marcopol
Registered user
R1150GS with BMW top box, what is the maximum weight limit allowed on the rear rack and is there any way to improve on this ?
Maximum Weight Limit
- Thread starter marcopol
- Start date
From memory, it's about 10kg - but it's a really bad place to carry even that much weight...
Mike
Mike
BMW spec inside it's System top box says max load in top box and rack of 5Kg.
sockpuppet
Registered user
You could strengthen the rear rack but 10kg should be enough as its fairly high up so the bike may want to topple on its side stand with that much weight in the air.
And Givi IIRC.
Begs the question why such large top boxes.
If you look at the 1150s used on LWR they broke the frames because they were carrying so much weight over the back on rough ground.
On the LWD they used 1200s. These didn't break the frames. There is more trellis work on the 1200 to support more weight. However both Ewan and Charlies bike suffered broken top rear shock mounts breaking. In fact one was so bad it had to be put on the back of a lorry and taken away for repairs.
Moral of the story must be don't ignore BMWs weight limits. They obviously know it isn't as strong as people would like to think.
If you need to carry tons of weight it might be worth spreading it around the bike.
Or consider a side car.
http://www.bikersoracle.com/gs/forum/showthread.php?t=319
Or even a trailer that can be towed by a motorbike. (Couldn't find a picture of one of them).
I'm guessing they don't make them anymore as I cant find them anywhere online?
Mick_rw
Registered user
The two items mentioned....Wunderlich, stopped making the support bracket a few years ago, Givi do a top rack for the 1150GS which comes with support brackets, these bolt to the same place as the rear mount point for the system panniers.......BUT this rack is a £100 a throw......and no they wont sell them seperately....tried my hardest with them to get the support brackets....
Check their pannier limits. Every rider i know exceeds them
I think the weight limits are more for BMW liabilities than actual structural load limits. Just use your common sense.
Check their pannier limits. Every rider i know exceeds them
I think the weight limits are more for BMW liabilities than actual structural load limits. Just use your common sense.
I know I do, almost every trip
Plus, if the frame was that weak, would / should you carry a pillion?I know I do, almost every trip
I think its a case of realising that there is a limit. Not that you can just pile weight on in adfinitum.
A case of the straw that broke the camels back.
ciderman gs
Registered user
just use common sense load it up and ride it if it feels wrong then get rid of something (pillon, fat, stainless steel blingy stuff ) just ride the damn thing and worry where you are going next not if you,ll get there 
I know I do, almost every trip
It's not the frame that breaks, it only the ally rack that can't hack it.
Givi rack with supports for sale on this forum. I strengthened my 1100 with some stainless rod and copious amounts of JB Weld (brilliant stuff). I also made up some spacers so that the seat base rests on the oe pannier rail which takes out a lot of the flex. When we go touring there's about 16kg on my rack plus 80kg of pillion. Wouldn't try serious off-road but so far, so good 
Once weighed top box and tent and everything else that I used to put on top of the top box of my 11GS when we used to go camping 2-up, came to 25kg in all.
Never had any problems, the ally rack used to flex horrendously though...
Never had any problems, the ally rack used to flex horrendously though...
I once carried an 1150 engine on the back of my 1150 all the way back home, about 60 miles.
The only problem i had was getting off the bike when i stopped.
It was easy starting off, engine strapped on the back, bike parked on main stand, start it up and ride it off the stand and away.
But when i got home i couldn't put the bike on the side stand because it would've fallen over, couldn't hold the bike and swing my leg over the back as the engine was too high and in the way.
Ended up beeping the horn until my neighbour came out and held the bike while i climbed off, and then we both heaved it onto the main stand.
The only problem i had was getting off the bike when i stopped.
It was easy starting off, engine strapped on the back, bike parked on main stand, start it up and ride it off the stand and away.
But when i got home i couldn't put the bike on the side stand because it would've fallen over, couldn't hold the bike and swing my leg over the back as the engine was too high and in the way.
Ended up beeping the horn until my neighbour came out and held the bike while i climbed off, and then we both heaved it onto the main stand.
I once carried an 1150 engine on the back of my 1150 all the way back home, about 60 miles.
The only problem i had was getting off the bike when i stopped.
It was easy starting off, engine strapped on the back, bike parked on main stand, start it up and ride it off the stand and away.
But when i got home i couldn't put the bike on the side stand because it would've fallen over, couldn't hold the bike and swing my leg over the back as the engine was too high and in the way.
Ended up beeping the horn until my neighbour came out and held the bike while i climbed off, and then we both heaved it onto the main stand.
Excellent
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