Hepco & Becker Junior 40 Top and Side Cases
SW-Motech Quick Lock Side Racks and Top Rack


On the web, I searched for good images and information on the Hepco & Becker hard cases and the SW-Motech quick release system.

Both company's web sites didn't have very good images or adequate descriptions of the product, so I decided to post some info and pictures here.

It's a shame too, since the bags and rack system in real-life are much nicer...and I mean much nicer!

In the United States (as of 2008), it appears that Twisted Throttle and California Sport Touring are just about the only places that sells these brands.
As for the folks at Twisted Throttle, they are nice enough folks, but don't expect ANY break on shipping or discounts. As for California Sport Touring, their web site is kinda weird.

Hepco & Becker

Here is another link to the main Hepco & Becker site.

The Hepco & Becker cases are NOT common in the USA as most folks go the Givi route. Hepco & Becker make the OEM bags that you see on some MotoGuzzis and on the Buell Ulysees.
I think most BMW folks know the brand since Hepco & Becker are German. As for why I chose Hepco & Becker? I wanted something to go on my Kawasaki ZZR1200 that was different from the Givis I see so often.

I decided on the Junior line of cases as they appeal to my aesthetic; black and textured like my seat.
The Junior comes in various sizes for both the Top-Case and the Side-Cases; I went with the 40s all around.
They also make a Junior 30 Side Case and a Junior 45 Top Case in the line.

Notice how the dimensions are very close except for making the cases "Larger".

Note: As of January 2010, I'm not sure the model numbers are still the same as above, so check.

So far I like the cases. ( 1/31/2010 - When I originally bought the cases, I wasn't sure, but with a TON of miles on them, I am convinced they were one of the best purchases I have ever made for my motorcycles. See my other write ups to see the cases in action.)

In the images below, I've added reflectors I bought at National Tool, and the just stick-on.

SW-Motech

The SW-Motech hardware is really top notch and very well made.

Initially, I was leery of how a "Universal System" would take into account the different makes of luggage, but the engineers at SW-Motech did it beautifully - but they missed the mark on the Hepco & Becker Junior bags.

Since the quick disconnect system is designed for different makes of motorcycles and luggage, the key components are universal, and you buy the adapter for your chosen brand.

The Hepco & Becker junior bags I bought to work with the SW-Motech racks required some fidgeting and fabrication.

However, it appears that Givi bags have an advantage in how they mount to the SW-Motech side racks as opposed to the Hepco-Becker bags, and in that, the Hepco & Becker bags don't work as well out of the box.

The holes for the different brands of luggage are pre-drilled into the SW-Motech rack, and in the case of the Hepco & Becker bags, the mounting hardware consisted of a flat aluminum bar, with a machined half round and a rear fork-shaped bracket that the luggage hooks to.

The SW-Motech folks, used an aluminum machined flat bar to go in the slot in the luggage where Hepco & Becker uses a round bar. The receptacle for the round bar is a channel molded into the bag/case. In the SW-Motech mounting hardware, the machined aluminum part "lip", that fits into the case channel, could have been made longer to use the entire bag/case channel to add additional strength.

(1/31/2010 - It hasn't seemed to make a difference with all the miles I have put on them since I originally wrote this.)

In the rear of the mount, the fork shaped piece is not where it is supposed to be, so I had to use some extra washers to get a really good fit. The rubber spacers/nubs that you are supposed to use, are worthless as they get scraped off as soon as you use the bag the first time. Without the washers (or spacers if you decide to make them) there will not be enough "grip" for the bags to stay in place on the racks.

The SW-Motech Top Rack (as is usually sold with the side racks) with the Hepco-Becker adapter worked perfectly without ANY modifications

Note: To see how I used the SW-Motech system to carry/mount a photography tripod to my motorcycle go here.


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Update: 12/24/2010

One of the issues that I had with the SW-Motech rack, was the rearmost bracket that the Hepco-Becker bags clamped to. For several years I used washers to make sure the right clamping force was used to hold the bags to the racks and up against the forward part of the bag. Today, since I now have a metal lathe, I went ahead and made some custom spacers to replace the washers.

Thos are not MY hands, but my husbands!

The image below shows the perfect spacers in place of the washers.

In the image below, you can see how the washers are not perfect, but they work.