Norge Accessories: Hmmm...

[JeffOlson]

I just had the Norge panniers and "Norge" (Givi?) top box installed. I am holding off on installing the Norge tank bag.

Unfortumately, the tank bag requires sticking adhesive-backed Velcro to the tank. Did you know that? I sure didn't. I would not have ordered the tank bag if I did. I hate Velcro!

Also, the top box requires a separate key. Did you know that? I sure didn't. My Norge came with three identical locks that work with my ignition key. Two of them are now in the panniers, but the third one won't work with the top box. It does not have any way to attach the locking latch to its end. The dealer mechanic and I fiddled with it for quite a while this afternoon, and it just will not work. Bummer!

Finally, is that ugly bit of metal tubing with rubber bumpers really necessary when using the panniers? It sits behind the mud guard and supposedly stops the panniers from swinging too far inward. Really?

[Gliderjohn]

When I bought mine in 2011 I found out what you did. Yes, it would have been nice to use the same key but not to be. I don't consider it any big deal. The rubber bumpers are all but invisible so they do not bother me at all.
GliderJohn

[samfrank]

I put the MG tank bag on my '13 Norge. I think it's a terrible design. The Velcro does not hold well and will slip. As the slipping occurs the bag will seem very unstable and slide side to side. Lastly, the Velcro will eventually lose it's stickiness and all that gummy stuff ends up on the tank. The rearward Velcro attachment is under the front of the seat but that really didn't help keep it in place. The forward aspect uses a strap that goes around the front fork and is held in place on the tank by more Velcro. The front and rear use those plastic clips to attach the the tank bag to the fasteners. I give it a big 👎👎👎👎👎.

[Gerry]

On my 2008 Norge the dealer had lost the 3rd lock barrel that came with the bike so when the top box came in they had to order another lock barrel with a different key.  I took the bike to a locksmith and he was able to change the barrel on the top box so that the ignition/panniers key worked on the top box.
Don't know how that would work out on a different year Norge though.
Gerry


Just re-read your post... thought you were working with a different barrel, not that the 3rd barrel you had did not work with the top box?
Not sure what you mean by "It does not have any way to attach the locking latch to its end".
Must be the top box is quite different in ref. to the lock.

[Delta425]

Why not just use a magnetic tank bag? That's what I'm planning on using on my new Norge.
Also, my Norge came with an extra lock barrel to use with the top bag. My top bag is supposed to arrive today as the dealer did not have it in stock. They had it shipped to my residence.  I will let you know how this works when I get a chance.

[Gerry]

Why not just use a magnetic tank bag? That's what I'm planning on using on my new Norge.
Also, my Norge came with an extra lock barrel to use with the top bag. My top bag is supposed to arrive today as the dealer did not have it in stock. They had it shipped to my residence.  I will let you know how this works when I get a chance.

Guess I have not been keeping up, is the new Norge tank made out of steel now?  Mine is plastic
Gerry

[Delta425]

Guess I have not been keeping up, is the new Norge tank made out of steel now?  Mine is plastic
Gerry

Well, now I'm not sure. I was told by a salesman that a magnetic bag would work,  so I  trusted him. Another thing I will check and post on later.

[Gliderjohn]

The reason the third lock does not work on the top case is that the hole for it to fit into is way to small. Don't know how they screwed that up but they. Guzzi, you know.
GliderJohn

[samfrank]

Tank is plastic not metal. Magnetic tank bag will not work! You had a dealer say it would???

[twhitaker]

More to the point......You trusted a salesman???????? at a motorcycle shop???????

[JeffOlson]

Thanks for the replies!

For those of you that have the newer model Norge, does your right pannier stick out more than the left? It's almost like mine was not installed correctly. My right pannier does not sit as close to the bike as the left one does. In fact, the pannier protrudes so far that the rubber bumper at the back does not even touch the pannier.

The cross bar with the rubber bumpers make the difference in protrusion very noticeable. That's why I am wondering if I could just remove the cross bar with the rubber bumpers.

[ItsForrest]

The cross bar to support the panniers probably did not get adjusted correctly when it was set up.
Among several other bits of hardware, I variously adjusted, lock-tighted and tightened many things on my Norge in the first weeks of ownership.
There are a couple of adjustments to make. The posts slide in and out with a lock screw and there's the screw in end with the lock nut. The closer you get the adjustment, the easier they will slide into the locks.

I would not remove the cross bar. It helps line up the bags with the latches when attaching them to the bike and it takes significant stress off of the mount points and locks.
Compared to other pannier mounts, the posts with the rubber bumpers are damn near invisible on the 8V Norge.

The extra lock cylinder is indeed worhtless for the 8V norge.
The ealier Norges' top boxes accept the lock cylinder but the 8V top boxes do not.

[JeffOlson]

^ Thanks for the reply.

From the rear, my panniers (LP and RP), cross bar (<------->), and rear mudguard (MG) look something like this:

|  LP  |<---|  MG  |-------->   |  RP  |

where the left pannier touches the left rubber bumper, and the cross bar protrudes just a little to the left of the rear mudguard, while the right bumper protrudes quite a bit beyond the rear mudguard but does not even touch the right pannier.

I'm thinking that the service tech did not correctly install the lower right bracket, which must be pushing the bottom of the right pannier out too far from the bike. I'll tackle it this weekend and try reinstalling everything on the right side.

[Bill Hagan]

The cross bar to support the panniers probably did not get adjusted correctly when it was set up.
Among several other bits of hardware, I variously adjusted, lock-tighted and tightened many things on my Norge in the first weeks of ownership.
There are a couple of adjustments to make. The posts slide in and out with a lock screw and there's the screw in end with the lock nut. The closer you get the adjustment, the easier they will slide into the locks.

I would not remove the cross bar. It helps line up the bags with the latches when attaching them to the bike and it takes significant stress off of the mount points and locks.
Compared to other pannier mounts, the posts with the rubber bumpers are damn near invisible on the 8V Norge.

The extra lock cylinder is indeed worhtless for the 8V norge.
The ealier Norges' top boxes accept the lock cylinder but the 8V top boxes do not.

All good comments, equally applicable to the firstgen Norges.  Well, save the top box part, but the firstgens had their issues with those, too!  :o

Bill

And, yes, Jeff, from your nifty "sketch," that seems broke.  Both mine touch and do their job.

[nikwax]

Hi Jeff,


Neither of my side cases touch the bumpers. I believe they are a safety to keep the bags out of the spokes in case of a serious bump. And the cases are not symmetrical due to the exhaust on the left side.



I'm OK with the bumpers, they really do disappear after a while.  I couldn't get over the reflectors hanging down so I removed those when I installed my extra brake light.


As others have said: no, the top case lock doesn't match the ignition key and can't be made to. No big deal for me. I did have case liners made, they make a huge difference when touring, the dirty cases stay on the bike and the clean liners come into the motel with us.


BTW, the luggage is very well priced and works really well, no leaks. I paid about $1500 for my BMW/Hepco Becker luggage and racks.

[rodekyll]

The rear crossbar keeps the tail from wagging.  Without it the bags would flop like a braless Dolly Parton, stressing and breaking the bag mounts and wagging the ass end of the bike as you go down the road.  Nothing looks sillier or feels worse except extended runs on flat tires.

The rest of it I can't speak to.

[Bill Hagan]

The rear crossbar keeps the tail from wagging.  Without it the bags would flop like a braless Dolly Parton, stressing and breaking the bag mounts and wagging the ass end of the bike as you go down the road.  

****

You may have just eclipsed Ken Hand and Pete Roper's records for colorful metaphors.

On behalf of all of us out here who paused for a moment to reflect on the comparison, thank you.  

Under the circumstances, I should probably say that twice.   ;D

Bill


[edited to spell "Pete's" name correctly.  Doh.  OTOH, more proof of the power of imagery.   ;)]

[orion]

With my 12 Norge both bags rest on the bumpers, when viewed from behind they are equidistant  from the longitudinal axis. As far as the previous comment about the left side sticking out due to the exhaust, the 8V has a recess in the left pannier for the exhaust and the earlier gnerations came with a drop bracket to drop the pipe a little. OP, it sounds like you right one is definitely installed wrong.

[nikwax]

With my 12 Norge both bags rest on the bumpers, when viewed from behind they are equidistant  from the longitudinal axis. As far as the previous comment about the left side sticking out due to the exhaust, the 8V has a recess in the left pannier for the exhaust and the earlier gnerations came with a drop bracket to drop the pipe a little. OP, it sounds like you right one is definitely installed wrong.

I didn't say that the left bag sticks out due to the exhaust, just that the bags aren't symmetrical.

[guzzi ride]

As far as tank bags for the Norge, I like the Cortech 2.0 it fits the bike nicely. The only drawback
is the size of the map pocket.

[orion]

I didn't say that the left bag sticks out due to the exhaust, just that the bags aren't symmetrical.

I am sorry for misinterpreting the meaning of not symmetrical. i was thinking as in their position is not symmetrical but I now understand what you meant.

[JeffOlson]

I fiddled a bit with my panniers this morning before work.

I noticed that the cross bar behind the rear mud guard actually has several moving parts. Behind the mud guard, there are two locking nuts that allow inner tubes to slide in and out of the main, center tube. I loosened those and slid the inner tubes out further (after first screwing the rubber bumpers in further).

Fiddling with all the moving parts (and ramming the left bumper hard against the inside of the left pannier), I was able to position the panniers better. Just don't use a tape measure to check!