Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Richard230]

So yesterday I picked up my long-lost Zero luggage rack and Givi top box.  The top box that I received was the Givi E340 model and did not have a Zero logo on the box.  Both accessories were so easy to install that it really isn't worth illustrating how to do it. 

To install the luggage rack, all you do is slip on a rubber pad on the end of the rack that protects the plastic tail piece and take off the seat.  The rack has two arms that slide over the chassis rails under the seat and two small bolts are supplied to fasten the forward ends of the rack arms to the top of the rails.  The holes were a little off and I had to use a set of Channel Locks with padded jaws to squeeze the arms to get the holes lined up enough to insert the bolts.  Once started the bolts screwed in to the chassis securely.  The rear of the luggage rack arms are secured by the seat holding bolts and this was also difficult getting all of the holes to line up so that the stock seat bolt would connect to the seat "ears".  A little fiddly, but it only took about 15 minutes to install.  The instructions provided were clear, but really not needed.

Installing the Givi top box plate didn't take any longer.  Four universal waffle-plates are provided, but are not needed as the four plate bolts fasten easily through pre-drilled holes in the luggage rack.  The bolt heads face upward, with the nuts below the plate.  Most of my mental processes went to trying to decide in which direction the elongated holes in the plates that retain the bolt heads to the plastic plate should face. I think they should face lengthwise, so that the rack can slip front or back, rather than crosswise, so the the plate can be positioned side to side.

As it turns out, I had an ($80 at the time) 8-year old Givi E30 in my closet and it also fits on the plate perfectly.  I think it fits the profile of the Zero better than the larger E340.  Attached is a photo of the luggage rack.

[Richard230]

Here is a photo of the Givi mounting plate installed on the Zero luggage rack.

[Richard230]

Here is a photo showing the rear of the mounted Givi E340 top box

[Richard230]

This is what the E340 top box looks like from the side.

[Richard230]

Here is the E30 (more of a scooter top box) mounted to the Zero rack shown from the rear.

[Richard230]

And here is a side-view of the E30.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Nice pics. I'll just link my thread from last year where I installed it on the DS. Like you, I found this too easy to bother explaining/documenting. The single page instructions are very clear for this.

http://electricmotorcycleforum.com/boards/index.php?topic=2946.msg14031#msg14031

[ultrarnr]

With the basic top box plate that you attach the GIVI mount to you can mount an adapter plate for other brands of top boxes. I originally had a GIVI top box but it was too wide for top opening side cases. I took the GIVI top box and mount off and now have a SW-MOTECH top box and side cases. Works great for getting groceries. The SW-MOTECH side cases are easy to take on and off so only have them on when needed. The square sides of the 38L SW-MOTECH top box also works better for strapping something to the passenger seat than the GIVI top boxes.

[Richard230]

I am really impressed with you luggage set-up, Ultrarnr. That SW-MOTECH stuff is really well made, very sturdy and holds as lot, but is it also very heavy. It looks like a very nice set of luggage. Hopefully your rear shock is up to the task.   

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

I have SW-MOTECH Aero cases, and the adapter plate, but the E21 sidecases have been useful enough that I've not gone through the effort to use them on the Zero. The V-Strom came with those boxy aluminum TraX cases, and I don't like their bulk and aerodynamics (you can feel the increase in drag above 55mph) but it was a bundled OEM deal, so the Aero's are a nice, trim alternative that look good. I wouldn't add them to a Zero, since we're concerned enough about range and efficiency already.

That TraX top case is ridiculous, though: non-aerodynamic and the armor would only be useful if the bike completely rolled over end down a hill, at which point the top case contents are low on my priority list and I'd be more worried about the box breaking the tail structure.

[Doug S]

The holes were a little off and I had to use a set of Channel Locks with padded jaws to squeeze the arms to get the holes lined up enough to insert the bolts.

I had the same problem getting the holes to line up (the bars were "sprung" a little bit too far apart), but instead of using pliers, I used a bar clamp across the two bars to pull them into alignment until I could drop the bolts in. I figured there was less chance of marring the finish that way.