3rd party top case for r1200r

cseevinck · Post by **cseevinck** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:06 am

I have standard BMW side cases on my r1200r - would like to buy a 3rd party top case. When looking at twistedthrottle's site it looks like I can't use the 3rd party mounts with the regular BMW brackets. Can anyone help with ideas or educate me here.
Thanks

eaglemike · Post by **eaglemike** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:32 am

BMW has 2 case mounting setups. The most common mounts the side bags only, the other also has the top rack. If you have or buy the brackets that include the top rack I'm thinking there might/should be a way to mount the Givi adapter plate for the MonoKey case family. It might not be in the catalog, but creativity can be your friend.

The next time I'm at the dealer I'll look at the rear rack and see how hard it looks.

My bike came with the side case only brackets. I've ordered the Givi side and top setup.

all the best,

Mike

cseevinck · Post by **cseevinck** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:38 am

I have only the side brackets - does this mean that I can use the 3rd party fittings with the standard ones?

NeilS · Post by **NeilS** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:45 am

I'm working on an adapter to mount a Monolock top case using the BMW brackets. Right now, I have a prototype in plastic that is not suitable for the road, but it does work mechanically. I'll post pictures if anyone is interested. To go from prototype to roadworthy requires that the plastic plate be made in aluminum.

I see no reason why the same thing couldn't be done for a Monokey case, although the mounting details are a bit different.

The adapters sold by Twisted Throttle do NOT work along with either of the BMW pannier mounts, since they use the same mounting points on the bike.

cseevinck · Post by **cseevinck** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:24 pm

It would be great if you will post the pictures

NeilS · Post by **NeilS** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:28 pm

OK here goes. Forgive the clutter in the garage, but that's what happens in winter in New England

This is the prototype hardware mounted on the bike. The plate is made of plexiglas, which isn't strong enough to be used when in motion. The final version will be made of 1/4-inch 6061-T24 aluminum, with nicely rounded corners, brushed and black anodized. The two metal brackets that engage the case are spare parts by SW Motech, bought from Twisted Throttle. The plate mounts to the BMW pannier adapters with aluminum spacers and stainless steel hardware (both from McMaster-Carr). Not shown are rubber pads between the plate and the case (to prevent vibration), also from SW Motech.

And here's the case mounted on the bike. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the bottom of the case runs parallel to the passenger part of the bike's seat. That's about the same orientation, I believe, as the stock BMW top case.

cseevinck · Post by **cseevinck** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 7:42 pm

Thanks for posting - the brackets on my bike do not come up at the sides at all - so I could not attach the prototype you display to my brackets.

NeilS · Post by **NeilS** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:25 pm

You have the brackets for the panniers only. There is another set of brackets for use with the panniers and the BMW luggage rack. Maybe you can get your dealer to swap one bracket set for the other. Maybe that's wishful thinking.

Post by **Dan-A** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:50 pm

It seems to me that I read on the Givi site that the BMW Top Box is not compatible with the Givi Bags, and the Givi top box is not compatible with the BMW bags due to conflicts with the mounting hardware.

If this is so, you have to do one brand or the other.

NeilS · Post by **NeilS** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:42 pm

That's true, as long as you want to stick with store-bought parts. In my case, I already had the Givi topcase and I wanted to be able to swap it between my bikes. I also want to use the BMW sidecases on the R12R for long trips. Hence the design above.

Post by **Dan-A** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:13 am

NeilS wrote:That's true, as long as you want to stick with store-bought parts. In my case, I already had the Givi topcase and I wanted to be able to swap it between my bikes. I also want to use the BMW sidecases on the R12R for long trips. Hence the design above.

I also have a Givi top case, a V46 Monokey. I kept it when I sold the Caponord.

Your set up looks pretty good, but I will likely end up with the Givi Bags.