Luggage options

[cfoley]

I'm looking into luggage for my 98 FZS600 and am not really sure what my options are. Maybe for inspiration, you could post pics of your own luggage setup. 


I've been having a wee look online and I really like the topbox and two wingboxes setup. I have a top box left over from my previous bike. Am I right that to use that, I fit a sports rack and then screw the top box's mount to the rack?


What is needed for the three-box setup? Is it a different kind of sports rack or separate side mounts?


I've also been looking at tailpacks for when I don't need to carry so much. It looks like I can buy them to use the same mounts as the topbox but if someone could confirm that, that would be fantastic.


I'm not so keen on the idea of a tank bag but suggestions of other kinds of luggage I might not have heard of are gratefully recieved.

[darrsi]

I've used this type of luggage in the past, it's great, it even follows you about fully loaded when you get off, so you don't even have to carry anything.


Expensive on fuel though...... 

[Punkstig]

Sports racks are not made to carry much weight, after attaching a topbox you shouldn't put much in it, givi/kappa racks are designed to carry more weight but be aware they also have a weight limit!
And again if you fit the full wingrack the mount points allow for more weight still!

[darrsi]

Had a Renntec sports rack on mine a few years back, with a top box on.
Slowed down to go through a 6'6" barrier and the top box overtook me, the rack just snapped clean in half.
They've got some stupid weight limit on them, like 5kg or something!

[Punkstig]

Had a Renntec sports rack on mine a few years back, with a top box on.
Slowed down to go through a 6'6" barrier and the top box overtook me, the rack just snapped clean in half.
They've got some stupid weight limit on them, like 5kg or something!

Yep, them sports racks are good for a packed lunch and that's it!

[darrsi]

Had a Renntec sports rack on mine a few years back, with a top box on.
Slowed down to go through a 6'6" barrier and the top box overtook me, the rack just snapped clean in half.
They've got some stupid weight limit on them, like 5kg or something!

Yep, them sports racks are good for a packed lunch and that's it!

Made a horrible noise as the top box slid past me at about 20mph, but i can see the funny side of it now 

[cfoley]

See, this is why I'm glad I asked. Now my life can be a little less funny than yours.  :-P

[Hedgetrimmer]

I've used this type of luggage in the past, it's great, it even follows you about fully loaded when you get off, so you don't even have to carry anything.


Expensive on fuel though...... 

Wearing flip-flops on a bike - that's shocking...

[JoeRock]

I've used this type of luggage in the past, it's great, it even follows you about fully loaded when you get off, so you don't even have to carry anything.


Expensive on fuel though...... 

Wearing flip-flops on a bike - that's shocking...

Have you never been to any other areas apart from Europe? That said, northern Europe too! Africa, Asia, a lot of southern Europe, it's the norm!

[Hedgetrimmer]

I've used this type of luggage in the past, it's great, it even follows you about fully loaded when you get off, so you don't even have to carry anything.


Expensive on fuel though...... 

Wearing flip-flops on a bike - that's shocking...

Have you never been to any other areas apart from Europe? That said, northern Europe too! Africa, Asia, a lot of southern Europe, it's the norm!

Didn't catch the hint of sarcasm then...

[darrsi]

 

[kebab19]

Just fit a Givi monorack for your topbox

If you do go for a Givi Wingrack2 with a 3 box setup, you'll need a fitting kit (becoming rare) and footrest hangers off a 2000 onwards Fazer as the hangers sit further forward & lower to ground & the fitting kit attaches to these.

[gassitt]

 
That's just what youre supposed to say about them when you haven't actually had any experience of them. the warning sticker on them actually says 2.5 kilos, but
20 plus years of European trips on various bikes all carrying full camping gear on Renntec racks and Ive never had a problem,
 
If its failed then youve done something with it youre not meant to . like bolting a caravan sized top box to it

[darrsi]

 
That's just what youre supposed to say about them when you haven't actually had any experience of them. the warning sticker on them actually says 2.5 kilos, but
20 plus years of European trips on various bikes all carrying full camping gear on Renntec racks and Ive never had a problem,
 
If its failed then youve done something with it youre not meant to . like bolting a caravan sized top box to it

It wasn't so much the caravan on the sports rack, i think the pikey family in it may have tipped it over the edge!
Lesson learned 

[Punkstig]

 
That's just what youre supposed to say about them when you haven't actually had any experience of them. the warning sticker on them actually says 2.5 kilos, but
20 plus years of European trips on various bikes all carrying full camping gear on Renntec racks and Ive never had a problem,
 
If its failed then youve done something with it youre not meant to . like bolting a caravan sized top box to it

It wasn't so much the caravan on the sports rack, i think the pikey family in it may have tipped it over the edge!
Lesson learned 

I've had 2 racks fail on me, custom made from now on!

[bwizz]

I have a special bag strapped to where the pillion sits . holds on with a sort of crossed bungee strap idea . advantages are .it does not catch the wind and slightly affect the handling as (top box on my thou) also gives me something to rest my arse against. only disasdvantage I have notices(apart from the lost passenger space) is that I have to lift my right legg quite high to clear the bag. I also like a loaded tank bag as I can rest against it on long trips , taking weight of my arms

[darrsi]

Forgot to mention, there are two roads i use to and from work that have speed bumps down them, i think they more than likely contributed to my sports rack snapping under a bit of weight.

[cfoley]

Thanks for all the replies. I asked the Yamaha dealer to give me a quote for the Givi 3 box setup but.....

Just fit a Givi monorack for your topbox

If you do go for a Givi Wingrack2 with a 3 box setup, you'll need a fitting kit (becoming rare) and footrest hangers off a 2000 onwards Fazer as the hangers sit further forward & lower to ground & the fitting kit attaches to these.

It sounds like they might come back and say that's no possible. What are the chances of them sourcing the rare bits and changing the (pillipn?) footrests?

[cfoley]

Yup, that's exactly what they said. 


I've been looking around. I've found 2 sets for the 98 Fazer, both between £550 -- £600. Not Givi, obviously. It's apparently for brand new (or at least unopened) kit.


1.) Wingrack, fitting kit, 2 panniers. The rack and topbox are optional extras.
2.) Wingrack, fitting kit, 2 panniers, mount for tobbox. The topbox itself is not included.


The details for the latter aren't clear so I've asked for a confirmation.


How do these prices look? Are they bargains? About right? Way over the top? It seems reassuring that they are both in the same ballpark.

[kebab19]

From memory, the FZS specific fitting kit is (was?) around £80, a Wingrack2 around £150, a top plate £45, all new. The last two you can still get easily but to me, the fitting kit is your problem area. 
Givi sell, or sold a 'Universal fitting kit' for attaching Wingracks to other blunderbuses; would it be worth sending them a mail to ask if it could be modded to fit Fazers?

Edit: A google search revealed someone was selling one on ebay, kindly posted instruction leaflet too-      http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Givi-Wingrack-2-Rack-Universal-Fitting-Kit-Y127-N140-N141-Top-Box-Motorcycle-/261204862053
Might be worth keeping an eye out on ebay for more of these kits?

[Lazarus]

what exactly are you going to use the luggage system for?


is it going to be a daily (commuting) carrying piles of stuff around, or is it for the occasional trip (1 / 2 days away)


when I went to the NW - i "borrowed" an oxford Tailpack (already mentioned in earlier post) which straps to the pillion seat. also had a knox backpack that I bungeed to the rack on the back.


for a 4 day trip it had plenty of storage for everything needed.


PITA loading/unloading if used regularly, but maybe a cheaper alternative to fixed hard luggage setup,

[cfoley]

From memory, the FZS specific fitting kit is (was?) around £80, a Wingrack2 around £150, a top plate £45, all new.

So that's ~£275 without the boxes. Sounds like £550 -- £600 is about right with boxes.

I got the Yamaha dealer to get me a quote from Givi and they said they couldn't supply a fitting kit for my bike. You're right, it might be worth calling them again and asking about the universal fitting kit.

what exactly are you going to use the luggage system for?

The biggest use would be when my girlfriend and I go on biking holidays. Up until now, I've been strapping a bag to the pillion seat and wearing a backpack. It's adequate but inconvenient. I'd much rather have my luggage in hard panniers and have an empty topbox for us both to put our helmets in when we stop for a break. (a topbox wouldn't suit her dragstar).

Strictly speaking, it's totally unnecessary but by that logic, so is the entire bike.

[kebab19]

As it doesn't look like I'll be touring anytime soon, I *might* consider selling my Wingrack2, FZS600 - specific fitting kit, M3 top plate & 2000 onwards model footrest hangers that you need to fit the rack to.

PM me your best offer if interested ;-)

[lds1973]

I've got a 37litre top box on a renntec rock, so far so good but there's nothing heavy in it just shorts and trainers for when we stop and the odd bag of shopping. I've got soft panniers for heavier stuff as they sit lower and closer to the middle. Tank bag for valuables/map. That seems a popular set up for a reason.

I think its been said here that if two of you are needing more than (37+ 20x2 +20) is 100l then you are taking too much.

I did Germany for a week solo with another guy with soft tail pack, 1/2 tent and a bum bag. I still brought stuff home unused.

Tbh though I've seen guys with nakered 250 's and the like with normal head sports bags bungeed to the back seat and it works for them.

[darrsi]

I've got a 37litre top box on a renntec rock, so far so good but there's nothing heavy in it just shorts and trainers for when we stop and the odd bag of shopping. I've got soft panniers for heavier stuff as they sit lower and closer to the middle. Tank bag for valuables/map. That seems a popular set up for a reason.

I think its been said here that if two of you are needing more than (37+ 20x2 +20) is 100l then you are taking too much.

I did Germany for a week solo with another guy with soft tail pack, 1/2 tent and a bum bag. I still brought stuff home unused.

Tbh though I've seen guys with nakered 250 's and the like with normal head sports bags bungeed to the back seat and it works for them.

The Renntec racks have an official 2.5kg maximum weight limit on them, i think my sandwiches weighed more than that as my top box flew past me giving me the finger after it snapped in half