Motorcycle luggage. Panniers, Top Cases, also known as Top Boxes, Side Bags, Baggers, and the rest. The list of different types of motorcycle luggage is almost as long as the list of manufacturers.
So why has SW-Motech introduced the DUSC range of cases in an already well-supplied market? And why isn’t DUSC a word? Does DUSC stand for something? We got our hands on a pair of the cases – one the medium-sized 33-litre and the other the larger 41-litre DUSC case and went for a ride.
SW-Motech DUSC Case
On more tours and trips than I can recall, the discussion about the ideal motorcycle luggage configuration has always started and yet never reached a definitive conclusion.
Having tried most configurations, what feels right for me is a Dry Bag across the rack where a top box would be and hard side cases. This has given me the best blend of flexibility and security. Items needed for night stops go in the bag and things I need to keep secure go in the lockable side cases.
For everyday riding, the opposite is true. I ditch the side cases, as mainly these are transporting fresh air, and use a top box to secure the eclectic collection of stuff that it always seems an excellent idea to have with me.
Whoever designed the SW-Motech DUSC cases should be given two extra biscuits when the tea trolly comes around. At first glance, the DUSC cases are just another beautifully formed box, but a box, nonetheless.
I could talk endlessly about the stylish locking mechanism, the grab handles and the corner recesses that make them easy and comfortable to carry when wearing motorcycle gloves, and the choice of materials that make them strong yet lightweight.
They are all great design choices, but the undeniable best feature is the ability to use the same DUSC cases as either a side case or a top box.
It sounds simple, and in truth, it is, but isn’t that the way with most excellent ideas? They are so simple that we can’t understand why no one has done this before. And then it turns out someone has.
Around 12 years ago, Givi launched their Givi E35 and E45 cases, which could be mounted vertically or horizontally. I wonder what happened to them?
Garage Space
My garage has a wall of top boxes and side cases. Most of the year, they sit there taking up room, patiently waiting to be called into action on the next adventure. When I can’t find something, it is usually because I’ve run out of storage space and decided to fill the empty side cases with yet more “stuff” that I’m sure I’ll need one day.
In my darker moments, I wonder how much I could get for the array of side cases I have. Should I sell the aesthetically pretty but typically less than useful, frustrating factory luggage that came with the Tracer and the Multistrada? The next time I’ll use either of them will be when I sell the bike. They look good but are all but functionally inert.
If I need luggage space, I prefer the classic SW-Motech 37-litre metal side cases. They cost less than the factory designer specials and carry more. I can also mount the same classic Trax side cases on either bike.
Despite being excellent, a worthwhile investment and stalwart travelling companions on many a tour, the Trax cases do spend much of their life on the shelf, which is what makes the DUSC cases mounting system such genius.
Schlossnase
Allowing for the German grammar rules that allow for words to be joined together, Schlossnase translates to Lock Nose or perhaps Castle Nose, and this is the clever bit of thinking that makes the DUSC cases versatile.
The schlossnase – I’ll go with “lock nose” – fitting isn’t anything new. It has been associated with top box mounting systems from both Givi and SW-Motech for a while.
Although the schlossnase for Givi and SW-Motech cases look the same, they are different heights. The Givi version is taller, and although the DUSC case will fit and lock, the rear of the DUSC case will sit proud on the mounting plate.
Changing the top box mounting on the SW-Motech Adventure rack on the Tracer 9GT was simple. Remove two screws and fit the new lock nose. The top plate on the Ducati rack – made by SW-Motech but for Givi top boxes – is moulded, and the schlossnase cannot be replaced.
Despite this one mismatch, I’m still a happy camper. Changing the fixings on the SW-Motech Pro Side Carriers for either bike was as easy as bolting the schlossnase to the frames. I can still use the classic 37-litre metal panniers if I wish or switch to the DUSC cases with ease. And with a dry bag strapped across the rack, I have my preferred luggage configuration.
Weight and Construction
The classic SW-Motech Trax Adventure aluminium side case has a 37-litre capacity and weighs 5.1 kilograms. Even though the larger DUSC side case will carry 41 litres, it weighs a kilo less.
The weight saving comes from using multi-composite ABS – Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene – in the construction.
There is a common misconception that ABS cases will break apart if they slide on the ground. ABS may be softer than aluminium, but its flexibility makes it more shock-absorbent. In fact, in the SW-Motech video below, the 80-kilogram presenter stands and then bounces on the DUSC case without causing any damage.
Do this on a Trax Aluminium case, and there would have been some dents to dress out.
While aluminium has a tensile strength of 90 MPa in its pure form, compared to 46 MPa for ABS, the flex strength of ABS is 74 MPa, while Young’s Measure of Elasticity for aluminium is a lowly 11 MPa. In short, ABS can flex, while aluminium is rigid.
When it comes to the debate between ABS and aluminium, the key factors are how hard the case hits the ground, at what angle, and the surface it falls onto.
While aluminium will dent from the force of impact, ABS cases are much more flexible and will absorb the impact through their flexibility.
All that said, if you hit either of them hard enough, they will be damaged.
But Are They Any Good?
In a word, Yes.
The DUSC cases are essentially rectangular – by far the best shape for storing things and the reason suitcases are the shape they are. The larger 41-litre DUSC case can accommodate a full-face helmet. On the occasions I’ve needed to carry a change of clothes, I’ve easily put shoes, clothes, and a laptop in the 41-litre case.
Aerodynamically, the DUSC cases feel invisible. My colleague Roger once had a cheap top box that would make the rear unstable at speed. He did consider turning that top box upside down and using it as an aero device to add downforce to the rear tyre, but in the end, he threw it in the bin and opted never to buy cheap-shit luggage again.
The outer finish of the DUSC cases looks similar to carbon fibre and has a subtle style. Inside, the finish is smooth, and there are attachment points for cargo nets in the lid. The ABS is scratch-resistant, which is a nice touch, considering the marks on the inside of my aluminium top box.
I’ve used the DUSC case as a top box in some heavy rain, and as expected, everything on the inside remained dry.
The only thing I would change is the lock mechanisms. They look and feel the same as the ones used on the other SW-Motech cases. They function perfectly, but the keys look like they would bend in a strong wind, let alone after thousands of miles of use.
I’ve never had a problem with the locks or the keys on any of the SW-Motech luggage I have, so perhaps I should stop worrying and celebrate the fact that the key isn’t unnecessarily bulky.
The upside of the small key is the recessed lock. The bulkier style latch locks found on some luggage appear stronger, but the shape and style make leveraging them open a simple task.
On the DUSC case, the recessed lock removes this option. Short of taking a drill to the lock, once closed, there is nothing that a thief can attack. That is a nice touch.
Bottom Line
Lightweight, robust, stylish without sacrificing functionality, and dual purpose.
At the start of this article, I asked why we needed another hard luggage option in an already well-served market. Having used the DUSC case for a few weeks, I get it.
They are so much more than another version of what is already available, and I’m going to use them as a reason to go on another trip somewhere. All in the name of practical research, obviously.
