Givi pannier frames query
 

Does anyone know if the Givi pannier frames like this:

Pannier frames

are compatible with the standard Yamaha rear rack? I have the OEM rack and need to know if I have to junk it and get the matching Givi item, of I can keep it on. As it is in good nick, rust-free and works well, I would prefer to keep it if I could. Has anyone combined the two?

Adthanksvance.

BD - I just received my Givi frames but have not installed them yet as I am awaiting for the rear rack to be delivered from Metal Mule to do both at once.

I had a very good look at the pdf available on the givi site before ordering to consider whether they would work together. Maybe the picture will help you too? Link is GIVI

Thanks Dale, will have a good look at that. I was hoping someone could say "yes, I have that arrangement and it's fine" or equally "no it doesn't work", but perhaps nobody has tried this combination.

Let me know how you get on installing them. From previous experience the Givi stuff installs very easily and accurately, everything lines up, great quality and so on. Thanks for the pointer.

[QUOTE=Black Dog;183496]Thanks Dale, will have a good look at that. I was hoping someone could say "yes, I have that arrangement and it's fine" or equally "no it doesn't work", but perhaps nobody has tried this combination.

Me too - I would rather have someone comment to either reject or ratify that this combo works :D

Failing a response, I can confirm that the Givi racks were very easy to install, weigh 3.5kgs and also that I wouldn't hang any hard cases from them for adventure use :)

Bearing in mind that I have an 08 model, which uses a different Givi model number, I think the Givi racks would work with the Yamaha rear rack.

I think that it would work because the Yamaha rear rack replaces the hand rails which are retained when installing the pannier rack. Upon installing, spacers are used on the outside of the hand rails for the pannier racks to fix against, which I suggest would still work with the Yamaha rear rack.

Worst case, if it the combo doesn't work, is that you could potentially modify the spacers. The spacers are 20mm (rear handle bolt) & 16mm (front handle bolt).

Now..... I hope someone chimes in for your *real* answer :)

I have a Givi topbox. You don't take the original rack off; the Givi plate fixes above it (leastways, I don't remember taking anything off and can't find any spare bits of kit in the garage that seem to have no purpose.). If the Givi side rails use the holes in the frame that Yamaha left for their own panniers, you have to take the rear light off to get access for the rear fixing nuts. If they'd only threaded the holes it would have been oh so simple (You didn't tell me that Dave!)

Dale, thanks for that. If the Givi rack goes above the handrails with spacers, it should go over the Yamaha rack too. I wasn't sure if the Givi fixings would interfere, but it looks like they won't. As I will be almost certainly using soft panniers, the light construction is exactly what I am looking for. If I do upgrade to hard panniers in the future (and I'm happy to lock into the Givi system for that), then it will be for civilised tours only - just somewhere to put the DJ and cucumber sandwiches :)

Graham, thanks for the tip about the fixing nuts. Captive nuts rock, at least until they get corroded and have to be drilled out. Advantages both ways :)

Cheers for the replies, very helpful.

Slight complication :)

I have emailed Motorcycleplanet about fitting the Givi frames with an OEM Yamaha rack and have had this in reply:

I was under the impression that the bike frame hasn't changed over that time period, but Givi appear to think so. Can anyone enlighten me? Not a problem to find out the model year from the VIN, but I'm curious.

BD - I came across the same thing as I have an 08, which is the newer Givi model code (PL362 2007+) as opposed to the earlier model code of (PL353 2004-06).

PL353 always came out cheaper in my searches.

The only differences between the years that I could see on the bikes were very slightly different passenger grab rails and slightly different footpeg hanger that is noticeable with black, rounded tubing on the 2006 hanger as opposed to square, raw alloy tubing on the later models. I state these two items as they are critical for the fitment of the pannier rails.

Clearly, for you, looking at the passenger grab rails is not helpful..... but the footpeg hanger may be a clue?

As an aside, the same Yamaha rear rack is listed as fitting all years.

Pictures of both:
http://www.asl-testsite.co.uk/motors...T660R-2004.jpg
http://www.arpem.com/motos/modelos/y...-660-r-ld1.jpg

I'm not sure if this is helpful.... or me simply increasing my post-count :p Simply passing on my observations that I have picked up in my research. Again, hopefully someone with some real world experience will come along and help us out!

Thanks for that, Dale. Yes, it was the PL353 I was asking about. The bike was first registered in March 06 but of course, as Motorcycleplanet point out, it could have been an 07MY, or indeed an 04 that had hung around a bit. But mine definitely has the older (black steel) footrest hangers, so I assume it is the older model and the 353 is the one I need.

You are correct about the pillion grab rails. They are not on the bike, as they would have been removed when the rack was fitted.

I'm pretty confused by the VIN, however. Everywhere I look on the web, the Yamaha VINs are nothing like what I have, and the 10th digit that most of them say is the model year is zero on mine, which doesn't match any of the databases. The VIN is VG5DM011000006477. One site I found listed two variants of XTR, the DM011 and the later DM016. That supports the idea that my bike is the earlier one. I'll phone the supplying dealer tomorrow just to be sure, but I think it's the 353 I want.

Thanks for the reply.

Dunno if I help but I will try, and as I live in Italy the GIVI stuff is cheaper here if you need anything (UNLESS the transport costs kill it which they did recently when a mate asked me to price some Trekker panniers). I have had several XT660Xs and my current one is 2011 registered and 2010 model year I think. I have the standard Yamaha rear carrier fitted to the bike by Alf England. I have fitted the GIVI side frames to mount the Aluminium Trekker panniers and I did not need to remove the carrier.
OK???? Good luck xxxx