Has anyone here ever mounted a set of Givi E21 saddlebags on their VN750? I've been wanting to put a good set of hard, waterproof bags on my bike and the Givi looks like a good choice. However, none of the stock adapters made indicate any compatibility with the VN750. I also asked one of the dealers that sell Givis and they were no help either. I am pretty sure I can figure out a way to make them work, but will probably have to modify some Givi adapters (which ones I'm not sure). I hate to buy them first though, without knowing about someone else's success (or failure).

Have you considered LeatherLyke bags? They're hardbags, you can get them sleek and modern looking or with conchos and studs (which I have). They mount pretty easily, and other than having to relocate the rear turn signals they're awesome. I use them for grocery shopping, errands, they're like having a suitcase on the bike.

From my understanding, Givi does/did make the correct hardware supports for our bike...but does not offer them in the US. One of our members in Malaysia found a set , and managed to get another one sent here for another member. I checked the Givi US site and learned that they do not offer the supports here, and am unsure what country you would have to go to in order to find them.
The owner with the set here has sold his bike, but I may be able to track down some photos of the supports. As to which ones they offer here that could be "altered" to work, have no idea...but I figure the photos would help in this regard.

KM

Also, Willie & Max has a universal set of bag supports. Have not heard from anyone that has tried them yet though. However from the way they are designed they should work.

RB

Thanks everyone, I do appreciate the ideas.

I've looked at the Leatherlyke bags. They are nice, but the current price of $ 460 is a bit hard for me to justify.

Knifemaker, it's good to finally hear about someone that actually got some mounts, even if they are not around anymore. I had contacted GIVI USA a long time ago and they were no help. Relocating the turn indicators in the way you illustrate in your photos looks great, and I may utilize that in my final solution. The Kawasaki saddlebag mounts (which I have) do not relocate the indicators far enough back to clear the Givi bags.

Non-GIVI universal bag supports are not likely to work with the GIVI bags as they require a special adapter that the GIVI bags lock on to. The GIVI E20 bags (what I plan to get) are really lockable hard luggage.

I've got some thoughts on how to do this now. After I purchase them and get them mounted sometime in the next few months I will post some photos and details on what I had to do to make it work.

Wall...

I tracked down the Givi supports to the impressive guy that has them, and, long story short , I will buying them from him. I will post photos of them for you to compare to the other current offerings by Givi USA if that would be of any help to you. At some point I will likely begin fabricating something simular and offering through Metric Custom Creations.
http://www.metriccustomcreations.com/

Knifemaker

Has anyone here ever mounted a set of Givi E21 saddlebags on their VN750? I've been wanting to put a good set of hard, waterproof bags on my bike and the Givi looks like a good choice. However, none of the stock adapters made indicate any compatibility with the VN750. I also asked one of the dealers that sell Givis and they were no help either. I am pretty sure I can figure out a way to make them work, but will probably have to modify some Givi adapters (which ones I'm not sure). I hate to buy them first though, without knowing about someone else's success (or failure).I bought a pair of those bags and a framework to fit an 800 from a garage sale. I teach welding and had my students cut and fit the frame to my 750 much like the saddlebag supports fit. They looked alright but they vibrated terribly and I took them off and haven't worked on them since. I thought about adding the trailer hitch framework shown in Knifemaker's pics and attaching them there to stabilize the framework to reduce the vibes. I have fitted a set of leather bags on mine now but will definitely go with the Leatherlyke, when I can afford them or attach the hitch framework.

Here is a photo of the Givi support on the Vulcan:
http://tinyurl.com/btycm

KM

I finally got my Givi saddlebags and now have them mounted. I think they look great and I finally have lockable, removable, waterproof, hard cases on the bike.

GIVI USA will tell you that they do not sell any mounts that will work on the VN750. That is not exactly true. You do need to have the Kawasaki saddlebag supports first and then the rest is easy. You need to purchase the GIVI Model N150 Wingrack II (complete with turn indicators), a couple of 3 1/2 inch long x 5/16 inch bolts (with washers and nuts), a couple of 1 1/2 inch long x 5/15 inch bolts (with washers and nuts), and a couple of short plates that can be bent around the saddlebag support rods and bolted. With all of that, the Wingrack II bolts directly onto the Kawasaki saddlebag support at the top and you clamp it to the support rod at the bottom. It makes a very solid mount. The stock Kawasaki turn indicators will be in the way, so those are discarded. Connecting the GIVI indicators that come with the Wingrack II requires that you replace the Italian bullet male electrical connector with a smaller one to fit the stock Kawasaki female connector. Once you have all the right parts, putting this together is really pretty simple.

All the GIVI monokey saddlebags will fit on the Wingracks. I chose the E-21 bags as they are the best size for the VN750 and are not as outrageously expensive as some of the others GIVI makes.

The photos below show the installation.

Nice job Wally !

How much did each piece cost?

The Kawasaki luggage saddlebag supports (part # K53021-094) I put on the bike about 2 years ago. The current price on those from Ron Ayers is $ 131.17.
The GIVI N-150 Wingrack II is available from Twistedthrottle.com for $ 126.54 (excluding shipping).
The GIVI E-21 saddlebags are available from Cyclestuffusa.com for $ 152.99 for the pair (including shipping).
The other bits of hardware needed should run less than $ 5.00.

That is VERY nice, Wally. Where did you end up buying the Givi stuff from? Have you had a chance to test their "waterproofness" yet?

I have these same cases on my V-Strom and yes, they are waterproof. There is a rubber seal around the lid. These same racks will allow the attachment of any of the Givi Monokey luggage.

wow what a good looking bike, those saddlebags sure make a difference
opposed to throw over bags . I hope parts are availabe when I save enough money to purchase LOL . Robert

Thanks for the compliments on the cases and the bike. I am certainly pleased with how it all turned out.

It hasn't rained much around Atlanta lately, so I haven't tested their water tightness yet. But from what everyone says that has those cases, they should keep everything inside completely dry.

The places I mentioned in post #12 seem to have the best prices for the Givi and Kawasaki parts that I used (I did a lot of searching before buying).

I forgot to mention in my earlier post the ease of taking the Givi cases off the wingracks. Just turn the key, push a button, and lift them off. Very easy to take them inside when travelling. The photo below shows the cases off on the ground and one opened up (with stuff inside).

just curious if you can use any of the wingracks. I am not exactly fond of those turn signals. also let make sure i read this right. The rack for the givi bags mount onto the saddle bag brackets on the bike (must be bought obviously). do you think the highway hawk brackets would work??

I really couldn't say about how the other wingracks would work. I selected the N-150 because it has the turn signals attached. The N-151 is identical, except without the turn signals (and only $ 20 less in price). However, you cannot use the original Kawasaki turn signals unless you relocate them to the brake light (Knifemaker makes an adapter to do that). The position of the Kawasaki turn signals both in the original position or in the position that relocates them on the Kawasaki saddlebag support would interfere with the Givi cases. You do need to buy the Kawasaki saddlebag supports separately to mount the wingracks the way I did. I haven't seen the Highway Hawk brackets, so I have no idea about their suitability.

Plan on updating my bags eventually and the Givi Bags look like a real
practical, and safe rigid bag to travel with.

The one question I have is where you found the short plates that can be bent around the saddlebag support rods and bolted? Do you remember what size they were? :motorcycl

The "short plates" are the separator plates from a pair of 1 1/4" x 5/16" U-bolts that I got at the local Ace hardware store for a couple of bucks. I bent them around a similar diameter rod using pliers and a hammer to get the shape close enough to close it with a straight bolt & nut. Maybe not the most elegant solution, but it works.

Your solution works well and should be more than sturdy enough, may go
that route, but also will look at strapping metal (wound like tape on a spool) with holes in it than can be cut with a hacksaw to any length, but I don't think it will hold as much weight as your Seperator Plates.

I've seen clamps like THIS ONE (http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1292686&cp=&pg=15&fbn=Brand%7CGB+ELECTRICAL&f=Brand%2F94473%2F&fbc=1&parentPage=search&searchId=18200246722), but metal, at hardware stores.

EDIT: HERE (http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1278081&cp=&pg=12&origkw=clamp&kw=clamp&parentPage=search&searchId=18200282322) are the ones I saw, Vinyl coated too.

Still waiting for my Wingrack II, that the Givi bags attach to. Have a Highway
Hawk Saddle bag support, but don't think it will work, but will give it
a try. Thanks Hyperbuzzin for the alternate hardware suggestion. :beerchug:

I haven't found out what key position #2 does yet?

Concerned about having the bags out in the sun alot, I suppose
Armour All or something like it will protect them?

Could be awhile before I get them on if I need to order the Kaw saddle
bag supports, may delay the project to when the dry snow starts flying.

I haven't seen a Highway Hawk support, so I have no idea if the wingrack will mount securely on that one or not.

Key position 2 is for releasing the bag from the wingrack. With the key in position 2, you press the red button and the bag releases from the wingrack.

With this ease of removal, that could solve the concern about exposure to the sun. Simply take the bags off when the bike is going to be sitting out in the sun for a long time. Armor-all will help some, but I believe Givi makes these from UV stabilized plastic. If that is true, they should take long sun exposures without problems. I keep my bike inside the garage when I'm not riding, so I don't really have sun exposure issues myself. Another posibility is to get a lightweight bike cover. There are some covers that will easily fit inside the Givi bag with lots of room left over.

wally, where did you get your set of givi saddlebags and wingrack. what was your final cost after installation.

From Wally post on page 2.

The Kawasaki luggage saddlebag supports (part # K53021-094) I put on the bike about 2 years ago. The current price on those from Ron Ayers is $ 131.17.
The GIVI N-150 Wingrack II is available from Twistedthrottle.com for $ 126.54 (excluding shipping).
The GIVI E-21 saddlebags are available from Cyclestuffusa.com for $ 152.99 for the pair (including shipping).
The other bits of hardware needed should run less than $ 5.00.
__________________

Wally, your saddlebag supports appear to be mounted different to your bike than the directions I got with mine. I plan on purchasing the GIVI E21 and Wingrack N150 and mounting them to my bike. What modifications did you make to your supports. Thanks

Actually there are no modifications to the Kawasaki saddlebag supports at all. What may look like a modification is my custom grab bars that are bolted on at the top. I have a description of those in this old thread: http://www.vn750.com/forum/showthread.php?t=367 One thing that will diverge from the Kawasaki instructions is the part about not mounting the original equipment turn indicators. Below is a photo of one of the wingracks as I was working on it and had not yet completely removed the Kaw turn indicator.

Thanks. My saddlebag supports came with a turn signal relocater bracket and wiring. I mounted the supports and relocated the turn signals a little to the back of the bike. I guess I only have to remove that additional bracket since it will not be needed anymore.

Although the turn indicator relocator brackets are no longer needed (since the turn indicators won't be used with the N150 in place), you might want to leave them on (I did). With the brackets still in place it keeps your helmet locks out of the way of the bags and also hides a bit of the wiring for the N150 turn indicators.

Wally, I sent you an email about the mounting -- just wanted to make sure you got it. Let me know if you didn't. I have a couple questions....

Thanks,

I tracked down the Givi supports to the impressive guy that has them, and, long story short , I will buying them from him.

Do the mounts happen to have a GIVI part number on them? It might be possible to get them from europe. Thanks.

-MikeS

How and where did you locate the turn signals to? I bought some bags and looks like I need to move the turn signals.

How and where did you locate the turn signals to? I bought some bags and looks like I need to move the turn signals.

The turn signals get relocated with the saddlebag support kit from Kawasaki. Details and photos in this thread (http://www.vn750.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4663).