GIVI Alaska Panniers???

[stephenkeefe]

Oh right, I see.
If I remember correctly I’m pretty sure I relocated the hold it arm. I believe there are another set of holes to allow this. I know I had to adjust something.
Been a while and I’m going from memory but I’ll have a look when I get home tonight and let you know.

Thanks Hartley, appreciated. I did move the tilting mech back and forwards on the box, but as the rack is symmetrical in that respect, its the same deal both ways. It's possible that you have an earlier rack, before the "change in production", so it would be good to know if that's the case. Also, do you have the same issue with opening the LH pannier lid on the bike? I do wish I's bought the outbacks now, as the CAM system doesn't seem to have the same issues. Bit of a spendy change though. Any pix gratefully received.

 

[Hartley]

Hi Stephen,
Yes mate, the lid does foul the handle on the LH side if you dont use the tilt mechanism. To be fair, i use a GIVI 52 trekker topbox which the lid on the RH box hits anyway. I was aware of these issues prior to buying but i really wanted the ability to remove the racks easily when not in use.
Theres some pics of my bike earlier in the thread but ill try and get some of the frames to try to figure out whats going on.

 

[Hartley]

Hi Stephen, this is how my cases look on the frames. This is the LH mount and case. I moved the hook to the forward position. Hope this helps.

 

[longdog]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the reply, i see what you mean. I had noticed Givi say the Dolomiti aluminium panniers are not suitable, this must be why. Thanks for that, appreciated.
I take it the tilt works ok? I do like the look of them.

I have the Givi Dolomiti cases and top box on my S10, (yes, I know it’s not the same), but Givi issue the same caveat regarding the non-exhaust side fouling the top box. For what it’s worth, I have had my Dolomiti for 5 years and there is enough movement when opening the lid to avoid the top box, grab rails etc. and as the Alaskans are simply an updated Dolomiti, then I don’t think you will have an issue.

 

[stephenkeefe]

I have the Givi Dolomiti cases and top box on my S10, (yes, I know it’s not the same), but Givi issue the same caveat regarding the non-exhaust side fouling the top box. For what it’s worth, I have had my Dolomiti for 5 years and there is enough movement when opening the lid to avoid the top box, grab rails etc. and as the Alaskans are simply an updated Dolomiti, then I don’t think you will have an issue.

Hi Stephen,
Yes mate, the lid does foul the handle on the LH side if you don't use the tilt mechanism. To be fair, i use a GIVI 52 trekker topbox which the lid on the RH box hits anyway. I was aware of these issues prior to buying but i really wanted the ability to remove the racks easily when not in use.
Theres some pics of my bike earlier in the thread but ill try and get some of the frames to try to figure out what's going on.

Many thanks for the pix, really helpful. I might consider moving the tilt mech an inch or so forward, so that it fully engages on the flat piece of the bar. I shouldn't have to do this and it does annoy the hell out of me that Givi are still marketing the Alaska's as fully compatible with the QD rack on the GS, whilst at the same time writing to customers to say that they aren't - bizzaro!. I guess it it what it is and Givi don't seem bothered. My tilting mech looks less engaged with the rack that yours, but that can't be the case, as these things should be identical, and I don't think you have an earlier version of the rack. Pix of mine attached, the bike is filthy as I got back to Suffolk from a weekend in Wales last night and the weather was pretty dire. As an aside, I met a guy in the M6 services near Birmingham, riding a three day old GSA. An old lady had backed into him in the car park, smashing his number plate and knocking his phone out of his hand, which a passing car promptly ran over (this was his nav device). Always someone worse off than yourself I guess :-/. Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

 

[Hartley]

Many thanks for the pix, really helpful. I might consider moving the tilt mech an inch or so forward, so that it fully engages on the flat piece of the bar. I shouldn't have to do this and it does annoy the hell out of me that Givi are still marketing the Alaska's as fully compatible with the QD rack on the GS, whilst at the same time writing to customers to say that they aren't - bizzaro!. I guess it it what it is and Givi don't seem bothered. My tilting mech looks less engaged with the rack that yours, but that can't be the case, as these things should be identical, and I don't think you have an earlier version of the rack. Pix of mine attached, the bike is filthy as I got back to Suffolk from a weekend in Wales last night and the weather was pretty dire. As an aside, I met a guy in the M6 services near Birmingham, riding a three day old GSA. An old lady had backed into him in the car park, smashing his number plate and knocking his phone out of his hand, which a passing car promptly ran over (this was his nav device). Always someone worse off than yourself I guess :-/. Thanks again for your help, much appreciated.

Stephen,

My hooks are located forward of the lock in the holes provided. Looking at one of your earlier pics they look to be to the rear of the lock?
Could just be my interpretation of thee we image.
As you can see on mine it’s not perfect has slightly better location. Could well be as you say and differences in the racks.
I’ve used Givi products for years and always found them really good and customer service excellent, your experiences are very disappointing.

 

[stephenkeefe]

Stephen,

My hooks are located forward of the lock in the holes provided. Looking at one of your earlier pics they look to be to the rear of the lock?
Could just be my interpretation of thee we image.
As you can see on mine it’s not perfect has slightly better location. Could well be as you say and differences in the racks.
I’ve used Givi products for years and always found them really good and customer service excellent, your experiences are very disappointing.

Hi Hartley

I've moved the hinge to the forward location, it is, as you say, slightly better, but still not what I'd call safe or compatible (notwithstanding not actually being able to open the LH pannier lid). I too have used Givi products for many years, and they've always been fine. I had those (Alaska) panniers on my cb500x commuter and on my T7 on Givi racks and without any problems. I think the Alaska / QD frame must be a relatively rare combination, with most owners either using the OEM frames and boxes or the Trekker Outbacks. If you wanted side opening cases, why not use the Vario boxes and save the cost of a frame? Very disappointing reaction from Givi, in their words "we are not able to offer the customer a solution" - to their own design incompetence. Thankfully, I bought the QD rack from Sportsbikeshop, who's customer service I've always found to be second to none. SBS refunded me the cost of the rack, without requiring a return and apologised profusely for my inconvenience, Givi take note. I really want top loading alloys, with two opening lids so I'll probably shift the setup at some point and look for a secondhand set of OEM alloys and mounting point adaptors.