► Bashplates, crash bars and other protection

[sijohnston]

Check the crash bars in this thread.... posted my Malibu

http://f800riders.org/forum/showthread.php?p=181348#post181348

Anybody recognize them?

I like....

Jim

for sure, they are the best i've seen yet. i was happy with the givi's until i saw those bad boys. homemade in south africa? doesn't sound like they'll be too accessible?

 

[Gert]

Take another look at this picture.

The wunderlich parts are all in silver. They attach to the lower part of the engine in exactly the same way as the Givi/Motech/BMW/TT bars all do. (Lower red arrow). They have to, or there would be no lateral support from the bars low down at the front.

They also attach at the top of the engine. That bolt on the frame there (upper red arrow) goes right through to the engine.

So whichever bars you choose there will be three bolts into the engine on either side. The wunderlich bars have an additional point on the footrest, and the Motech bars two additional points on the front of the engine.

All this talk of "impact energy" is a red herring when choosing which bars to buy. Remeber: bars are to protect your plastics from low-speed drops. For everything else there is insurance.

You're right of course. I missed that bottom attachment point in the pictures. So, yes, they all are bolted on the engine then.

Then, it's going to be the GIVI ones I think, as they do seem to keep the plastic stuff far from the pavement when the bike is on it's side.

 

[KeeF650]

So whichever bars you choose there will be three bolts into the engine on either side. The wunderlich bars have an additional point on the footrest, and the Motech bars two additional points on the front of the engine.

I don't think that's quite correct - the Touratech bars do not appear to attach to the engine at any point.

 

[twisticles]

I don't think that's quite correct - the Touratech bars do not appear to attach to the engine at any point.



What if an insurance company engineer could show that damage to an engine from a low speed drop had been caused (or made worse) by energy transferred to the engine through bars attached to the engine?

Then take another look my friend. The bolt indicated with the arrow in the picture below goes right through the frame into the engine block. Without bars installed this is covered with a plastic cap. This is par for the course when the engine is a structural member.

So even in the absence of engine bars the frame will transmit this mysterious engery to the engine block. But without bars, more likely directly to your plastics and engine.

 

[jimbob59]

How's this for boring... Wild at Heart crash bars...

Alas ... they are from a South African company, but ... have you ever seen a set of crash bars that did a better job of combining form & function.... ???

The company is: www.wildatheartadventure.co.za

Here are some pics:

http://f800riders.org/forum/album.php?albumid=59

Jim

 

[BM_donator]

Alas ... they are from a South African company, but ... have you ever seen a set of crash bars that did a better job of combining form & function.... ???

http://f800riders.org/forum/album.php?albumid=59

Jim

If you extended those bars a bit further forwards, then a bit further back, a bit further to the sides, and finally added two more wheels you'd have....

....oh wait,

....you'd have a car

For most of us 90%+ on roaders, I think protected NCD is cheaper than any of these bars - and better looking.

Although if you want to keep SWMBO safe there's always this....

 

[jimbob59]

You Brits!

Half-seriously, there is a thread on ADVRider from a "real" ADVrider (Alaska to S. America trip) noting that a soft tip-over can bash the plastics, but more seriously that the mounting "brackets" for the radiator are only plastic bits and break rather easily ... leaving the radiator hanging by the hoses...

Can anybody that has a bike verify that the radiator mounting are not substantial? Besides the $$$ either for replacement of parts or annual NCD there is the prospect of being a long way from home with busted rad. mounts?

Thanks,
yank-without-a-bike,
Jim

 

[everywherevirtually]

If you extended those bars a bit further forwards, then a bit further back, a bit further to the sides, and finally added two more wheels you'd have....

....oh wait,

....you'd have a car

For most of us 90%+ on roaders, I think protected NCD is cheaper than any of these bars - and better looking.

Although if you want to keep SWMBO safe there's always this....

Scary man! . Imagine those bars pinning your legs permanently to the bike as a vehicle T-bones you. Mmm. Become one with your wife, the bars and the bike. Happily mangled together in tubular nirvana

 

[Gert]

Gert:

I'm looking for the same think you are in bars, but I think many of the brands would do better than the Givi in that area... SW-Motechs, TourTech, and Adventure-Spec among them...

twisticles posted some pics. of his bike with the SW-Motechs and the BMW bash plate, have a look and tell me what you think...

I could be off here....

well, yes, but the givi's also keep the fairings off the ground as can be seen in some pics earlier in this thread. this is probably due to their width (someone even confessed to using them as hiwghway pegs ;-) as they don't actually seem to "cover" the plastics like the motechs do

but I dislike the shape of those motech bars, so I think it will be the givi's or maybe the wunderlich bars

we can keep talking about them I guess, so maybe it's best to just go for one set and give them a try

 

[jimbob59]

well, yes, but the givi's also keep the fairings off the ground as can be seen in some pics earlier in this thread. this is probably due to their width (someone even confessed to using them as hiwghway pegs ;-) as they don't actually seem to "cover" the plastics like the motechs do

but I dislike the shape of those motech bars, so I think it will be the givi's or maybe the wunderlich bars

we can keep talking about them I guess, so maybe it's best to just go for one set and give them a try

Yeah... I am not that hot on the looks of the SW-M either ...
I want to buy something soon.

I keep hoping the Ad.-Spec will post price in near future.

I am waiting on a shipping quote from Wild at Heart...

Wunderlich is not currently available in USA, although they do have tentative US pricing...
$349.00 and $289.00 for Adventure/Standard.
I have not seen a picture of the "standard" version.

At some point soon I will have over-analyzed this MORE than enough and will need to buy something...

Jim

 

[jimbob59]

as i posted on the 'don't they crash well' section, the givi's do the trick. 40-45mph off on sun morning on a gravel/wet country road bend. Bike and me slid up the road for a while. once i collected myself and computed the damage to me, i got concerned for the bike. once i picked it up, dreading the worst, i struggled to see any damage. there were no scratched in the fairings and the engine bars were clearly bent and scratched. the bar ends, the givis, and pillion footpeg meant the bike got away unscathed. i believe the manner in which the givis are designed means that they bend under stress at the mounting points, rather than referring the impact to the engine block. i'll be buying another set as i'm pretty impressed by the job they did, unless wonky's have aux light mounting points as per the GSA.

btw, i am fine. rev'it suit torn up but protected me well. i'm sporting a beautiful bruise on my butt and hip, with some cuts and grazes on my shin, but still smiling and planning a round ireland trip on friday week with some mates.

Whew... glad you are not hurt worse!

Nice review on Givi!

Jim

 

[Bumble Bee]

Here's my take on the subject.

Ordered SW Motech engine bars from NN on the 1st.
Rec'd email from Norman on 2nd. letting me know that the bars were on their way.
About 17:50 today (3rd), bars arrived.
Had my tea then laid out all bolts/spacers/washers/nuts that came with the bars, then set about fitting them (19:15-ish.)
Finished fitting about 20:30.
This time included having to remove and replace the bash plate to retrieve a spacer I had dropped.
Also included loose fitting the bars then removing all bolts and refitting using Locktite and a torque wrench, as recommended.
All this whilst grovelling on the ground. Us old chaps don't have lifts, you know.
The result is shown below.
Not exactly the hardest job I've done on a bike

The subject of fitting engine bars to the engine cases seems to have started some discussion.
There's my ha'penny worth.
If BMW leave threaded blank "holes" in their engine cases, then surely someone is going to make an accessory (in this case engine bars), which will screw into them. It's not as if they even blank them off with a plastic bung.
I imagine that, as they leave them open, they expect something to get fixed to them, and so make the engine cases capable of taking a little strain for want of a better word.
Just my thoughts. Perhaps someone in the Austrian factory had a little time on his hands and thought that he would drill some holes and, just for fun, run a tap up them, then sit back and see what transpired. Then along came SW, TT, Wunderlich etc etc.

 

[wonky]

Phew! Lucky no injuries

as i posted on the 'don't they crash well' section, the givi's do the trick. 40-45mph off on sun morning on a gravel/wet country road bend. Bike and me slid up the road for a while. once i collected myself and computed the damage to me, i got concerned for the bike. once i picked it up, dreading the worst, i struggled to see any damage. there were no scratched in the fairings and the engine bars were clearly bent and scratched. the bar ends, the givis, and pillion footpeg meant the bike got away unscathed. i believe the manner in which the givis are designed means that they bend under stress at the mounting points, rather than referring the impact to the engine block. i'll be buying another set as i'm pretty impressed by the job they did, unless wonky's have aux light mounting points as per the GSA.

btw, i am fine. rev'it suit torn up but protected me well. i'm sporting a beautiful bruise on my butt and hip, with some cuts and grazes on my shin, but still smiling and planning a round ireland trip on friday week with some mates.

I always think getting away with a good slide above 40mph is really lucky, glad to hear your okay.

Im back from the US now and we're getting on with the work on the final crossbar for our crashbars. For the US guys, the rapid current decline in the pound should make our pricing competitive. We're working on a dedicated US version of the adventure-spec shop to give US$ pricing including shipping so bear with us and we'll have accurate final US pricing on our products soon

Keep it upright people and if not pray for the sj luck!

chris

 

[snowlife_9999]

Where is the best place to buy carsh bars???

I really want to get my bike ready for spring (i take delivery at the end of Oct in Australia). I think that the higher crash bars are best, but not sure where to order them from.

Any help? (In or outside Australia)

 

[Bob Baker]

I have the Givi bars on mine, they are very well made and look good too. I bought mine through my BMW dealer but you can get them from any Givi stockist. You could google Givi for your nearest stockist.

bob

 

[everywherevirtually]

Crash bars from South Africa

I want to get a pair of these...

http://www.wildatheartadventure.co.za/accessories-800gs.htm

They are the most expensive but out of everything available are the only bars that really cover the plastics!

 

[Aretsukusu]

I want to get a pair of these...

http://www.wildatheartadventure.co.za/accessories-800gs.htm

They are the most expensive but out of everything available are the only bars that really cover the plastics!

Thats £240 appox without shipping & tax!!

 

[everywherevirtually]

Thats £240 appox without shipping & tax!!

I know, it is pretty steep... but today I noticed metal mule are doing nearly identical crash bars...

price is £TBA though

These are exactly what I'm after. I realise that the Givi bars keep the bike off the ground but on my last drop the kerb was very close to the plastics and if I was off road it's highly likely that a rock, tree stump or anything other than an even surface could get around the Givi bars. As Tim pointed out, a combo of the Givi's and the other designs would be great!

 

[wonky]

Adventure-spec / SW-Motech....

Does anybody know if the Adventure spec bash plate fits with the SW Motech bars. I believe it doesn't fit with with the Givi bars but just wanted to make sure.

cheers

Jon

Pretty sure they wont fit, hence us making our own.
Had some 'significant movement' from pipebenders today, progress imminent.

chris

 

[wonky]

No idea on the bars pricing, but guard is better.

Have I missed the pricing for the Adventure-Spec bars? How's it coming with the pricing / shipping to the USA. Great looking product.

Worked out current dollar pricing for Sump guard yesterday and they're coming in at $295.41 DELIVERED for a silver or $312.95 DELIVERED for a black one.

Cant quote price on bars yet as they aint finished!

chris