Givi topbox failure

[Kennif]

Bugger!
Coming down the Rimutakas on Sunday my Givi top box came off the ST1300. The Givi mounting plate which is specifically designed for the ST and holds the standard Givi plate sheared at the bolt slots. The plate has two bolts which hold the standard plate onto which you click the top box.

The top box is totalled. Well gouged and with a hole smashed through the top. Someone handed it in to the Mobil at Featherston but unfortunately my rain suit, bike cable and first aid kit have disappeared. Bugger bugger bugger! (If anyone around has seen these I would be very pleased to get them back!!)

Anyone else had this problem? I have to wonder if this is a design issue with the Givi. The mounting plate has four bolts onto the rear frame, then two bolts to the Givi mounting plate and then the box which slots into that. The four into two seems a bit odd. I can see that the cracks have been there for some time before it finally let go!!

And many thanks to the Triumph rider who caught me up to tell me about it. And to all of those who helped including the cop at the Featherston Police (who just happens to ride a Ducati 916)

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Kennif
Ps sorry no photo. The camera is on the blink. If anyone would like to see some let me know and I'll try and post.

[Nasty]

Bugger kennif .. that is shit to have that happen ... its bad enough to ride the hill without leaving stuff on it :(

good luck on finding you stuff ...

[James Deuce]

Aha! Thank God it was just a top box falling off.

I managed to dodge the wreckage whilst overtaking and had assumed the worst.

It pays to have the right perspective.

[Swoop]

I would be interested in seeing a picture, if possible please?

I have Givi arms and plate ready to be fitted. My old topbox and plate are "incompatible with the new mounts"... so am forced into upgrading the whole kit.
I am not impressed with the new box-to-plate attachment, and do not like the plastic plate as it appears too flimsy compared to my old, cast aluminium, plate.

[banditrider]

I have Givi arms and plate ready to be fitted. My old topbox and plate are "incompatible with the new mounts"... so am forced into upgrading the whole kit.
I am not impressed with the new box-to-plate attachment, and do not like the plastic plate as it appears too flimsy compared to my old, cast aluminium, plate.

I've just stuck on the kit for the Concours and it has the alloy plate. Could be worth checking to see it you can use the same plate but on your bike-specific mounts? Might get costly mixing & matching parts though.

[Swoop]

Could be worth checking to see it you can use the same plate but on your bike-specific mounts? Might get costly mixing & matching parts though.
I have already looked into an attempt at joining the two different systems. No go.

Easy enough to get rid of the old box + plate though.

[Hitcher]

The kit for my Givi monokey system has a plastic plate. I'll keep a close eye on it for signs of distress.

[Kennif]

I would be interested in seeing a picture, if possible please?

I have Givi arms and plate ready to be fitted. My old topbox and plate are "incompatible with the new mounts"... so am forced into upgrading the whole kit.
I am not impressed with the new box-to-plate attachment, and do not like the plastic plate as it appears too flimsy compared to my old, cast aluminium, plate.

I'll see what I can do - will need to go to town to get the camera looked at. With the ST1300 fitting there is a model specific steel plate which attaches by four bolts onto the place where the grab rail centre cover sits. Then the Givi plate is mounted to that with just two bolts that fit into a slot. It is this bit that sheared on both sides. It looks as though the crack has developed over time because I think there is some rust. Those of you with a similar set up might benefit from checking what is happening with your own set up.

The top box was defnintely not overloaded - all I had in was my rainsuit, a first aid kit and a few bits and pieces.

I will go and talk to Motorad today and see what can be done. And wil try to post some piccies later.
Cheers,
Kennif

[Kennif]

OK - here are some photos of the Givi plate that failed. As you can see it attaches to the bike with four bolts and then to the Givi latching plate with two bolts that fit into a slot on this plate. That is the point where the steel has let go.

Perhaps it is worth checking your own setup to see how secure it is.

Many thanks to Jim2 for letting me know just where the box came off. I went back today for a good hunt around. Found a few bits from (and of!!) the box but the rainsuit and first aid kit that I really wanted were nowhere to be seen.

But hey! It least it wasn't me that fell off. This time!
:rolleyes:
Kennif

[James Deuce]

But hey! It least it wasn't me that fell off. This time!
:rolleyes:
Kennif

You're welcome, and I am just as pleased you didn't fall off. This time. Hopefully at no other time, ever.

[Swoop]

That is a steel plate?
I had assumed it was the plastic plate which had failed.

Bugger.

[Kennif]

That is a steel plate?
I had assumed it was the plastic plate which had failed.

Bugger.

No, it's a steel plate which attaches by four bolts to the bike underneath and to an aluminium plate on top. There is a diagram of the mounting system here: http://www.itlcanada.com/internal2/instructions/fiches/076e215.pdf

The one that broke is No.1 in this schematic.
Kennif

[Swoop]

That schematic explains things nice and clearly. It looks like a nice neat mounting as well.

Have you contacted the manufacturer regarding this?

[popelli]

looks like metal fatigue, plate is thin and grossly underengineered for the amount of weight most people try and cram into top box's

usually when you bolt things to thin plate you use large washers to distribute the load and the stress - did you use these ?

[Kennif]

looks like metal fatigue, plate is thin and grossly underengineered for the amount of weight most people try and cram into top box's

usually when you bolt things to thin plate you use large washers to distribute the load and the stress - did you use these ?

I have always kept the load down in the top box. And no, I didn't fit new larger washers - the shop fitted the ones that are on it from the supplied kit.

[Kennif]

That schematic explains things nice and clearly. It looks like a nice neat mounting as well.

Have you contacted the manufacturer regarding this?

Yes I have. Eurobikes in New Plymouth are the agents. So far they have been excellent. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[scracha]

Yes I have. Eurobikes in New Plymouth are the agents. So far they have been excellent. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Doesn't look a patch on the old (heavy) cast alloy mountings (mark 2?). AFAIK the Krauser stuff is compatible so maybe try that next time?

[mbazza]

Thanks for the heads up and especially the photos. I presumed, wrongly that it was a plastic plate, like my one! I've checked mine and it too has the two bolts through to Suzi plate and then four on down to the bike. Thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on mine. Cheers :confused:

[Fudmucker]

That seems like a progressive shear caused by metal fatigue...

Perhaps oversized washers siliconed underneath would help...?

[Dino]

Yes I have. Eurobikes in New Plymouth are the agents. So far they have been excellent. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

With the cost of the Givi setup I would hope that the agents have well and truely come to the party by now?

.

[sels1]

(Just spotted this thread)
Thanks for the heads up I will check my mountings. I have had no probs with my Givi box or the one I had on my previous bike. They have stood a lot of abuse, overloading,(amazing how much you can cram into them) being dropped etc but never let me down - not even leaked.

[shafty]

Thanks Kennif - I TOO also just spoted this thread, and will check mine.

I have found my topbox is a bit loose in "snapping" on to the base plate and have inserted some cardboard to take up the slack - which shouldn't be necessary, but have been too lazy to have a closer look - but I WILL DO NOW!

Keep us posted - if the bike shop fitted it as you've indiated, you've got a water tight case !! (whoops)

[Bikernereid]

We have a Honda topbox 35l which we have attached to a non-fango mounted base plate. The Honda top box plate is smaller that the non-fango one but it seems to work. The topbox does bounce aroudna bit but so far we have been lucky that is has gone round Europe,the UK, has been used for shopping (filled way over the specified weight limit) and has been fine.

The guys at Honda kindly fitted the topbox and plate and the mixing and matching seems to be working ok.

[GuyFromCanada]

Hi Kennif,

I had the same problem on my ST1300 with a Givi E52 TopBox but was fortunate enough to catch it before it flew off like your box.

Looking at the Parts for the ST1300 Plate, i had it re-enforce(double plate) and had a piece of hard rubber (1/4 inch tick) on each side
between plate No 1 and plate no 7 in order to absorb vibration due to our terrible back country road condition.
Having the plate re-enforce, i am scare that the energy will be transferred to the Grab Rail and this is why i have those two rubber shim.

I had to get new bolts and screws.
So far so good...
Here is the link for the Givi installation on a ST1300
Instruction (http://www.itlcanada.com/internal2/instructions/fiches/076e215.pdf)
or www.givi.ca

If anybody have a better idea, please let me know.

Have a nice day...
GuyFromCanada

[locojob]

Hate to pull up old threads...but I have a few questions. Are people still experiencing this kind of wear with their Givi topboxes?

Also

GuyFromCanada

I'd like to see a pic of what you've done with yours for possible emulation when I go to toss on a Givi topbox of my own...lord knows I'd have to have mine flop off into the car behind me on the motorway or something...

[sunhuntin]

ive been using the same topbox since 2005. its a givi and i havent had any trouble with it! its only been off a bike once or twice and was on a bike in an impact. one reflector cracked and the frame came apart where it slotted togehter, but the base remained strong.

[Gremlin]

Hate to pull up old threads...but I have a few questions. Are people still experiencing this kind of wear with their Givi topboxes?
Its not quite the top box, more the plate specifically designed for the ST1300...

I've had the same E52 top box for a while, binned 3 times with it on, and took the 3rd for it to finally split along one side... bit of plastic welding and she's still good :2thumbsup