5Th Gen Givi Monorack Install Question

So I bought one of the infamous JC Whitney "Garage Pro" Chinese knock off Givi cases, the larger one, $45 to my door.

Got a Givi monorack 257FZ, instructions over here. Same ones that came in the box. They're pretty sucky, imho.

http://www.giviusa.c...=VFR-800-98--01

The case snaps right onto the Givi plate like it was reverse engineered for it. Cool.

Anyway, the problem is the reinforcing bracket part 17 on the left side in photo B seems the top hole is just a little too small for the thin part of the spacer part 8 to fit into, see photo C. What they don't make clear is you have to  put bolt 4 in after you put the faring back on. On the right side the spacer fits through the reinforcing bracket like it apparently should, kind of like the stock Frankenstein bolt. If I turn part 17 over, the bolt for the passenger footpeg won't fit through that hole. So, I guess I need to drill that hole in part 17 about 1mm bigger. You would think for $155, and it's 5th Gen VFR bike specific, you could just bolt it right up. :unsure:

So, I decided to stop and think about it, and look here to see what I might find. It was almost beer thirty anyway. :beer:

Pretty sure I'm putting things together right so far. They could ID the various bolts and bits better in the instructions and have some better pics, it would help. Anyone had this issue? I don't think I'm doing it wrong, but I'm not the most mechanical minded. I just wanna ride, but I also don't want to pay a mechanic $80 an hour to do something relatively easy like this.

At least the tail section fairing comes off and goes on pretty easy. I've already had it off three times and on twice today, never took it off previously, and I've had the bike since '99.  Guess I drill baby drill. :goofy:

Thanks for any help.

Edit, Guess I could take some pics and make a how to thread later.

Part 8 goes outside the fairing as well.

17, as you know is inside.  Whatever you do, do not NOT install part 17.  I had one of the original designs and the stress cracked that cross member (ended up putting bar stock inside and welding it).

From inside to outside you'll have:  crossmember, part 17, tail fairing, spacer, rack side member, bolt 4.

Hope that helps

Part 8 goes outside the fairing as well.

17, as you know is inside.  Whatever you do, do not NOT install part 17.  I had one of the original designs and the stress cracked that cross member (ended up putting bar stock inside and welding it).

From inside to outside you'll have:  crossmember, part 17, tail fairing, spacer, rack side member, bolt 4.

Hope that helps

That's what I thought, thanks. The more I look at it that's the only way it can go.

Guess I drill that hole just a bit bigger. Geez, I hope it doesn't end up cracking anything down the road somewhere.

I've just started building my own rack set up and was going to make my own reinforcing brackets.

Can you tell me how thick the steel is that they used to make them?

I'm guessing 1/8" but maybe 3/16" would be stronger.

Lee, don't worry about drilling out that hole a little, nothing bad will happen.

I put part 17 up to my ruler, because that's all I have. Looks to be about 1/8" inch thick, maybe a bit less.

Part 14 is the same thickness, fwiw.

Not too worried about drilling the piece a little bigger hole.

Just trying to think twice, drill once. :cool:

Lee,

I bought my rack used and it did not come with those brackets. I had not idea it was supposed to have them until this thread. When I went down a few months ago I used the rack rail to pick the bike back up. It's very solid even without those brackets. I suppose a little play in the holes is not a big deal.  

Thanks Dom, that's good to know it's extra sturdy.

I forget the figure, but they give a pretty low weight capacity for the rack. Maybe 20 pounds, probably the lawyers talking.

I should be able to get out there tomorrow and drill that hole just a bit larger and finish the job.

Been a busy week and month of work. :cool:

Alrighty then.

I can say the rack fits together nicely, and fits the bike perfectly,

once I slightly enlarged the top hole on part 17.

Should have put a towel over the underseat area, and under the work area.

Probably another on the floor too. It's tough not to drop the small washers and nuts, but I only lost one washer.

That bolt holds the "little plate", and the nut has a plastic lock insert so I'm not worried about it.

Previously tried attaching the base plate to the case, and it fit good and tight.

Just need to mod the case with reflective tape under the red lens on the case, and a VFRD logo button to replace the iron cross on top.

Maybe later add a higher up brake light to the case. 

I'm going to Lollapalooza! :beer: Err, hopefully Arkansas this year. :laugh: