Modifying system case rails for GIVI Monolock box?

[MattnLA]

Hi all,

I am wanting to put a top box on my bike...mostly to have a backrest for a passenger...but it's also good to have extra storage.

I've been looking at the GIVI boxes of course and it seems that the monokey boxes require that mounting bracket for an extra $180. That, a box, and a backrest pad will set one back around $600 minimum...and that's for a small case.

I notice though that the monoLOCK line of cases is much cheaper, and some are quite large. Yeah yeah they say they are for scooters, but isn't a box a box? It comes with a universal mounting plate but that's for a flat strong luggage rack...which our bikes don't have. So...being quite a handy guy, I was thinking...

I can very easily weld a flat style luggage rack that I can mount on the side rails for my system cases. Pretty much the same thing at the monokey rack (except it wouldn't have that bar running down to the frame...just mounted to the side rails). Those rails are solid molded high density plastic and should be more than strong enough. Am I crazy? Does anyone have any experience modifying their bikes to take a monolock case? I know I can do it quite easily...I'm thinking the weakest point will be where it attaches to the side rails...but should be more than strong enough...but then again, this is for a backrest. Don't want to lose my passenger of course.

Any advice, input, experiences would be most welcome.

Thanks.

Matt

[SteveK]

Hi all,

I am wanting to put a top box on my bike...mostly to have a backrest for a passenger...but it's also good to have extra storage.

I've been looking at the GIVI boxes of course and it seems that the monokey boxes require that mounting bracket for an extra $180. That, a box, and a backrest pad will set one back around $600 minimum...and that's for a small case.

I notice though that the monoLOCK line of cases is much cheaper, and some are quite large. Yeah yeah they say they are for scooters, but isn't a box a box? It comes with a universal mounting plate but that's for a flat strong luggage rack...which our bikes don't have. So...being quite a handy guy, I was thinking...

I can very easily weld a flat style luggage rack that I can mount on the side rails for my system cases. Pretty much the same thing at the monokey rack (except it wouldn't have that bar running down to the frame...just mounted to the side rails). Those rails are solid molded high density plastic and should be more than strong enough. Am I crazy? Does anyone have any experience modifying their bikes to take a monolock case? I know I can do it quite easily...I'm thinking the weakest point will be where it attaches to the side rails...but should be more than strong enough...but then again, this is for a backrest. Don't want to lose my passenger of course.

Any advice, input, experiences would be most welcome.

Thanks.

Matt

I have been thinking about getting a Givi Monokey B33 Top Case. If you look around you can get the case and mount (different sources) for around $350. I like the smaller case since it isn't so overwhelming to the look of the bike and I already have side cases for traveling. This would be used for some additional space or times I dont want to mess with the side paniers.

[MattnLA]

I hear ya Steve...but do the math...$350 for the case, $175 for the mount, $75 for the backrest = $600!!! I don't get it, when they have perfectly great looking cases in the monolock line, but they won't mount to our bikes. hence my thought about making my own luggage rack, attaching it to the system case rails, and buying a monolock with the universal mounting plate included. Small cases for $160 including the mount!!!

Any thoughts out there on doing this mod?

[SteveK]

I hear ya Steve...but do the math...$350 for the case, $175 for the mount, $75 for the backrest = $600!!! I don't get it, when they have perfectly great looking cases in the monolock line, but they won't mount to our bikes. hence my thought about making my own luggage rack, attaching it to the system case rails, and buying a monolock with the universal mounting plate included. Small cases for $160 including the mount!!!

Any thoughts out there on doing this mod?

Amazon has the box for $180 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006IW ... m_1p_0_lm.. I have seen the mount for around $140 on various sites. You just have to look around.

[timl]

Somebody on eBay has been selling the mounts for $125 including shipping. Search for SR683.

[P_Jensen]

A Givi MonoLock Box should come with the mounting plate. The mounting plate can be used on the factory luggage grid. I had a MonoLock box on my F650 and it mounted and worked fine on that luggage grid. The Givi SR683 works well with the larger Top Boxes and the arms provide additional support when a passenger is using the box as a backrest or with a full load in the top Box. A smaller/lightly loaded Top Box would be fine on the stock luggage grid.

[riceburner]

The pannier rails are plenty strong enough to support a large box.

I have had a Givi of some sort on my Rockster for the past few years with no issues, and have just made up some new brackets for an R1150RT top-box to replace it.

See pics here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/rockburne ... 402529933/ the 3 at the bottom show the original Givi top-box bolted to the OE plastic brackets that come with the silver tail-rack.

I replaced the silver section of the OE tail-rack with a cut-down plastic sheet (from a chopping-board!) that is flat, and then bolted the box to it directly, but you could easily put a mounting plate on instead. The metal sheet inside the box prevents it flexing too much.