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I'd like to use my Falco for extended touring next season so this week I constructed side racks and adapter plates for use with Givi hard bags .
The top box setup was completed earlier. I won't be testing the side bag system on the road until the weather improves... hopefully by this weekend.
The system seems quite solid, and can be attached or removed in less than 5 minutes.

The side rack's are fabricated from 7/8"OD X .058" wall aluminum tubing ( 6063-T832 ). The tubes were shaped at both ends with an electricians
tube bender and bolted to the grab handles and the pillion foot peg openings ( rear foot pegs removed).

The plastic side adapter plates are made from 1/2" High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). SW-Motech accessory "Givi" connectors are used .
The side plates attach to the aluminum racks with three bolts per side , an aluminum strap at the top box plate, plus an additional 1/2" aluminum
tube between the two adapter plates .

All that remains is to paint the side plates ( Krylon Fusion - Black) and cover the aluminum top strap with black 10oz PVC to protect the pillion. No drilling
of OEM parts is required. Givi E360 and E460 bags are shown. I plan to also use smaller E 21 side bags.

The materials used ( aluminum / HDPE ) are the same as those I use in folding kayak construction... http://www.yostwerks.com/ ( Kayak Builders Manuals)

Regards, Tom

Aluminum side racks and HDPE adapter plates with "Givi" ( by SW-Motech) connectors


Givi side cases


Top and side cases


Rear view... E360 / E460 bags. One E360 and two smaller E21's are on order.

good work, and nice bike

Neat work.
I'll bet you have even more trouble keeping the front wheel down.

Would it not have been easier to buy a couple of the universal Givi plates, same as your top plate? They're only about £27 each over here.

I have similarly sized panniers on mine, takes a bit of getting used to when they're on and loaded up for the first time. Filtering through Rimini rush hour traffic with them on was interesting last year!

nice work

Yes - nice job ..... you're certainly not planning on travelling light - particularly as it's restricted to you and no passenger.


I've the Falco soft luggage - but proper lockable hard luggage has so many advantages.

Nice work - another advantage is no tent or hotels to worry about cos you can sleep in the panniers

Looks like a job well done.... and all the good gags about how big the panniers are have been used so I will leave it there

Thanks for the comments.... I've long been a fan of Givi as top boxes with their elegant monokey operating system.
This is my first effort at using them for side cases . I believe the smaller and much less expensive E21's will be better for all-round use with the E360/E460 as top boxes.

Would it not have been easier to buy a couple of the universal Givi plates, same as your top plate? They're only about £27 each over here.

Likely so. Though the top box Givi plate ( from a KLR-650) would cost about $70.00 each in ever shrinking US dollars. The shape of this particular Givi plate
fits snugly over the Falco's grab handles. The SW-Motech accessories kit cost $20.00 ( $10.00 per plate). The incredibly verstile HDPE was just lyimg around the shop.
Most of all, it's always fun making my own things.

Nice work - another advantage is no tent or hotels to worry aboutmotorcycles cos you can sleep in the panniers

LOL ... I've gone as far as to carry kayaks and mountain bikes , so a couple of fat Givi's shouldn't be a problem.

Regards, Tom

16ft Sonnet folding kayak

now I want to see the kayak with the falco strapped on the back....

I also have a full set of aprilia soft kuggage - including the rare as hens teeth tail roll :)

Suits me fine for the brief trips that I do, and I can carry everything I need to for camping etc

now I want to see the kayak with the falco strapped on the back.... I also have a full set of aprilia soft kuggage

I think the Falco might exceed the kayak's displacement just a bit. I would have purchased the Falco's side rack and soft luggage,
but couldn't find any for sale.

Tom

It warmed up a bit late today so I got in a short ride near my home to test the bags . They didn't fall off, so all seems fine.
I'll post more pics when the smaller Givi E 21's arrive next week. Thanks to all for your comments on the project. If anyone
wants more detailed side-rack construction info, just send me an e-mail.

Regards,

Tom

I think you're doing that on purpose
All we got here is rain & gloom........my falco is tucked up in the garage

Nice pics, by the way

Just had a look around your site Tom. Was the FJR yours as well?

Just had a look around your site Tom. Was the FJR yours as well?

The 05 FJR was mine until I sold it last May after getting the Sprint. I never cared much for it's vague and heavy handling.
The Sprint is a much better Sport Tourer in my humble opinion due to it's precise , quick, and light handling... and a great motor.

In September I sold my nearly 18 year old Pan European before buying the Falco. It had 70,000 original owner miles
on the odometer, but I just wasn't riding it much the past few years. The ST-1100 is a great touring bike.

Attached is a pic from my last ride on the ST in September..... gonna miss her.

Tom