Installed SW Motech Topcase and Luggages (with Pictures)

[saru2011]

After some research, I decided to go with the SW Motech trunk and luggages. The trunk size is 38 liter and luggage is 37 liter each. They are rock solid and well built products. The installation is not complicate, and the only tricky part is the rear mount points (with the license plate holder and rear fender).

One of the things I like the most about these luggages/trunk is that it's very easy to put on and take tem off, within seconds. The attached images are showing with and without them.

 

[gkgeiger]

Wow, a lot of pictures. Nice choice, I like.

 

[L.B.S.]

Awesome!!!!!

Thanks for all the different angles and states of assembly!

I had determined before even buying the bike that was the route I was going to go, the Traxx 37 litre jobbies and the Motech mounting set up. My buddy has a Super Tenere with that (except in 45 litre size) and during our trips, I found them both nice looking, super efficient, and a bonus, that the mounts were virtually invisible when completely off.

I will be going with the black ones for my (black) bike, but yours in silver are smokin looking.

 

[soggybottom]

I would have that setup but wouldn't be able to get my leg over all them saddle bags with out doing a face plant.

 

[L.B.S.]

I would have that setup but wouldn't be able to get my leg over all them saddle bags with out doing a face plant.

LOL!

I feel your pain, being a relatively inseam challenged feller personally. (not to mention an old guy bad back and as much flexibility as your average marble statue, but as an aside...)

My F800ST was a bugger of a contortionist requiring mount and dismount, with it's saddle bags on. The NCX, even much taller, is a breeze to sweep a leg over. I was thinking about the eventual pannier conundrum, and what it would mean getting on and off, but with the 700, it's much more sidestand friendly. Meaning you can stand on the left peg and *then* swing the right up and over.

With my BMW, it's sidestand footprint was literally the same size as a woman's stiletto heel, and I totally didn't trust it to hold the bike up, let alone putting my weight on the bike too. With the Honda, it's like all the zillions of others I've owned, big, chunky, and I have all the confidence in the world with it.

 

[duk2n]

They look rock solid!

Question: how many time it takes to mount/dismount the side mounts? Tools required?

 

[bamamate]

Thanks for all of the pics. Helps a lot for my evaluation.

 

[happy]

My only question is:
how did you post so many pictures onto 1 post?


Good setup!

 

[saru2011]

Hi duk2n, you only need to turn 90 degrees for 3 screws on each side. I use a flat screw driver to do it, and I think you can do it using a coin or something similar too. See attached image. FYI, from the SW Motech instruction/manual, it suggests to use a anti-theft lock on one of the three screws.

 

[saru2011]

Hi happy, please see the attached image where I took a snapshot when replying this post

 

[duk2n]

Thanks saru2011. Being so easy to dismount it, I agree an anti-theft is a must have

 

[VAridinguy]

Fantastic Pics!! I have a question which I don't see answered when talking about side cases and top cases. Can you haul a passenger comfortably with the bike dressed up like that? Specifically, it is comfortable for the passengers legs to find the footpegs with the side cases on? What is everyone's experience here? Thanks!

 

[treybrad]

Fantastic Pics!! I have a question which I don't see answered when talking about side cases and top cases. Can you haul a passenger comfortably with the bike dressed up like that? Specifically, it is comfortable for the passengers legs to find the footpegs with the side cases on? What is everyone's experience here? Thanks!

Good question! I had an OEM rack on my last bike that really crowded the passenger's space with the top case installed (which thereby crowded me -- uncomfortable for both of us). The Givi and SW Motech were supposedly better and allowed more room.

trey

 

[soggybottom]

The H&B top case mount I have uses a separate plate that you mount to the rack. You must mount it at least 2 inches from the back of the passenger seat to allow the seat to flip open for refueling. With this 2 peice system you can adjust the setback of the top box another few inches. I have been avoiding side cases in my old age so I can't help you there.

 

[Cyclerosis]

The H&B top case mount I have uses a separate plate that you mount to the rack. You must mount it at least 2 inches from the back of the passenger seat to allow the seat to flip open for refueling. With this 2 peice system you can adjust the setback of the top box another few inches. I have been avoiding side cases in my old age so I can't help you there.

Off topic, if I remember correctly, wasn't it every 3rd Thursday of the summer months in Freehold, they would close the streets to traffic (except motorcycles) and have a dj parked at an intersection to entertain all the folks dining in outdoor cafes? I used to ride to work (Monmouth Park) through Freehold and stopped to have a burger, beer and take in the local sights a few times.

 

[soggybottom]

I been out of Jersey 12 yrs but you are correct, I think they still do it, but I remember it as cruise night and there were tons of hot rods and bikes, the bikes gathered on Trockmorton st. by the train station which was never in use for as long as I can remember. NJ is a big Horse race state with Freehold raceway, Monmonth, Atlantic City and some where down around Cherry Hill. My home of 29 yrs was on Brickyard rd, just down da road apeice from Colts Neck. Was a great area to live, except for the high property tax and strict gun laws. I have many friends from Ca. out here in Az and make them shiver when I tell them the taxes I paid on my modest home on 2.7 acres.

 

[saru2011]

Hi VAridinguy, my wife complained that she doesn't know how to get on the bike with the luggages and trunk, but didn't mention about the sitting room I weight about 150 and my wife about 120, and both of us seem to be fine with the sitting postion space. Hope this helps.

 

[treybrad]

How quick/difficult is it to remove the adapter plate from the SW Motech rack so you can attach your top box? I really, really like the look of the SW Motech rack naked, but with the adapter plate on there, it isn't quite as handsome. But, if removing the adapter plate is a 5 second job, no big deal, just take it off when not using the top case.

trey

 

[soggybottom]

I never used an SW system but have used 4 other brands and all require some attention when installing, usually have 4 bolts and nuts that come off in a few minutes but installing will require some fussing getting it aligned, 5-10 minutes?? I think a constant R&R will cause a weak link at minimum replacing the nylock nuts every few times. Try function over form in this case. I wish they would make a one peice rack with integratd mount like the OEM BMW's.

 

[saru2011]

Hi treybrad, yes, it's a 5 sec job. Using a flat screw driver and turning 90 degrees on three screws are all it takes.