Motorcycle top cases, bags and backpacks: how to choose without overpaying
Where to start
A top case, side cases, a tank bag, a tail bag and a backpack solve different tasks. A top case is handy in the city: your helmet fits inside. Side cases are for trips, but they add width, so it is harder to squeeze through traffic. A tank bag keeps documents, a phone and small things at hand. A backpack is universal, but on a long ride it tires your back.
First decide what you will carry: a helmet, a laptop, camping gear or just a jacket.
Capacity, mounting, material
- Capacity is measured in litres: about 30–40 L is usually enough for a helmet, 45 L and more is for trips.
- Mounting: most hard cases attach to a plate (mounting plate) made for a specific motorcycle. Without it the case will not fit. A tank bag holds on magnets, straps or a ring.
- Material: plastic is light and cheap, aluminium is tougher but dearer, textile is softer and more compact.
- Waterproofing: useful, but check that it is real and not just “water-repellent”, which matters in the rainy season.
What to put in your request
- What exactly — top case, side cases, tank or tail bag, backpack.
- Capacity — in litres.
- Motorcycle model — needed for the plate, for example Honda NC750X.
- Mounting — with a plate, on magnets, on straps.
- Material and waterproofing.
- Brand — for example GIVI.
- New or used.
- Delivery city and budget.
Example: “I need aluminium side cases of about 45 L for a Honda NC750X, together with the rack and plates. Preferably GIVI, new. Delivery to Adelaide, budget up to $270.”
How to compare offers
Check whether the plate or rack is included in the price: it is sometimes a separate and significant cost. Ask about the locks and whether one key fits all the cases. For used ones, check the seals, locks and hinges: they wear out first. For a top case, ask whether it can hold your helmet, because the capacity in litres does not always guarantee this.
Do not forget the weight: fully loaded side cases change how the bike behaves in corners, so spread the load evenly and do not exceed the permitted load stated by the case maker.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You describe what you need in one request, and sellers of motorcycle accessories answer in chat: what they offer, for how much, with what delivery. They see where their offer stands and improve the terms. Your phone number is hidden. Details on the “How it works” page.
For long trips also think about intercoms and a phone holder, and for a general overview see motorcycle accessories.
