Motorcycle top case plate: which one to choose to mount the top case on your motorcycle

Why the top case needs a part that the motorcycle does not have

The aluminum top case is not sold with the mount for your motorcycle included, and it could not be otherwise: the same LOBOO PIKE TRACKER top case fits Honda, BMW, KTM, or Yamaha motorcycles, but the luggage rack changes shape, height, and mounting points from model to model.

The top case plate is the piece that completes the setup: on one side, it attaches to the mounting points provided by the motorcycle manufacturer (almost always those of the standard luggage rack, with no drilling); on the other, it provides the interface onto which the top case mounts and locks with a key. Without a plate, an aluminum top case is an object with no home.

It is the same principle already seen with the enlarged kickstand plate: a similar name, but a completely different function. The kickstand plate widens the foot of the side stand so it does not sink into soft ground; the top case plate gives the case a point to attach to. They are not the same accessory and cannot replace each other.

The four types of top case plate

Reviewing the LOBOO catalog line by line reveals four different technical solutions, not aesthetic variants of the same part.

Simple plate

It is the most common and most affordable version: it uses the luggage rack the motorcycle already has as standard, attaches with four bolts at the original mounting points, and can be removed in just a few minutes. This is the case with the BMW R 1300 GS (JPT131WA, 112.50 €), earlier boxer GS models, the F GS range, and most non-BMW models in the catalog.

Reinforced luggage rack (PRO)

It is not an add-on plate: it replaces the entire rear structure with a more robust version and a larger support surface. LOBOO offers it for those who genuinely load the top case continuously, or consistently mount a 40-liter top case instead of a soft bag. The kit for the BMW R 1300 GS (JP131WB, 306 €) contains nine parts-list items and twenty-two assembly steps, including removal of original tail components and disconnection of electrical connectors to be reconnected at the end: no drilling, but not a five-minute installation.

Sliding plate

It adds an adjustment rail that moves the top case forward or backward, to centralize the mass when traveling alone and move it when carrying a passenger. On the Husqvarna Norden 901, the sliding version (JPT221SWB-A, 238 €) specifies a 120 mm rail and a maximum LOBOO load of 10 kg on asphalt and 8 kg off-road, the only case in the catalog in which the manufacturer publishes its own figure instead of referring to the motorcycle owner's manual.

Plate with complete subframe

It is needed when the motorcycle does not come from the factory with a surface on which to mount an aluminum top case: this is the case with the Yamaha Ténéré 700, where the LOBOO JP871W code (306 €) includes the plate, tubular subframe, and connecting brackets in a single item, designed around the T7 tail's geometry rather than adapting a universal support. The same logic applies to the Ducati DesertX (JP581W, 306 €), which also lacks a dedicated luggage rack as standard.

The load limit is stated in the motorcycle owner's manual

Across almost the entire range, LOBOO does not state its own maximum load for the plate. It repeats the same wording on every product page: the limit specified by the motorcycle manufacturer in the owner's manual for the rear subframe applies, and that figure includes the plate, top case, and contents together.

This is no minor detail. The top case load is the highest and rearmost point of everything you carry on the motorcycle: with the same weight, it affects stability and steering precision much more than the same weight placed in the side cases, which sit lower and closer to the center of gravity.

In Italy, the carriage of loads on motorcycles is governed by Article 170 of the Highway Code: transported items must be securely fastened, must not protrude laterally beyond the vehicle's overall width, must not extend more than 50 cm longitudinally, and must not obstruct the rider's visibility or the reading of the license plate and lights. The reference remains the motorcycle manufacturer's stated payload capacity, not a generic figure.

Which plate your model needs

Availability verified on Endurrad today, September 24, 2026. Where the code shows zero stock, the link leads to the collection rather than the product page: this is the same rule we follow in every article on this blog.

Doesn't your model appear in the table? Write to us with the make, year, and trim: we'll check whether a code not yet reviewed here exists or whether compatibility needs to be confirmed with the distributor.

How to install it and how long it takes

All LOBOO plates in the catalog mount to the motorcycle's original mounting points, with no drilling, and are reversible. The time and complexity vary considerably from one code to another.

The simple plate for the BMW R 1300 GS (JPT131WA) is the quickest example: remove the four original screws from the stock luggage rack, insert four 30 mm spacers into the exposed holes, place the plate, and tighten it with the four included M6×45 screws to 12 N·m, in sequence and only after completing the adjustments. Installation wrench included, manual in eight languages including Italian.

The reinforced PRO luggage rack for the same motorcycle (JP131WB) is another project: nine items in the parts list, two tightening torques to observe without confusing them (20 N·m for the M8 screws, 12 N·m for the M6 screws), and twenty-two illustrated steps, including the removal of original tail components and disconnection of electrical connectors to be reconnected at the end of installation. No drilling, but not a five-minute job.

On the Husqvarna Norden 901, the fixed plate requires removing an original part from the tail section before positioning the spacers and tightening to 20 N·m; on the Yamaha Ténéré 700, the manual specifies eight steps, starting with the removal of four original screws from the tail section, but in this case the manufacturer does not publish the tightening torques.

• Present all the parts without tightening them, make the adjustments, and tighten only at the end, in sequence: this is the procedure indicated in every LOBOO manual consulted for this item.
• Recheck the fasteners after the first 100-200 km, as indicated by the manufacturer in several technical sheets.
• Once installation is complete, check that the top case does not cover the license plate or rear lights and does not extend beyond the limits set out in Article 170 of the Highway Code.
• If a crash bar or another rear accessory is already installed on your motorcycle, first check that it does not share the same mounting points as the plate.

The top case is purchased separately

No LOBOO top case plate includes the top case: this is clearly stated on every product page, not a surprise discovered when opening the package.

On Endurrad, the PIKE TRACKER Aluminum Top Case is available in 36- and 45-liter sizes, in black or silver, starting at €342; in the CONQUEROR range, the 40-liter top case (C40T) starts at €477. Both systems have their own page in Motorcycle Top Cases, where each product page reminds you that the mounting plate must be chosen separately, based on the motorcycle model.

Before ordering, always check which top cases your plate is designed for: on the BMW R 1300 GS, for example, the JPT131WA is designed for mounting the P45T, P36T, T36T, and C40T top cases, not just any top case on the market. This is also why, if you are still deciding between a rigid aluminum case and a semi-rigid bag for the rest of your luggage, it is worth reading how to choose an adventure aluminum top case and motorcycle cases: aluminum or semi-rigid.

Frequently asked questions about top case plates and mounts

What is a top case plate and what is it really used for?

It is the mechanical interface that connects the motorcycle's luggage rack (standard or aftermarket) to the bottom of the top case. Without this part, an aluminum top case has nowhere to attach.

What is the difference between a standard plate and a reinforced PRO luggage rack?

The simple plate attaches to the rack that the motorcycle already has as standard. The reinforced PRO rack replaces the entire rear structure with a sturdier version, designed for those who continuously load the top case or regularly install fully loaded top cases.

Does the top case plate require drilling the motorcycle?

No, for all LOBOO codes covered in this article, installation takes place on the original mounting points provided by the motorcycle manufacturer, without drilling and in a reversible manner.

Is the top case included when I buy the plate?

No. The plate is always sold separately from the top case: this is stated both in LOBOO product sheets and in the description of the Motorcycle Panniers and Top Cases collection on Endurrad.

How much weight can I load into the top case once the plate is installed?

In most cases, LOBOO does not state a specific limit for the plate: the maximum load indicated by the motorcycle manufacturer in the owner's manual for the rear subframe applies, including the plate, top case, and contents together. The exception is the sliding plate for the Husqvarna Norden 901, for which LOBOO states 10 kg on asphalt and 8 kg on dirt roads.

What is the difference between a top case plate and a kickstand plate?

They are two different accessories despite their similar names. The kickstand plate widens the foot of the side stand to prevent it from sinking into soft ground; the top case plate provides the top case with an attachment point at the rear of the motorcycle. They do not serve the same function.

Can I mount any top case on any LOBOO plate?

No. Each plate is designed for the mounting points of a specific list of top cases, indicated in the product sheet: on the BMW R 1300 GS, for example, the JPT131WA plate is compatible with the P45T, P36T, T36T, and C40T models, but not with top cases from other brands or series.

What is a sliding plate and when is it worthwhile?

It is a plate with an adjustment rail that allows you to move the top case forward or backward to balance the load when traveling alone or with a passenger. It is useful for those who often use the motorcycle in both configurations; it is more expensive than the equivalent fixed plate.

How long does it take to install a top case plate?

It depends on the type. A simple plate such as the JPT131WA for the BMW R 1300 GS can be installed in just a few steps with four screws and the included wrench. A reinforced PRO rack, such as the JP131WB for the same motorcycle, requires twenty-two steps and the removal of original tail components: it is not a job that takes just a few minutes.

Is the top case plate type-approved?

It is not a component subject to type approval as such: LOBOO does not declare any specific certifications for the plates in any of the product pages consulted for this article. The limit to respect remains the load and dimensions specified by the motorcycle manufacturer and the Highway Code.

What does the Highway Code say about top case loads?

Article 170 of the Highway Code requires the load to be secured firmly, not to protrude laterally beyond the motorcycle's overall width, not to exceed 50 cm of longitudinal protrusion, and not to obstruct the rider's view or the reading of the license plate and rear lights.

My model isn't in the table: what should I do?

Tell us the motorcycle's make, model, year, and trim: we'll check whether an unreviewed LOBOO code exists or whether compatibility needs to be confirmed with the distributor, as in the case of the Husqvarna Norden 901 sliding plate.

Why are some codes in the table marked as out of stock?

Because they really are: the availability of this item is checked against actual warehouse stock on the day of publication. For out-of-stock codes, the link leads to the collection rather than the product page, so we don't promise availability that does not currently exist.

What should I check after installation?

Recheck the fasteners after the first 100-200 km, make sure the top case does not cover the license plate or lights, and, if you have other rear accessories such as a crash bar, make sure there is no mechanical interference with the newly installed plate.