Trimmed right on a broad reach I can do slightly over wind speed while flying a hull.

Oh, I forgot I sold my Hobie Cat. Crying or Very sad

_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Stoked Steve · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

I'll bet it makes wheelies easier!
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:05 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:27 pm Post subject:

She hasn't been on it yet, but she did say that she is petrified of "that loud thing".
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject:

Oddly enough Cathy has been at "arms length" about getting on the back of the Ducati for even a short ride. Something about the lack of the box behind her.

Still thinking about that Sprint ST.....

John
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Mystic Red · Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:27 pm Post subject:

Nice rack, Dave. Very Happy

_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Adrian · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject:

Standard Givi rack will bolt straight on to the LT rack no problem, in fact the Givi bolts will bolt straight to the LT rack sockets. Some not very good pictures of the bike with Givi here:
http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/worlestone/EP132008StolbergHarz#5218911729598118418

Adrian
_________________
Adrian in Somerset, UK
K1100LT SE
145,000 miles and counting Smile

https://sites.google.com/site/worlestone/

Jim · Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject:

I thought the point was to mount the top rack to something more solid than that plastic shaky, wiggly, flimsy thing BMW put on the bikes. More like the 100 in the first pic.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

tooslow · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:08 am Post subject:

The idea is to use a the larger Givi box. Not sure I like the idea of stressing the plastic cowl with the E52 loaded for two for two weeks of camping if I use the Givi K bike mount and get rid of the factory rack.

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 3:57 pm Post subject: topcase

Just for the record, the Rider's Manual states the maximum load for the topcase is 11 lbs. On the same page it says the maximum speed with luggage attached is 80 mph. Hmmm...

I found out the hard way what happens when you overload the topcase - the rack tears up the roundel and scuffs the paint on the tail section.

As far as that 80 mph thing - Laughing

I can personally attest to the fact that your luggage won't go flying off the bike at speeds well above 80 mph. I think the manual says something about the bike becoming unstable at speeds above 80 with the luggage on.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:15 pm Post subject:

I delivered a K bike tranny 60 miles in mine once - 35 pounds. However, after reading about them breaking here now I only carry popcorn and chips - Twinkies and HoHos if it's a special occasion.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:21 pm Post subject:

I've had both - the Givi setup will be much more reliable and strudy than the BMW rack.

A general note on packing motorcycles: You want to keep all of your light stuff in the top case. Heavier items should be as low and as far forward as is feasible. The more you move your center of gravity up and/or back the more advrsely it will impact handling.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

max · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:35 am Post subject:

Got the Givi rack here, with a nice topbox - good items.

However, some caveats I've found for the non-frame rack mounts that only go into the glass-reinforced-plastic rear seat cowl.

1) IT CAN CRACK do not overtighten
2) do not overload as per (1)
3) the Givi mounts won't be waterproof - to protect the paint and seal the the rear cowl, I use tap washers between the rack & the paint.
4) don't assume the Givi rack will follow the contours of the rear cowl - you'll probably have to file the bottoms of the "posts". You don't want pressure points/edges where a crack could start.
5) the bolts can vibrate out & drop into the rear storage space - use loctite!

Also, the Givi paint isn't rustproof - give it your own paint beforehand.

Good luck...

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:26 pm Post subject:

Comments in red:

Off the grid · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject:

In the brief time I have had with my Givi mount on the FZ1, I can tell you that the mount is metal and bolts on to the frame.

I always felt that the K11 rack was a little flimsy but that said never had a problem in 3 years and have held a metric assload of crap on there. Way more than 25lbs in just the topcase.

The K11 rack is kind of a marvel of engineering in composite plastic given that it was the late 80s, early 90s.

/shrug

Just by grabbing the K11 rack you can wiggle it side to side. Do that with the Givi mount and the entire bike will move.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject: