Hard Bags for a '98

Hi Guys,

I'm starting to like my '98 so much that I'm wondering if I can get away with selling my BMW (Y2K R1100RS).  The BMW currently has some advantages. First, hard bags. Does anyone make hard bags for the 5th Gen? 

Thanks,

Jim Moore

Have to find a GIVI rack, then you can run any bags you want. Not sure if anyone else makes a rack for the 5th gen.

I did see a photo once of a red 5th gen that had matching color  6th gen bags adapted to it.   Looked factory - really nice.  Reply here if you'd like to see it and I'll see if I can find it. 

8 hours ago, Cogswell

I did see a photo once of a red 5th gen that had matching color  6th gen bags adapted to it.   Looked factory - really nice.  Reply here if you'd like to see it and I'll see if I can find it. 

Thanks. That would be great. I was looking at a 6th Gen yesterday. I liked the fact that the undertail exhaust left room for bags.

With a little fabrication, a 6th gen rack can be made to fit.

 You will have to make some allowance for the exhaust...

No, that is not a twin exhaust; it is the container for my tent poles....  :beer:

You can get the Givi mounts on the 5th gen even with a high mount exhaust.

Good to know..... I'd be more inclined to put on Givi V36/37 or maybe Shad.  Try Kappa racks, Givi's with a discount.

I'm currently modifying the (later style) Givi racks to only mount side bags.  I removed the handles and top plate brackets to make a cleaner bracket.  I don't plan to take passengers or use a top case.   It looks less messy without all that for use on a daily ride.   I also eliminated the lower tubes going to the passenger peg mounts and welded a second mounting hole.   Now I can remove the passenger seat, passenger pegs/brackets and install the rear cowl.   I can add pics later.   I can mount different styles of Givi bags too.   6th Gen bags look nice but they seem really wide.  

There is an earlier style Givi side case bracket that does not require the top case bracket to be installed.  This later style does require both the top and side to mount sides.  So that's why I made the above modifications.

Thanks guys. I don't know if I can get onboard with those Givi side cases. I like the top rack though. I'm going to look into that. 

Yeah if you are into tight, slim ass,

sidebags are not cutting the mustard....

If you want slimmer, and are into fabbing up the mounts, have a look at the bags on a Yamaha Tracer GT.  The bases are exact same as an FJR but with "city" lids which have a flatter profile... Upper mounting brackets I believe are available (used on ebay) for the FJ09.

Basically the bags hang with two "hooks" but need a lower mount.

I have had several fifth gens and all have had a Givi rack and bags. I've had two sets of Givi V41 liter  hard side cases and still use my second pair. One of my fifth gens came with 34 liter side bags. I use them in combination, usually the 41's as side cases and a 34 as a top case. If I anticipate less cargo I can use the two 34's as side cases. 

My second set came about when I found a Givi dealer in Italy had a complete set, including the mounting racks, on sale for a great price (can't remember the exact cost but it was about one-half off. They did take about five weeks to arrive. I think they shipped from Italy by row boat. 🙂

And I can vouch for the Givi hard bags durability: they survived a 65-mph freeway deer crash with out opening. Just a good deal of scratched on the outside.

Cogswell, 3/2/2020 at 8:54 PM

I did see a photo once of a red 5th gen that had matching color  6th gen bags adapted to it.   Looked factory - really nice.  Reply here if you'd like to see it and I'll see if I can find it. 

Would like to see that myself....  :beer:

1 hour ago, mello dude

Would like to see that myself....  :beer:

Here 'ya go!  :fing02:   The mounts looks to be stock 6th gen adapted to fit.  There are some more detail shots of that if someone wants them.  However, note the Wolfe exhaust . . . that too has been replicated so still possible for a committed owner.  It would be interesting to know if this could be done with a low mount exhaust.  I really dig this setup.

Neatly done, but our "finest" would pull you over pronto as the licence plate is obscured.

Hard to see how/if he supported that section.....  

If it is just the struts at angle towards the passenger pegs and the (aluminum?) brackets at the top, I would not fully load the bags and ride WOT......

Givi has lots of options, but I do like that 6th gen set up.

5 hours ago, Dutchy

Neatly done, but our "finest" would pull you over pronto as the licence plate is obscured.

Hard to see how/if he supported that section.....  

If it is just the struts at angle towards the passenger pegs and the (aluminum?) brackets at the top, I would not fully load the bags and ride WOT......

The Givi bracket also has that rear strut bar across the back.  I am dropping my plate mount to have it more visible.

The OEM setup has a solid metal bracket running from the rear subframe down to the back/inside of the licence plate holder. Here a metal plate is affixed that connects to the rear struts.

I modified that to fit the rear subframe of a 4th gen. This made it very very solid..

Despite colliding into an oncoming car that turned left infront of me, noting snapped or bent...

Full disclosure - that is not my bike.  The mounts do pick up all the mounting points on the 6th gen brackets (though the lower one from a different angle), so my intuition sez it should be solid - at least as much so as on 7th and 8th gens, but hard telling without seeing it person.  Good point on the plate - could probably be overcome by fabbing a bracket similar to the 6th gen setup to allow for exterior mounting of the plate. 

20 hours ago, Cogswell

Here 'ya go!  :fing02:   The mounts looks to be stock 6th gen adapted to fit.  There are some more detail shots of that if someone wants them.  However, note the Wolfe exhaust . . . that too has been replicated so still possible for a committed owner.  It would be interesting to know if this could be done with a low mount exhaust.  I really dig this setup.

That adapter bracket doesn't look like it's all that hard to fab, Hmmm....

 Would figure something else for the bracket around the license plate...

The lower mount is attached to the footrest hanger by a rod,  prob ok front to rear,  but maybe not so much laterally.  On the 6th it attaches directly to the hanger,  so is solid.  Maybe something fab'd that drops straight down from the rear sub frame would anchor it more securly as well as be more or less out of sight. 

2 pieces of 1" tubing bent at 90° angle cut, and welded to 3/4" angle bolted to grab handle mounts. Simple, easy, and clean.

mello dude, 3/7/2020 at 12:08 AM

That adapter bracket doesn't look like it's all that hard to fab, Hmmm....

 Would figure something else for the bracket around the license plate...

No, but it also looks like it won't last a season of riding.  I've had steel luggage brackets that cracked and had to be re-welded en route, and those look like simple alloy angle.  GiVi itself had to re-design their (steel) VFR800Fi brackets because their earlier design just couldn't take the punishment. 

Let's just say that doesn't look "over-engineered" to me!

Ciao,

JZH

1 hour ago, JZH

No, but it also looks like it won't last a season of riding.  I've had steel luggage brackets that cracked and had to be re-welded en route, and those look like simple alloy angle.  GiVi itself had to re-design their (steel) VFR800Fi brackets because their earlier design just couldn't take the punishment. 

Let's just say that doesn't look "over-engineered" to me!

Ciao,

JZH

Thanks for the tip. Guess I would have to put my engineer hat on and do some "over-enginering".

Dutchy, 3/6/2020 at 8:41 AM

The OEM setup has a solid metal bracket running from the rear subframe down to the back/inside of the licence plate holder. Here a metal plate is affixed that connects to the rear struts.

I modified that to fit the rear subframe of a 4th gen. This made it very very solid..

Despite colliding into an oncoming car that turned left infront of me, noting snapped or bent...

I do have it on good authority (repeated personal experience) that hard bags make great frame sliders. (blush)

And then the frame snaps if the fronral impact is severe enough..... 😞

I happen to have a Givi Wingrack II for sidecases available if you're interested.

I have the wingrack II on my 5th gen. Highly recommend it. It's built like a rock, and can take 3 big bags no issues. 

Wingrack II on a week long ride.

[image: 2652850.jpg]

[image: 2652855.jpg]

[image: 2882994.jpg]

I’ve got a full set of Kappa luggage.

My regret was buying the max size side panniers. They restricted filtering immensely. 
the narrower side panniers would have been far better. I still have the max size ones. 

The securing frames however were excellent.

They came as two systems - top box only or all three boxes.

Top-box system is still used. 

I agree about the full size side panniers turning a svelte bike into a bit of a fat ass but on a long road trip it's worth the width. I only put the wing rack on for a long trip. Otherwise I use a top case only bracket or a back pack.

13 hours ago, HughJebolzak

I agree about the full size side panniers turning a svelte bike into a bit of a fat ass but on a long road trip it's worth the width. I only put the wing rack on for a long trip. Otherwise I use a top case only bracket or a back pack.

A riding buddy, who's wife is a farmer's daughter, so she ought to know, said my bike with the 41L Givi hardbags from behind looked like the north end of a south-bound cow. So HughJebolzak is right on!.

[image: P6220002.jpeg.a7b3665c644262d41daea6d90dac5dbf.jpeg]

Here is my VFR, complete with a full set of Kappa luggage, we're on our way to Normandy in France, way back in 2003!!

HughJebolzak, 3/10/2020 at 8:00 PM

I happen to have a Givi Wingrack II for sidecases available if you're interested.

Hi. hey, Sorry, I missed this earlier. I think I'm looking for a top case now.  Actually the entire project is on hold until I see what happens in the next month or two.

HughJebolzak, 3/10/2020 at 8:00 PM

I happen to have a Givi Wingrack II for sidecases available if you're interested

I'm actually in the market for one if you still have it.