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Topcase load question... Topcase load question...
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  #1  
Old 30 Jul 2014
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Topcase load question...
Hi all,

I bought a GIVI e27m topcase, on the website it said 7kg but when I got it home the baseplate says no more than 3kg, which including the case itself is pratically nada. With my tent, a sleeping bag liner and my waterproofs, I reckon the whole thing comes to around 5kg, but I´m a bit confused as how to continue... I don´t see the point in selling a case that can only carry its own weight? Any ideas? :confused1:

Many thanks,
Rtw

Edit:

So the website seems to be wrong - not 7kg after all - which leaves me wondering, would the 3kg limit on the supplied baseplate be including the case itself?
Last edited by ridetheworld; 30 Jul 2014 at 05:13.
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  #2  
Old 30 Jul 2014
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The numbers were written by lawyers. Ignore them , hope they go away and enjoy a happier life in a world where no one lives in fear of hot coffee or gets user manuals bigger than the actual product.


Andy
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  #3  
Old 30 Jul 2014
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As TWB says the weight limits will be there for legal reasons. The reason is that the more weight you put in the top box the lighter your steering will become - boxes generally are behind the rear wheel and if you think of it like a see-saw - put more weight on one end and the other end rises - you'll realise that more weight in the box means less weight on the front wheel.

In practice you can put quite a bit of stuff in there before it makes any difference and probably 20+ kg before you have to compensate with your riding style. It does depend on your bike - weight distribution and how much power do have an effect but I've carried pillions on rear racks before and still been able to steer (just).

Sometimes the limit isn't the handling problem but the rack engineering - either the mounts are not strong enough or the rack is plastic or something similar. Usually though if you can lift the rear of the bike by the rack it'll be strong enough to take as much as you'd want to put on it.

Couple of pics below of the amount of stuff I've loaded onto racks for long trips - just under 20kg in the first pic and god knows how much in the second very ancient pic (well over 20kg anyway)



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Old 30 Jul 2014
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We always seem to be grossly overloaded, just can't seem to travel light when the Mrs is along for the trip.

Never and any problems other than some interesting steering on steep uphill hairpins. I did have to replace the OE Shock on my DL1000 at 23K though
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Old 30 Jul 2014
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Hi all,

Thanks for getting back to me - Interesting about the steering getting lighter as weight is added on the rear. I bought a 20lt tankbag, and now glad I did.

Backofbeyond, that´s some serious motorcycle jenga! I feel better already! When you see those fully loaded GS1200s with thousand dollar titainium panniers, it never reassured me much about my own setup.

... the baseplate is indeed plastic, - but hopefully being a couple of kilos over shouldnt matter too much. I´ll thrash it down some back roads and see if it falls off before I leave.
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Old 30 Jul 2014
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Personally I never carry much weight in my top box. I use it primarily to hide my helmet, gloves boots and sat nav when I stop and want to go for a walk. I have my walking shoes and waterproofs plus my security chain in it most other times.
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Old 31 Jul 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ridetheworld View Post
Hi all,

I bought a GIVI e27m topcase, on the website it said 7kg but when I got it home the baseplate says no more than 3kg, which including the case itself is pratically nada. With my tent, a sleeping bag liner and my waterproofs, I reckon the whole thing comes to around 5kg, but I´m a bit confused as how to continue... I don´t see the point in selling a case that can only carry its own weight? Any ideas? :confused1:

Many thanks,
Rtw

Edit:

So the website seems to be wrong - not 7kg after all - which leaves me wondering, would the 3kg limit on the supplied baseplate be including the case itself?
My top box and panniers said max weight 10 kg and I loaded them with 18 kg each and put tyres, water, petrol on top of that and it was fine. I dropped the bike many times when they were over loaded and nothing happened only scratched. GIVI boxes are almost indestructible.
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Old 31 Jul 2014
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Good to know, many thanks!
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