To pack rack or not to pack rack?

[Grahameeboy]

I have never used a pack rack.....either a rucksac or one of those webstraps which work really well.....the racks must still affect handling which is my main reason and of course a lot more expensive than other alterrnatives.

[johnsf1980]

You could fit a tail pack to that rack, there's various types; Oxford, Ventura, Givi, Pacsafe.

CSL should also consider a Givi top box. They're little, if any, more expensive than a Ventura set-up, but they have the advantage of being waterproof and reasonably theft proof.
Rubber matting will protect your paint from tankbags too.

Sweet thanks Lou :-) Knew there had to be some packs I could use!!!

Has anyone has experience with fixing one of these packs to the Givi topbox rack?

[Lou Girardin]

Sweet thanks Lou :-) Knew there had to be some packs I could use!!!

Has anyone has experience with fixing one of these packs to the Givi topbox rack?

No problem, they all have multiple tie down points. You can thread them through the slots in the top plate.

[sunhuntin]

What make is that pack SP??......I notice that the the Givi top boxes are incredibly expensive, would also imagine if anyone wanted contents they would take the whole thing...but thats a different matter.. Cheers SP

i use a givi...works like a dream. i was also worried about the whole thing being taken, but to do that, the theif would have to rip out the brackets that slot into the l frames. to take the box off, i have to unlock it and press the red button at the bottom to pop it off. it would be fairly obvious to passers-by it was being stolen, cos youd need a fair bit of force to take it from the l brakcets...ive tried on mine.

as far as wind resistance, i didnt have enough riding on the bike without to notice any difference. makes it easy for storing lid, uniform, jackets and all manner of things. and tightly rolled jacket can be jammed inside the lid and gloves etc tucked around it, with room to spare. with a cargo net, you can put even more on top of the box, and with a bungy, put stuff on the pilion as well. can even carry pizza that way, lol. i wouldnt be without it now.

edit for r4...i came off my bike with both the top box and a back pack. all 4 items [me, bike and luggage holders] went in four different directions. most dangerous of the 4 was i think the top box, which somehow didnt hit me...it was less than a meter away from me when i got up. pack was bungied to the brackets for the box...the bungy stayed with the box.

[scumdog]

MAY have mentioned it before but how many solo riders still ride with their pack hanging off the rear of their pac-rac as opposed to hanging off the front? (and sitting on the pillion seat area)
Makes more sense - out of the wind (less drag) and weight forwards.

[merv]

We are totally into Ventura pack racks - easy to fit, and all the bikes I've had them on, the VFR included, you'd never know they are there and I've never noticed handling problems with the bags loaded even. So those talking about handling problems, I don't agree.

I used to ride with a small pack on my back on the dirt bikes and still have to at times depending on what I want to carry, but as per these threads where you'll see pics of our dirt bikes and my VFR, they all have racks. Its less hard on your back without the weight on, and so easy to get at your gear such as camera each time you stop.

Sometimes we'll put the bags on the front, seat side, of the rack, but mainly just leave them on the back. Leaves you with room still to swing your leg over. Never been a problem with wind or handling.

I use the small bag on the back just about every time I ride, and then zip on the larger bag on the seat side if I'm going away and need the extra space.

Usually Ventura produce the L brackets for the specific bike pretty quick after the bike hits the market. For some reason they haven't done that for the XR250L yet so I had to adapt the old brackets from my DR250, just doesn't sit at quite the right angle, but with the bag on it didn't look as silly as I thought it would last week. With my WR it took about 6 months after I bought it before I could get the brackets.

Definitely recommend Ventura. Only negative might be security compared to Givi, but if I have valuables on board at all I always just unclip the bag and take it with me, into cafes for example.

Check out these threads that have a few of my pics on with our bikes included.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=22980

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23078

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=21180

[Zapf]

i use a givi...works like a dream. i was also worried about the whole thing being taken, but to do that, the theif would have to rip out the brackets that slot into the l frames. to take the box off, i have to unlock it and press the red button at the bottom to pop it off. it would be fairly obvious to passers-by it was being stolen, cos youd need a fair bit of force to take it from the l brakcets...ive tried on mine.

as far as wind resistance, i didnt have enough riding on the bike without to notice any difference. makes it easy for storing lid, uniform, jackets and all manner of things. and tightly rolled jacket can be jammed inside the lid and gloves etc tucked around it, with room to spare. with a cargo net, you can put even more on top of the box, and with a bungy, put stuff on the pilion as well. can even carry pizza that way, lol. i wouldnt be without it now.

edit for r4...i came off my bike with both the top box and a back pack. all 4 items [me, bike and luggage holders] went in four different directions. most dangerous of the 4 was i think the top box, which somehow didnt hit me...it was less than a meter away from me when i got up. pack was bungied to the brackets for the box...the bungy stayed with the box.

I have had GIVI racks and boxes for the SV650S in the past and toured the SI with them. They are great... you can leave them on the bike and know they are reasonably safe... or when you get to a motel just stick a key in and pop them off and off you go. I found that using Givi pannier cases are best, as they keep the weight low. Where as when mounted as top boxes you can feel the sway and also bounces as it positioned behind the rear wheel.

and.... I did come off my bike :P the givi boxes stayed on the bike and them panniers acted as a really good crash bung for the rear of the bike..

[Mooch]

Agree with Merv (Good to see you back Merv !), We a Ventura system if we're going away for more than a couple of days. Handling wise I don't notice much difference (apart from manoeuvring), and the aero packs are reasonable in cross winds. For shorter runs I'll use a tank bag.

My wife also had a system on her old bike. She did say that she would prefer panniers over this system to drop the weight further down the bike. This would only be for serious touring mode where we tend to take too much stuff.:slap:

[terbang]

I have had ventura frames on my 1100's and bandit and they are just great and when you don't have the pack on you can just fit a small pillion grab rail on it that doesn't look too bad. I have the big 65 litre bag that isn't too aerodynamic and it doesn't effect the handling too much though Ventura talk about 130kph as a limit I have taken mine to 210kph often with no probs. I have a Givi top box that I have made an adaptor to fit it to the Ventura mounting "L" brackets that I often exchange for the frame for a day fang and it looks cool, is lockable though it doesn't fit as much in it (also seen over 200KPH with no probs).
Bandit with pillion and back pack full of stuff that mother allways drags along has had no probs whatsoever except that if I get a little excited in the lower gears the front wiill rise a bit (sore, bruised ribs as a result).

[SVrunner]

As i ride in all weathers & puting backpack on back it gets wet.
Having a packrack makes for easy to put on bag as it is designed for rack.
Especially when raining as bag has its own raincoat,

[Lou Girardin]

except that if I get a little excited in the lower gears the front wiill rise a bit (sore, bruised ribs as a result).

My wife's getting used to that, I don't even get a slapping anymore. a tad more than 1/4 throttle will do that when I've got her a all three Givi cases on.

[merv]

Agree with Merv (Good to see you back Merv !)

Cheers, but I haven't really been too far away that much, just a lot of work or holiday trips here or in Oz that have kept me a bit lean on posting, basically because you face such a pile of postings each time you get back and you've lost touch with what's going on.

[sunhuntin]

I have had GIVI racks and boxes for the SV650S in the past and toured the SI with them. They are great... you can leave them on the bike and know they are reasonably safe... or when you get to a motel just stick a key in and pop them off and off you go. I found that using Givi pannier cases are best, as they keep the weight low. Where as when mounted as top boxes you can feel the sway and also bounces as it positioned behind the rear wheel.

and.... I did come off my bike :P the givi boxes stayed on the bike and them panniers acted as a really good crash bung for the rear of the bike..

i wouldnt mind getting panniers for the gn, but dont know if they weigh the bike down to much.

[pritch]

MAY have mentioned it before but how many solo riders still ride with their pack hanging off the rear of their pac-rac as opposed to hanging off the front? (and sitting on the pillion seat area)

That info is included in the instructions now. For short distances or with light loads I use the back out the back as it's easier for me to get on or off the bike. Loaded, or on trips, the pack is on the seat.

[sheddy]

There is a ventura rack on my recent addition, xv1100. I don't have a bag for it and I'm thinking of getting an rjays explorer pack as it looks a pretty useful bit of kit. The way it can be expanded easily, keeps it smaller until you need to load it up.However, I see some nice leather panniers around as well that suit the cruiser style. From what I see the leather panniers look good but wont carry as much. obviously with the rack and sissy bar on the virago putting the bag on the pillion seat is not really an option.For looks I guess the leather panniers are the go. Can't decide which track to take. On price alone the leather panniers are over twice the cost. has anyone else put bags on xv's or intruders ?, which way did you go about it.