Light, Strong, Expandable, and Lockable Semi-Rigid Motorcycle Topcase

Easy Storage Up Top

Tired of bending over, rifling through a packed dark saddlebag or searching through five different pockets to find that little energy bar, sunglasses, or your gloves? With a rear topcase, you just flip open the lid and everything is right there. Easy in, easy out. It’s also the easiest way to store a helmet on your motorcycle.

SW-Motech’s Urban ABS Topcase is made of ABS plastic and is semi-rigid, so it holds its shape without the heavy weight of a fully rigid case. Further, its attractive black textured surface is scratch-resistant. And its slim size looks just right either with or without saddlebags or the corresponding ABS side cases.

The SW-Motech Urban ABS Topcase holds 16 liters of cargo and can expand to hold up to 29 liters—large enough to fit a full face helmet.

From straps to luggage racks, there are a variety of ways to attach the Urban ABS Topcase to different motorcycles, I ordered the $559.95 system which includes the Topcase and mounts that work with my BMW S 1000 XR’s stock luggage rack. It includes SW-Motech’s ADVENTURE-RACK rack, a strong durable aluminum rack that can fit a number of adapter plates for mounting different luggage systems. You can enter your motorcycle details in SW-Motech’s bike filter to find the best solution for your ride.

Once installed, the mounting system allows you to lock the Topcase to the bike. And taking the case on and off is done in mere seconds.

Installing the Urban Topcase

The ABS Urban Topcase mounting system is high quality and is an exact fit for my stock BMW luggage rack.

Installing the mounting system takes only about 20 minutes and requires just a few common tools—3mm and 4mm Allen wrenches and a 10mm wrench. I also used blue threadlocker on all the supplied screws for extra security. Here is how easy it is:

1: Remove the six stock bolts from the luggage rack and place the included washers in position.

2: Position the mounting bracket in place and prepare the six provided bolts by dabbing blue threadlocker on each of them.

3: Use a 4mm Allen wrench to install the bracket.

4: Place the Topcase mounting bracket over the SW-Motech luggage rack to see where the holes line up.

5: Place the lenshead screws and washers in position (arrow) between the luggage rack and mounting bracket.

6: Dab blue threadlock on the countersunk screws and use the 4mm Allen wrench to secure the mounting bracket to the luggage rack.

7: Apply blue threadlock to the remaining screws and secure the mounting plates.

8: Now when the Topcase is not mounted, this is what the bike looks like. I can still use other bags with bungees on this luggage rack if I want to.

9: The plastic mounting plate shown under the case needs to be secured to the bag. Prepare for the installation by unzipping the case’s interior lining and lifting it up.

10: Use a 3mm Allen wrench with a 10mm wrench to connect the mounting plate.

11: Fold the liner down and zip it back up.

12: The last step is to use the 3mm Allen wrench to connect the locking mechanism.

Mounting the Topcase

Mounting the case is easy: just insert the two tabs into the mounting plate which holds the case in place. Slide the sliding tab on the front of the bag (shown here) to lock it in position.

If you want to keep the case locked in place, you turn the interior locking mechanism which will prevent anyone from being able to move the exterior sliding tab.

SW-Motech includes a small combination lock to connect the two zippers together. Now your stuff is a lot harder for anyone to snatch quickly without a saw or heavy tools.

User-Friendly Topcase

The low profile of the Urban ABS Topcase appears small but you’d be surprised how much you can cram into the expandable case. I easily fit enough clothes for a weekend trip as well as extra gloves and other miscellaneous gear in it.

This 16-liter case offers good storage, a carry handle, and a sense of security for any back seat riders.

The case’s lid houses a separate compartment with a mesh closure, so you can see what is in there. This a handy place to keep things like sunglasses, a hat, and gloves, so I can find them easily.

Storing something big, like a full face helmet, just requires you to unzip the expansion compartment.

Then you pull the compartment up and zip it to the lid. There are two integrated straps that allow you to cinch down and compress the load for a secure fit.

Load & Go!

The most Important features of the lightweight semi-rigid bag for me is its secure, lockable mount, and ease of taking it on and off quickly. I have a number of other hard topcases which are all heavy even before loading. The super light weight of the Urban topcase is completely unnoticeable while riding. And carrying this bag, even with a full load, is almost effortless compared to the other topcases I have.

Loading and unloading my stuff is so easy with the Topcase. I’ve learned to keep only my biggest heaviest stuff in the bike’s saddlebags, and all my need-to-get-at-quickly stuff goes in the case.

The Urban Topcase is waterproof except for the zippers, so SW-Motech includes a waterproof softbag with the case that can double as a convenient carrying bag. I use this bag to store clothes that I don’t want to get wet should I get caught in a downpour. It’s a nice bonus from the top-notch German company.

More Info

SW-Motech's Urban ABS Topcase System reviewed here retails for $559.95. The Topcase without the bike-specific mounting system is offered in several options and runs between $202.95 and $342.95. Find out more at SW-Motech.US.

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Light, Strong, Expandable, and Lockable Semi-Rigid Motorcycle Topcase

SW-Motech Urban ABS Topcase System solves the storage problem

Easy Storage Up Top

Installing the Urban Topcase

Mounting the Topcase

User-Friendly Topcase

Load & Go!

More Info

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