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

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

The aluminum top case is not sold with a 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 connection: on one side, it attaches to the mounting points provided by the motorcycle manufacturer (almost always those of the original luggage rack, with no drilling), while 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 without a 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 one another.

The four types of top case plate

Looking through the LOBOO catalog line by line reveals four different technical solutions, not aesthetic variations of the same part.

Simple plate

It's the most common and most economical version: it uses the luggage rack the motorcycle already has as standard, attaches with four screws at the original mounting points, and can be removed in 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 isn't an add-on plate: it replaces the entire rear structure with a more robust version and a larger mounting surface. LOBOO offers it for those who genuinely load the top case continuously, or systematically fit a 40-liter top case instead of a soft bag. The kit for the BMW R 1300 GS (JP131WB, €306) includes nine bill-of-materials items and twenty-two installation steps, involving the 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 weight when traveling alone and move it back 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 on gravel, 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's needed when the motorcycle doesn't come from the factory with a surface for mounting 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, developed around the T7's tail geometry rather than adapting a universal mount. The same logic applies to the Ducati DesertX (JP581W, €306), which also lacks a dedicated luggage rack as standard.

The motorcycle owner's manual specifies the load limit

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

This is not a minor detail. The top case load is the highest and rearmost point of everything you carry on the motorcycle: for the same number of kilos, 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, motorcycle load arrangement 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 exceed 50 cm of longitudinal overhang, and must not obstruct the rider's visibility or the reading of the license plate and lights. The applicable reference remains the motorcycle manufacturer's stated payload capacity, not a generic value.

Which plate your model needs

Availability checked 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.

Can't find your model 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 are mounted on the motorcycle's original mounting points, without 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 freed 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 PRO reinforced luggage rack for the same motorcycle (JP131WB) is a different undertaking: 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 that must 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 specified in every LOBOO manual consulted for this item.
• Retighten the fasteners after the first 100-200 km, as indicated by the manufacturer in several technical data 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, from €342; in the CONQUEROR range, the 40-liter top case (C40T) starts at €477. Both systems have their own page in Motorcycle Cases and 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 prepares the mounts for the P45T, P36T, T36T, and C40T top cases, not for every 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 (factory-fitted or aftermarket) to the bottom of the top case. Without this piece, 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 luggage rack that the motorcycle already has as standard. The reinforced PRO luggage rack replaces the entire rear structure with a sturdier version, designed for those who continuously carry a top case or routinely fit fully loaded top cases.

Does the top case plate require drilling the motorcycle?

No. For all LOBOO codes covered in this article, installation uses 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 Cases and Top Cases collection on Endurrad.

How much weight can I load in 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 unpaved 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 gives the top case a mounting point at the rear of the motorcycle. They do not serve the same purpose.

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 useful?

It is a plate with an adjustment rail that lets you 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 a few steps with four screws and an included wrench. A reinforced PRO luggage rack, such as the JP131WB for the same motorcycle, involves twenty-two steps and removing 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 specific certifications for the plates in any of the product pages consulted for this article. The limit to be observed 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 securely fastened, not protrude laterally beyond the motorcycle's overall width, not exceed 50 cm of longitudinal projection, and not obstruct the rider's visibility or the reading of the license plate and rear lights.

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

Tell us the make, model, year, and trim of the motorcycle: we'll check whether there is a LOBOO code not yet covered in this article 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 sold out?

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

What should I check after installation?

Check the fasteners again 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, ensure there is no mechanical interference with the newly installed plate.