Niken GT Givi hard pannier/saddle bags test Fitting

[maximNikenGT]

Decided to try and see if I could make a set of Givi hard cases fit my 2019 Niken GT. Lots of conflicting information online regarding availability of Givi pannier mount fitment for Niken GTs.  

Note: Official Givi website online as well as direct inquiry with Givi North America by phone indicated that while a rack does exist for the regular Niken, one does NOT for the GT version.  I'm assuming this has something to do with the different rear passenger grab handle geometry on the GTs. However I've received confirmation from two separate Niken GT owners in Europe who indicated that the Givi hard panniers do in fact fit the 2019 GTs if you get the Plxr2143 mounting kit. I could not get confirmation as to whether or not any modifications were needed to make it work since it appeared as though their shop performed the installs vs the owners themselves. 

Will find out once and for all if this works straight out of the box since Givi North America's own database indicates that no pannier mounting kit exists for the 2019 Niken GTs. 

[maximNikenGT]

Decided to capture install instructions as well for posterity. If this works then I'm planning on getting a set of givi V37 hard cases to match my Givi topcase. 

At the time of writing this, there were zero available Plxr2143 kits available in the USA. Amazon and Revzilla initially showed as available but when placing the order was canceled due to back order. The Givi Plxr2143 was only available in Europe and I ordered mine from Motostorm (based in Italy). 

Note: I have the Givi V47 top case already installed (part code SR2144 - formerly SR2143, whom Givi North America confirmed directly for me that the SR2144 is the official mounting kit for the V47). So on page 5 of the instructions I will have to follow step B2 for my install attempt. 

[maximNikenGT]

So, read the instructions, looked relatively straightforward so long as everything lined up. If all the holes lined up, then this would have been a 1 hour exercise.

But because the holes didn't line up, and because I also had the Givi V47 top case already mounted using SR2144 mounting kit (note: SR2143 is no longer in production according to Givi North America), it required me to add 2 part #10 black washers to the middle mounting point (see photo below) of the PLXR2143 so that the rear holes to attach the reinforcement cross brace (part #3) would fit.

After trial and error first using:

a. zero part #10 black washer/thick spacers, and then

b. adding one part #10 to each side and rechecking the cross brace hole alignment, and then

c. adding two part #10 washers to each side, then and only then did the cross brace holes come close enough for me to flex the two sides towards one another a little bit in order to get the cross brace mounting bolts through. 

If I didn't have my Ryobi 3/8 inch high speed ratchet and had to manually unbolt and re-bolt the really long screws for the side case mounts then this easily would have exceeded three hours due to the sheer length of the bolts and all the unscrewing and rescrewing that I had to do in order to make sure I didn't strip bolts in the process and had a good fit that didn't stress out the bolts or strip out the threads in the mounting holes. 

But I can now at least confirm that the PLXR 2143 mounting kit DOES fit the 2019 Niken GTs, and when my Givi  V37 hardcases arrive, I'll be able to confirm total fitment with side cases. The Givi North America database is WRONG in that a mounting kit does not fit the Niken GTs. Niken GT owners now have an additional hard pannier option besides the SHADs, stock soft cases, or a custom/home brewed version. 

Above: Stock Yamaha soft case mounts (before). 

Above: Removal of the original stock mounts is required - bolts that connect to the passenger foot pegs had tight clearances because the hex bolts are mounted facing the inside towards the rear tire. Right hand side (closest to the swingarm side) hex bolts had even tighter clearances and I had to utilize a low clearance ratchet wrench originally designed specifically for timing belt maintenance duty to loosen one of the bolts because my hex socket was so tall that it bumped up against the swingarm. 

Above: Part #8 split washer cannot be used inside part #4 mounting bush - must be outside of the mounting bush (photo above shows the WRONG way to assemble this). Slotted notch above is how you put the head of the long mounting bolts inside before tightening down completely. 

Above: This is the way...

 

Above: Right hand side (closest to the rear swingarm) rear bolt is longer than the front bolt. I ended up retaining this long bolt instead of using the provided shorter bolt. NOTE: I had to special order the longer bolt from Amazon when I installed the V47 top case. 

Above: Ultimately had to use two part #10 spacers on the front long bolts to force the rear cross brace mounting holes to be canted inward enough to allow me to install the reinforcement cross brace. Any less than these two spacers resulted in too much distance between the two rear mounting holes. 

Proof that the PLXR 2143 does indeed fit the Niken GTs. 

Above: Final results. NOTE: there is a hole to the far left in front of the first mounting point. According to Givi, this can be used to attach a padlock to make sure no one can steal your side cases by unbolting the mounting brackets. Only downside is if one tries to mount a padlock on both sides then it may interfere with the passenger foot pegs ability to fold up out of the way. 

However, the mounting point bolts used a special tool that was provided by Givi. If you don't have this tool, good luck trying to remove these bolts. 

[hawkster]

Fantastic. I was thinking about getting the same kit for my gt. My wife talked me out of it since I trade bikes so often and may not keep the gt. Had the same setup on a 2011 bmw r bike and it was really nice.

[betoney]

Great job documenting this and making it work.  I love finding solutions like that even if it needs slight manipulation with a Dremel tool or bracket modification.

I never liked the oem Niken side bags, an aftermarket solution to be able to mount hard bags is a great find! 👍🏻

[maximNikenGT]

8 hours ago, hawkster said:

Fantastic. I was thinking about getting the same kit for my gt. My wife talked me out of it since I trade bikes so often and may not keep the gt. Had the same setup on a 2011 bmw r bike and it was really nice.

Even if you swap bikes you can at least transfer your givi bags to the new bike.

I used to have an '04 BMW r1150r with OEM hard cases and they were AWESOME and I really miss those on a true GT tourer like the Niken GT.

Waterproof, secure and stable. BMW sets the standard for good motorcycle hard cases. 

 Givi should be a fine alternative solution. 

[maximNikenGT]

On 6/8/2023 at 10:35 AM, betoney said:

Great job documenting this and making it work.  I love finding solutions like that even if it needs slight manipulation with a Dremel tool or bracket modification.

I never liked the oem Niken side bags, an aftermarket solution to be able to mount hard bags is a great find! 👍🏻

Thanks! I was hoping this wasn't going to be a total bust but having two separate owners visually confirm givi V37 hard cases on their GTs via photos was enough for me to roll the dice on an international purchase like this.

Especially  since I absolutely hate the stock side cases are not hard cases, nor truly lockable (the luggage locks they provide to lock the soft side cases gives me zero assurance that any expensive items are even somewhat protected from casual thieves), not to mention zero waterproofing.  I would never put electronics or even clothing in the stock side cases because I've had clothing items get soaked during a rainstorm while in the soft cases. 

Edited June 15, 2023 by maximNikenGT
clarified scenario

[Heli ATP]

Excellent work, looking forward to seeing some pics of the side cases installed?

[maximNikenGT]

13 hours ago, Heli ATP said:

Excellent work, looking forward to seeing some pics of the side cases installed?

Absolutely. Need to be 100% sure of the final step - since according to Givi site the PLXR2143 is compatible with the V37 side cases that I've got on order. There's still a chance that the V37 side cases might not fit but according to the Givi site for the regular Niken this is supposed to be compatible. Wouldn't be the first time the Givi site is inaccurate. 

 

[maximNikenGT]

Applaud my might. Confirmed with a set of Givi V37s! FINALLY definitive and confirmed installation detail proof that the Givi V37 hard cases DO fit 2019 Niken GTs if you get the PLXR2143 mounting kit.  You are no longer stuck with the stock soft cases, SHADs or having to make your own custom mount set up.

Givi V37s come with two primary keys, two backup keys (one per case but they are keyed identical to the accompanying case) in addition to one extra lock cylinder with primary key and backup key (presumably for re-keying top case to utilize one key for all three cases-2 pannier and one top case). Total of six keys for the pack of two panniers.  Givi was very generous with its keys to buyers (much appreciated and thank you Givi)!

Total six keys with the hard saddlebags.  One not shown was already on my Keychain and found one more taped to the inside of one of the saddlebags.  

[maximNikenGT]

Final step re-keying my v47 top case to use the same keys as my saddlebags.  Luckily Givi gave an extra locking cylinder with the purchase of the hard cases to allow you to do just that. Instructions as follows :

1. Remove v47 top case from bike and using Phillips head screwdriver unscrew four screws attaching the locking mechanism from the interior.  Note: once you unscrew these the latching mechanism will fall immediately off if you don't have a hand to prevent it from dropping on the outside. Do this on the floor or a table so that the mechanism doesn't fall and get damaged from falling  on the ground. 

2. Four Phillip screws is all it takes to remove the v47 locking housing.  No need to separate interior liner. 

3. Be careful this piece doesn't fall on the floor and get damaged. I luckily caught mine in time. 

4. Interior of handle locking mechanism. Use 10mm socket to remove the nut and watch out for the locking cylinder and three small pieces that will pop loose as soon as you unscrew the bolt. They are a:

a. very small spring,  

b. ball bearing for the spring, and

c. a single crush washer.

Don't do this near a sink unless you have the drain plugged because as soon as the locking arm gets loose the ball bearing is free to shoot out and you could lose both the tiny bearing as well as the spring. 

5. My middle finger is pointing to the tiny hole located at the 7 o'clock position on the handle side that holds the tiny spring (you can barely make out the head of the spring in the picture) as well as where the locking collar arm retains the tiny ball bearing. 

6. I used this opportunity to clean off any dirt and reapply some grease to the locking arm to ensure reliable operation. You can see on the locking collar arm at the 7 o'clock position where the tiny single ball bearing is supposed to reside. 

7. Insert the new  lock cylinder  mechanism after taking note of position of locking arm and cylinder during removal.  I recommend putting the tiny screw and ball bearing into the handle side and then putting the locking collar arm vs trying to keep the ball bearing from moving on the locking collar arm itself. 

8. Put on new crush washer (also supplied by Givi with the new cylinder lock), and then  secure 10mm nut while ensuring locking collar arm has a good fit with the ball bearing and spring. 

9. Test  locking  mechanism with new key. 

10. Reassemble locking housing in reverse of disassembly. ENJOY ONE KEY TO RULE THEM ALL!

Edited June 14, 2023 by maximNikenGT
Added finished photo