4th gen hard luggage

[R. Guy]

Does anyone know of some good 4th gen side luggage (hard) that will fit a fullface?

Are there OEM hard bags out there?

[safetypro10]

twistedthrottle.com

Larry
VFRrider

[carbon]

I just recently picked up a 96 VFR and I've been thoroughly examining my luggage options. Here's what I've found so far, and maybe somebody can clarify where I'm wrong.

We have a couple of options as far as luggage racks go.

Givi Wingrack - Quality but pricey, also makes the back of your bike look like something out of robocop. There are a couple different 4th-gen specific versions of the Wingrack; one kit only comes with the top case mount (F242). I've seen that range from $110 to $160 for the exact same part. I have not been able to find a picture of the included components, so I have no idea what F242 actually looks like. The other kit comes with two part numbers, contains the giant, ugly side brackets, and costs around $280. Givi cases receive great reviews from serious riders, but I have seen the $40 givi knockoffs receive just as much praise. I am looking into buying just the trunk rack, which I think comes in a less-intrusive tube frame design. I am also trying to find weight limits on the F242 or the other rack setup. Any info here would be appreciated.

Ventura Rack - Ventura makes a nice looking model-specific tail rack. ~$250 will get you a sport rack and a regular, larger rack, with a decent (softcase)rack pack included. The Ventura system is similar to what I picture the Givi F242 to be like; It's a skinny tube frame design that mounts to two open bolt holes on either side of your subframe. However I know the Ventura's weight limitations to be in the neighborhood of 20lbs. To me, having a 40 liter trunk that can only hold 20lbs seems like a waste! Then again, after you look at the parts list for either a Givi F242 or a Ventura setup, they both use skimpy 8mm bolts to secure the rack brackets to the subframe. They also note that the ventura rack is not to be used with any type of hardcase or backrest application, but I have read euro forums where it is commonly practiced.

The full Givi Wingrack secures to 6 points instead of 4. It's robocop-esque design may be the only option we have for sturdy weight carrying trunks and bags. I did find this, which appears to be an old page describing a brand called Five Star.

Five Stars Rack 1

This is the kind of rack I want. It's discreet and tubular design mounts up to a total of 8 points from what I can see. There is also a top rack component, which is not displayed on the above link. The company is now Hepco & Becker, and the only price I was able to find made the Givi Wingrack look affordable!

Anyway, the problem is not the luggage. There are many options for trunks or hard bags, ranging from economic to luxury, and they all come with a lock and key which is my only reason for wanting hard luggage in the first place (that and a backrest for the lady for less than a corbin gunfighter with backpad ($700 item, and pretty much the only option i've seen for a non-trunk passenger back rest on the 4th gen VFR750s)). I don't want to fully commit to having luggage on my bike at all times, so I've figured I could make do with a tough looking trunk with backrest, and maybe some nice large soft luggage(Rapid Transit Recon 77 Saddlebags would give me 70 liters of cargo capacity with easily a 100lb load). The bike would look soo ugly with a naked Wingrack on it when I want to just go out and ride. With soft luggage, it's a flip of a strap and I'm back to normal.

I could see myself getting one of these

Emgo Portable Travel Trunk - Street Bike - Accessories - Motorcycle Superstore

Finding a trunk is not hard. Finding a rack that is going to fit our bike is the tricky part. I was considering looking into a custom option, but by the time you've designed it, welded it, powdercoated it, you might as well just throw in for something commercial.

Stay away from the Rentec racks. They look great, are priced at around $150 after euro conversions and outrageous euro-to-us shipping rates, but they are only rated at a maximum of 5lbs. The top case that you'd mount would weight more than that! There were a lot of reports of euro riders having issues with these racks, as the Rentec connects only to the two passenger grab bar bolt holes. Some of these guys were also drastically over-loading the rack (30lbs+), but if you follow the guidelines it's almost useless except for light commuting with a passenger.

Luggage racks are a very handy thing, but I don't want to spend $300 to tote around 20lbs in a case and rack system that can barely sustain it's own wind resistance, let alone my intended abuses. Motorcycle luggage can place a lot of strain on brackets and subframe mounts if it's not done properly or if it gets used beyond spec. I'd really like to be able to carry a decent load (40-50lbs) in a hard case trunk without a giant modification to my bike and without 30lbs of folded sheet metal indiscreetly located wherever Givi found it appropriate.

I mean, seriously, I'm 6'3, 220lbs. 2 days worth of my clothing easily exceeds 20lbs. It's not like i'm wearing nice shit either. Old navy jeans aren't exactly heavy weight tacticool gear.

Thanks!

twistedthrottle.com

Larry
VFRrider

[RedMenace]

I found a used Givi- non WingRack- made in the '90's before the WingRack became their cross platform design. I'll add this, my bags are Givi 38's and they don't fit a full size helmet! Thought it was a euro standard. It is very close, so maybe another brand of helmet will fit. My Bell and my KBC do not fit.
Also, my rack design does not incorporate the grabrails. It has 3 mounting points, and a cross piece. I pack some essentials in them, but never stuff them full. I use a larger tail bag when touring. I believe a nice hard-case looks fine on a VFR, but had to solve the problem from another angle. Soft top case, easily removable, stuffed with heavy camping crap- hard luggage, stays on cycle most of the time, stuffed with light crap.
I had an overloaded top case snap off an old Goldwing after a hard RR crossing many years ago.

[Spike]

Givi is really the only way to go. If you want quality, lockable, hard luggage. Are they pricey, yes, but with the bags you can own them for years and years and take them from bike to bike. The brackets, at least I have never seen require any modification to your bike like any cutting or anything like that. Just bolt on. So when you sell the bike, you take the bags with you to the next bike. Take the rack off the old bike, sell it on EBay and get 50-70% of the original price back, and it really wasn't so expensive after all. Also the brackets are made for your make and model bike, they don't send you some sort of universal kit and then you are left trying to make it fit your bike. So you get what you pay for. I have actually lifted a bike up by its Givi rack, they are that solidly mounted.

[SLOVFR]

Givi is the only sensible option for hard luggage. I maybe able to help in a new wing rack for you. You need the Y154 mount kit and some bags you can score on Ebay. An E360 bag will hold a full face but I find the E460 fits better and holds 2 real nice I use for the back.

[carbon]

That looks great! I want a givi windscreen badly! Is that a sargent seat?

I think the Givi F242 rack would be simple enough for my needs. I'm looking into them next week.

[eleman]

I have a Givi wingrack 2 and the E360 cases for sale. See my ad in the classifieds. Looks like SLOVFRs except I don't have the top case. Those are the same side cases though. Asking $400 shipped in the U.S.

[SLOVFR]

That looks great! I want a givi windscreen badly! Is that a sargent seat?

I think the Givi F242 rack would be simple enough for my needs. I'm looking into them next week.

Thanks, its a Corbin seat. Time to have it recovered though, getting a bit worn but I like it better than the stock due to I dont slide into the tank with it.