There’s a familiar moment on almost every bike trip when the neatly packed motorcycle luggage that seemed roomy at home suddenly isn’t big enough. Maybe it’s a wet jacket you don’t want to wear anymore. Maybe it’s food for the campsite, a spare layer after the temperature rises, or the inevitable collection of bits and pieces you somehow acquire on tour.
Whatever it is, you end up wrestling with straps, repacking panniers, or trying to convince yourself that sitting on a top box to close it is perfectly normal behaviour. GIVI’s new XSPACE luggage has been designed to solve that problem, and it does it rather elegantly.
Expandable cases
At first glance, the XSPACE looks like a compact, hard-wearing case built for everyday riding. In its standard form, it offers 27l of capacity, which is plenty for commuting, day rides, or carrying the essentials without making your bike feel unnecessarily bulky.
But here’s the clever bit. Open the lid, operate the external mechanism, and the case expands telescopically from 27l to 36l, giving you 33% more space in a matter of seconds. Better still, there’s no unpacking, rearranging, or emptying the case first. Just open the lid, adjust the mechanism, and you’ve got more room exactly when you need it.
And, even better than that, the XSPACE can be used as a top box or side case on your bike, depending on how you want to configure it.
Flexible adventures
Every rider knows the dilemma. Carry too much luggage and the bike feels cumbersome. Carry too little and you’ll inevitably miss the things you left behind, like a camping stove, spare gloves, thermal layer, or casual shoes and trousers to wear in the evening.
The XSPACE attempts to bridge that gap, offering the sort of flexibility riders who use luggage regularly will appreciate. It’s designed to adapt to changing demands, expanding when extra carrying capacity is needed and shrinking back down when it isn’t. So, keep it slim and light during the week on your commute to work, then stretch it out if you need extra capacity when you go away for the weekend.
And because it uses GIVI’s Monokey mounting system, the XSPACE can be configured as either a top box or a pannier, making it suitable for a wide range of setups. Whether you’re travelling light with a single case on the back or building a full luggage system for a longer tour, the same expandable design gives you additional flexibility when packing for the journey ahead.
Mechanical expansion
Unlike many expandable luggage systems that rely on fabric panels or zip-out sections, the XSPACE uses a rigid mechanical expansion system built into the case itself. That not only gives it a more robust feel but also helps maintain its weather protection and durability over years of use in all conditions.
For adventure bikers, the appeal is obvious. Keep it slim and tidy during the week, then stretch it out when you need extra capacity on a weekend away or summer tour.
Full face helmet
That extra room makes a genuine difference. In expanded mode, the XSPACE can take an XXL GIVI modular helmet with peak, while remaining fully waterproof and secure even when opened out to its full capacity. That’s an important detail for anyone who’s spent a day riding through a Scottish downpour on the NC500.
Inside, GIVI has included an elastic retaining net and protective inner lining, while integrated carry handles make it easier to carry the case once you’ve arrived at your destination. It’s a small detail, but anyone who’s lugged fully loaded motorcycle luggage through a hotel reception and up the stairs will appreciate the convenience.
BMW owners can also fit a lock cylinder that works with the bike’s original key, meaning one less key rattling around in your pocket on tour. It’s another small touch, admittedly, but experienced travellers know those are often the details that make life on the road easier.
So, if you’ve ever packed for a bike trip and thought, ‘I’ll never need that extra space,’ only to regret it three days later when your gear is spread across a hotel floor, the XSPACE might be exactly the sort of luggage worth taking a closer look at.
You can find out more about the new GIVI XSPACE luggage HERE.