Dealer called just now & said the Kawi Hard bags are here.

I'll get the trim strip painted and post some pics when I get them installed.

Can you have your dealer call my dealer and tell them what's up?

How long did it take you to get them?

Lucky you!:)

I think mine are on indefinite back order. I tried going through Twisted Throttle and they said they had stock on Friday. I submitted my order and on Monday they said they made a mistake and the Versys rack wouldn't be available until July 7th.

Pics are a must - got to see how they look on your bike. :thumb:

How long did it take you to get them?
I bought the bike on 5/9/08 and asked the dealer to order them that day.

They came in 6/17/08 - so about 5 & 1/2 weeks - was originally told 8 weeks
so I can't complain.

Can you have your dealer call my dealer and tell them what's up?
I think my dealer said the lady he orders from was getting in 20 sets.
Don't quote me on that - but I think that's what he said.

You might try having your local guy give it another shot.

Good Luck.

I got mine on May 2nd and they said it was backordered to late July.

I'll bug 'em again.

V riders,

u can consider the givi alternative n maybe save some $$$ too.

i am using givi side boxes (V35) with the PLX447 mounting kit. this option costs less than using similar kawasaki units which originates from givi anyway. only a slight difference in the mounting brackets. the kawasaki brackets replace the rear passenger grab rails and these rails are now an integral part of the bracket proper. it is thus stronger (metal as opposed to the existing softer material). the givi kit leaves the grab rails alone. you can also remove the side panels of the V35's and paint them to match the colour of your ride.

check them out at :

http://www.givi.it/per_la_tua_moto.asp?co_id=15488&lang=en

rgds

V riders,

u can consider the givi alternative n maybe save some $$$ too.

i am using givi side boxes (V35) with the PLX447 mounting kit. this option costs less than using similar kawasaki units which originates from givi anyway. only a slight difference in the mounting brackets. the kawasaki brackets replace the rear passenger grab rails and these rails are now an integral part of the bracket proper. it is thus stronger (metal as opposed to the existing softer material). the givi kit leaves the grab rails alone. you can also remove the side panels of the V35's and paint them to match the colour of your ride.

check them out at :

http://www.givi.it/per_la_tua_moto.asp?co_id=15488&lang=en

rgds
My local dealer shot me a quote of $750 - including painting the accent strips to match the bike. After tax, a little over $800.

Givi online was $752 w/ free shipping and I would paint the strip or leave it.

Another site had $688 + shipping - & still paint the strip.

Close enough - since the local guy has helped me add a couple of accessories and not charged any labor.

It's good to live in a small town - sometimes.

Anyone else received their hard saddlebags..?

WOO HOO!!

Went to the dealer to get an oil filter, said "hey, by the way, can you bug your supplier about my saddlebags again?" He looked at me and said, "oh dude, they came in yesterday and I hadn't had a chance to call you yet!" I just about did the dance of joy! (anyone remember the TV show 'Perfect Strangers'?)

Got 'em home and installed them in about an hour and a half. The pics on Kawi's website showed them as red, but mine are black. No big deal to me; when I get my rear hugger from England in a month or so, I'll paint them red when I paint the hugger.

Instructions are NOT helpful, I'm just glad I can put the round peg in a square hole.

AWESOME!

Looks very good - how does it feel to ride with them?

My dealer called me last night and left a message. I wonder what it could be about - maybe.....?

Ordered mine the same day I bought the bike.Got the saddle baggs and top case.They told me end of July. Bummer!

AWESOME!

Looks very good - how does it feel to ride with them?

My dealer called me last night and left a message. I wonder what it could be about - maybe.....?

I'm wondering the same thing

:):):)

Oh happy day! Yes, that is what the dealer had left me a message about. My side bags were in!

My bags and racks looks slightly different than Nvoelsch's setup. I'll post some pictures soon - supposed to be working.

Nvoelsch - I noticed you didn't modified your turn signals. I'm wondering if that step was really necessary or not. Or did the kit you received not require the modification of the turn signals?

Also - did you get yours through Kawasaki? Mine are Givi V35s. On the outside they look similiar - it's mostly the backside and the racks that appear different.

Here's the pics of my bags. My racks seem a bit different and you can see that I have these huge metal flanges towards the top of the racks close to the seat. I think these are meant to connect with the top rack. The instructions show some type of metal piece that goes from these flanges to the rear passenger hand rails.

Although the instructions were very graphical - they didn't really explain how it all goes together. I loosely put everything on the bike and then rearranged a few things until I felt I had it all togther then torqued all the pieces down. I did get the turn signal brackets backwards and had to re-do them. The left turn signal wiring needed lengthening.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2595741837_5374e9a14e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2596573146_c95c9cb7ef_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2596571152_7744909d5e_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3213/2595735681_689df42d90_m.jpg

Sorry for the delay; have been on the south coast all weekend!

Huh, your racks do look a bit different. Yes, I did get them from the dealer, and none of my documentation says anything about Givi. The bags look the same though. I did have to move my lights back, the pics might not show that clearly enough. I had to remove my stock rear had grips; the new racks came with them already welded and powdercoated.

It's odd that there's differences out there...

I have not felt any difference riding with them, and I've loaded them down (did you know a half rack of Miller in the bottle will fit nicely in each bag?)

That is the big difference are the hand grips. The flanges on my racks had me worried because they are just hanging out there. I looked up on the GIVI site and the racks are PLX447 for the Versys and the top rack is FZ447. It's part of a matched set and the top rack connects to those flanges. No need to remove the stock hand grips.

I don't understand why there are difference either - same bike, same bags. Two different racks.

I think you hit it on the head though - yours may have the ability to use the trunk, mine can't. Well, yet anyways. Some modifications will be in order!

Ocean,
You have the same set I have (the Givi brand, not the Kawasaki brand). I just installed it all today. You need to get PLX447KIT along with PLX447. PLX447KIT includes two small brackets that connect those mystery flanges near the grab handles to the frame underneath the seat. I believe it also included spacers that fit between PLX447 and where it bolts to where the round reflectors used to be. I can't remember which kit those spacers came with, but if you noticed that there was a big gap when bolting the bracket to the bike at that spot, you need those spacers. They're not just washers. They're about 1/2 thick.

Anyway, if you had ordered FZ447, those mystery flanges would bolt to that. But without FZ447, you need the small brackets in PLX447KIT to take it's place and fill in the gaps.

The Kawasaki brand brackets (available in US only I believe) are completely different because they're designed to prevent you from mounting the tailbag as well. Whereas the Givi PLX447 is designed to allow you to mount a tailbag with the saddlebags, which Kawasaki (or the US DOT) doesn't like for some reason.

Hey Jon,

Thanks for the info. I just got the trunk and the rack in - now I have to figure out how to connect that to the side racks. I have the spacer in place that you are talking about - but the top rack looks like it uses this same bolt. Does the side rack sit in place of that spacer? I'll have some fun tonight trying to figure out how it goes together.

Hey guys,
Just got my new Versys yesterday from the dealer. I desperately want saddlebags for the bike & really like the Givi/Kawi hard-case ones. Does anyone who owns these bags know whether they are quick-release? I saw some websites advertising "quick release" but wanted to confirm with someone who owns them.
I've got to fit my bike through a standard door opening, and those big old saddlebags are gonna make that difficult.
If you own the hard-case bags, please let me know how easy they are to remove & what kind of bags your have. Thanks all!
Curt

hello aok,

congratulations on taking delivery of your new versys.

yo, all the Givi n Kawasaki (made by Givi) hard bags are quick release. by this i mean just push one red button n the bags or boxes come off their brackets. however to prevent theft, one will still need the key to open the lock first, then push the red button located next to the keyhole to free the boxes. very easy n can be done with one hand. but the brackets stay on the bike. the hepco n becker "Lock It System" allows one to also remove the brackets in a jiffy to give the bike that naked look once again. am using the Givi V35 side boxes. enjoy your ride ....

rgds

Excellent!
Thanks for the info, Myred. Now I just need to figure out whether to order Givi or Kawi. They're about the same price because I get a discount with the dealer. I'm not crazy the way the Kawi brackets replace the grab bars at the back - I want whatever looks the most "stock". Perhaps I should go with the Givi mounts and the Kawi bags... anyone tried that yet?

Thanks again for the response!
Just got back from a ride this morning, love this bike! Can't wait till the break-in period is over!
:)

Finally got my trim pieces painted and installed- will post pics when my wife shows me how.

FYI - dealer ordered 1 set (Kawasaki) - the right piece was cracked, so he ordered another set & the left one was cracked - so we used the 2 good pieces to make a pair.

Check them when they come in so you don't have to waste time reordering when the painter is ready.

While the bags are quick-release, the Givi racks are not. I think there is another maker (SW Motech?) where the racks disconnect also.

Pics of the Hard Bags after painting to match.

:):)


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/Versys3.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/Versys4.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/2dogcrew/Versys5.jpg

You're making me drool! I can't wait to get mine back from the paint booth!

Excellent!
Perhaps I should go with the Givi mounts and the Kawi bags... anyone tried that yet?

That is what I would do - Order the Givi mounts so you can keep the stock hand grips and get the Kawi bags with the color panels to match. Also, by ordering the Kawi bags - you get the Versys logo on the side instead of GIVI.

Pics of the Hard Bags after painting to match.

:):)

That's the cleanest garage I've ever seen. Nice paint job - can't wait to do the same to my bike.

Yep, it looks great!

Guys,
FYI I ordered through Kawasaki, and it took exactly one week. Perhaps they've solved their availability problem.