Thought I would share this bit of information on my hard luggage install. I know there have been a number of posts regarding different levels of success with the Dubious Chinese Givi Knock off aka JC Whitney hard bags.
I previously had a JC Whitney purchased trunk on my Suzuki Bandit and I removed it before I sold it. This box uses a mounting system similar to the cheaper Monolock Givi bags and therefore will not mount to the Givi Monokey FZ257 and PL257 rack systems for the VFR. I recently purchased a used Givi FZ257/PL257 rack combo without any bags because I already have two E36 Monokey cases in addition to the Chinese top case. I was able to mount all of the Givi rack system and clip on my E36's with no problem but in an effort to save money I wanted to mount my top case until I can buy an E55 Monokey Givi trunk.
I was completely successful and thought I would post a couple pictures for those interested.
The original Givi 257 rack and base plate all mounted up.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack02 Standard FZ257 Givi top case mounting rack. Installed with PL257 side racks as well.
Givi base plate removed with racks still in place
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack03 Givi plastic base plate rack removed.
I took a few moments to turn out four half inch aluminum spacers on the lathe and used them to space up the rack just a bit. The original Givi rack and hardware had smaller plastic spacers where these aluminum spacers are going.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack04 Made 4 aluminum spacers to raise the new base plate up just a bit.
First test fit shows the two rear holes of the Givi rack line up perfectly with two mounting holes in the JC Whitney base plate. I used them to secure the rack so I could mark and measure for the other two holes.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack05 Test fitting knock off rack. Two bolt holes lined up with the Givi racks
I drilled the two additional hoes which ended up being in a good spot on the JC Whitney base plate. No interference with mounting hardware or trunk clips. They are in a nice strong location with no concerns of pulling through or bending the plate.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack07 Two new holes lined up and drilled in the knock off plate to line up with the other two Givi rack holes
I bolted down the plate with all 4 bolts and did a quick test fit with the trunk itself. Everything clicked and locked in place just fine.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack09 Test fit with the trunk in place. Still need to wire up the brake light at this point.
The Givi Hardware was crap. It was all rusted and was smaller in diameter (lighter duty). I used the much beefier and CAD plated hardware that came with the JC Whitney trunk which coincidentally has not rusted at all in over two years on the Bandit.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack10 Givi hardware was a real disappointment. All of it was badly rusted. I used the much nicer cad plated hardware that came with the knock off trunk.
One final view where you can see the spacers and the hardware all bolted in place.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack11 low view with the spacers and hardware in place.
Side notes on the JC Whitney case. I have had this case for over two years. It has served me very well and has been very solid. It is certainly not as nice as a Givi Monokey trunk but It was less than $50 (caught a serious sale). The only time it has ever come open on me was through my own operator error. The latching mechanism is not as easy to use as a Givi bag but it is secure if you pay attention to how it works. It has never come loose from the base plate accidentally, in fact you have to work to pop it loose when you want to. I also was able to make a $14 brake light modification to it with the stock reflector and some strip LED lights from Autozone. It gives me a nice bright and high brake light since the rack somewhat shrouds the stock brake light.
If you have any questions about my setup or install feel free to post away and ask.
I previously had a JC Whitney purchased trunk on my Suzuki Bandit and I removed it before I sold it. This box uses a mounting system similar to the cheaper Monolock Givi bags and therefore will not mount to the Givi Monokey FZ257 and PL257 rack systems for the VFR. I recently purchased a used Givi FZ257/PL257 rack combo without any bags because I already have two E36 Monokey cases in addition to the Chinese top case. I was able to mount all of the Givi rack system and clip on my E36's with no problem but in an effort to save money I wanted to mount my top case until I can buy an E55 Monokey Givi trunk.
I was completely successful and thought I would post a couple pictures for those interested.
The original Givi 257 rack and base plate all mounted up.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack02 Standard FZ257 Givi top case mounting rack. Installed with PL257 side racks as well.
Givi base plate removed with racks still in place
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack03 Givi plastic base plate rack removed.
I took a few moments to turn out four half inch aluminum spacers on the lathe and used them to space up the rack just a bit. The original Givi rack and hardware had smaller plastic spacers where these aluminum spacers are going.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack04 Made 4 aluminum spacers to raise the new base plate up just a bit.
First test fit shows the two rear holes of the Givi rack line up perfectly with two mounting holes in the JC Whitney base plate. I used them to secure the rack so I could mark and measure for the other two holes.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack05 Test fitting knock off rack. Two bolt holes lined up with the Givi racks
I drilled the two additional hoes which ended up being in a good spot on the JC Whitney base plate. No interference with mounting hardware or trunk clips. They are in a nice strong location with no concerns of pulling through or bending the plate.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack07 Two new holes lined up and drilled in the knock off plate to line up with the other two Givi rack holes
I bolted down the plate with all 4 bolts and did a quick test fit with the trunk itself. Everything clicked and locked in place just fine.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack09 Test fit with the trunk in place. Still need to wire up the brake light at this point.
The Givi Hardware was crap. It was all rusted and was smaller in diameter (lighter duty). I used the much beefier and CAD plated hardware that came with the JC Whitney trunk which coincidentally has not rusted at all in over two years on the Bandit.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack10 Givi hardware was a real disappointment. All of it was badly rusted. I used the much nicer cad plated hardware that came with the knock off trunk.
One final view where you can see the spacers and the hardware all bolted in place.
[image: Posted Image]
rearrack11 low view with the spacers and hardware in place.
Side notes on the JC Whitney case. I have had this case for over two years. It has served me very well and has been very solid. It is certainly not as nice as a Givi Monokey trunk but It was less than $50 (caught a serious sale). The only time it has ever come open on me was through my own operator error. The latching mechanism is not as easy to use as a Givi bag but it is secure if you pay attention to how it works. It has never come loose from the base plate accidentally, in fact you have to work to pop it loose when you want to. I also was able to make a $14 brake light modification to it with the stock reflector and some strip LED lights from Autozone. It gives me a nice bright and high brake light since the rack somewhat shrouds the stock brake light.
If you have any questions about my setup or install feel free to post away and ask.