► Bashplates, crash bars and other protection

[jimbob59]

I do have the BMW centre-stand. TT even do a bashplate for that too, so the protection covers all the way to the tyre. Nice if you like sliding off sumps

Thanks, indeed, sliding off is lots better than getting hung up eh?

What was the cost of the BMW Bash plate?
I'm kinda figuring that 2 X price in pounds plus a bit is what it would set me back in USD ...

Jim

Jim,
www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com shows the engine guard as $272.95. I've already placed one on order with my local BMW dealership.

Mike

Thanks Mike! Danged if I can find it, but I'm sure its there...

I'd like to also see what the BMW branded crash bar looks like... Did your dealer give you any idea on lead time? My dealer so far claims no knowledge of F650GS/F800GS accy items....

Are there any good ways to get a discount on BMW accys? My dealer gives out 10% off coupons on your birthday & when you buy a bike ... other than that, I'm new to the world of BMW stuff...........

Jim

No problem Jim.

The fiche has a drawing of the crash bars; here's a pic for you with some other BMW accessories:

They don't come up very far and appear to be for looks more than anything else. I've already ordered the Givi bars but I've been thinking awfully hard about going with the SW-Motech bars instead. Especially given that the Givi ones seem to have some incorrect hardware issues as stated on this forum.

As far as discounts, I'm a MSF RiderCoach and I always ask for a discount. My local dealership makes me feel like I'm fighting with them on this all the time. Every time I ask, I get a different % off.

If you really want a discount and are not in a hurry, Chicago BMW gives 20% off all the time. Just don't expect to get anything for a month or more.

Rumor is there are some F800GS sitting in a warehouse in New Jersey. Mine was built on July 1 and shows "In Transit" on the BMW system. Best I can figure is we're waiting until all dealerships can get one each here in the US.

Where in NC are you? I'm in Greenville, SC.

 

[jimbob59]

They don't come up very far and appear to be for looks more than anything else. I've already ordered the Givi bars but I've been thinking awfully hard about going with the SW-Motech bars instead. Especially given that the Givi ones seem to have some incorrect hardware issues as stated on this forum.
...

are12c:

Thanks! Yeah, I agree, the Beemer bars do nothing for me, I'll scratch them off my list!

From reading the various forums here and ADVRider it seems Givi is addressing the short bolt problem and that field experience with the Givi is good.

I do like the higher coverage of the SW-Mo but they look a little "awkward".

I'm hoping that Adventure-Spec brings their design in quickly as I have heard good things about them ... currently they are estimating 1 month to complete the design revisions they are now working on ... at this rate the will be done before my bike gets here

Thanks for pointer on BMW Chicago, from the ones I have seen, the BMW bash plate is the only one that also protects the cat. converter so I may go with theirs... and 20% off is good!

I'm in Charlotte NC -- at present no date scheduled, and I was told by dealer that BMW was trying to "synchronize" delivery of bike #1 to all dealerships, not sure if that is true. Thru a long story I won't repeat here, I am #1 on list for F800GS and #2 for F650GS ... I think I'll be going with the 650... but well who knows...

As an aside: I'd love to take the training class to become an MSF RiderCoach some time in the future when things slow down a bit for me! Let me just tell you that I think it is most cool that you are helping keep other riders safe. Even though I have been riding 30 years I have signed up for the next MSF Experienced Rider Class here in CLT as a "brush up" for getting my new bike -- I wanna see if the instructor can teach an old dog new tricks! I'll bet he CAN!

Jim

 

[alexcorral]

Seems like a good combo will be the BMW aluminum bash plate @ $273 and the Givi crash bars for apporx. $200

I though KTM parts were expensive...

 

[genon]

Givi Engine Bars:

I fitted them and removed them the same day. I just can't believe that's best value solution available due to the long blanks used to space the bolts. The length of spacers on the support bolts would mean any sort of impact would easily cause more damage to the engine casing than the engine bars would ever protect against.

Purely for show or a car park high side. Bugger all else. Pity.

Alex:
Seriously, the BMW bash plate looks good although it may have to be removed in order to do an oil filter change ...

I've fitted the BMW / Touratech enduro sump guard in minutes.

"Although it may have to be removed to change the oil filter"... ignore that. Yes, it does indeed have to be removed but it takes seconds and it's purpose is to protect the oil filter area, so of course is has to be removed to allow access???

Look at the guard when fitted and you'll see for yourself - BMW/Touratech have done well with their sump guard as it's very strong, long enough to cover the whole engine sump and easily fitted and removed. Brilliant upgrade.

Genon,

i don't agree. i'm not sure what kind of impact you're envisaging the engine bars needing to protect the bike from. I've dropped mine on several occasions and every time except once was off-roading. I've only one photo here, but after all these offs, there's not a mark on the faring and the bike is entirely intact. I think the givi bars are a good option and do a fine job.

agreed on the sump guard. make sure you get it powder coated because a big bit of alloy takes away from the stealth look of the bike.

I've taken the Givi engine bars off the shelf in the garage for another look and I'm still not convinced they're up to much more than a low speed fall over on hard ground without causing severe damage to the engine casing, so they've went back onto the shelf in the garage.

I guess a few questions needs asked :
What exactly do you expect crash / engine bars to protect?
Only the engine or more?
Do the Givi bars do that?
Do BMW's?
Do anyones?

The F800/650 Twin is not a boxer twin that hangs out each side with oil coolers mounted in the wind. The engine we're talking about here is a supersmooth powerhouse and nestles beautifully inside a frame and is well protected from any harm other than underneath. That's where the excellently designed Touratech/BMW enduro sump guard comes in.

That said, if you are set on getting engine bars the Givi one's do look good and are perhaps the cheapest - so if you do want engine bars, I guess they're the ones to go for.

Genon:

I'm not sure about the other folks here, but ... in my case I've been riding for about 30 years... but always on <ehem> less expensive bikes....

If my bike EVER gets here (I'm in the USA) the reason I'm buying the crash bars is that I'm afraid (now that I have some EXPENSIVE machinery) that I'll put my foot out wrong or not have the kickstand set, go off-roading and dump it, or some similar boneheaded (low speed / stopped) move and bust up $500 worth of faux gas tank or the like...

So, no I personally don't really expect it to protect me or the bike in a high speed crash, I'll be happy if it protects my bike from me being a momentary bonehead...

If I got protection in a high-speed crash situation that would be fine, but I don't really expect that ... I would HOPE that in a high speed crash that having the bars would not make the damage WORSE, and if the Givi bars actually do "stand off" from the engine case that would give me cause to reconsider using them as I do NOT want the bars to crack the engine castings or something stupid like that ...........

Like you say the engine is well tucked in, and I worry more about damage to my faux gas tank.... so would like protection higher up than anything I have seen pictures of with the possible exception of the SW-Motechs which seem to go several inches higher than all the others albeit at some expense to the looks of the bike.............

I am undecided, and hoping that the Adventure-Spec bars are a good design point....

FWIW,
Jim

 

[tr5esu]

I am planning to use this bike next year in southamerica, overlanding from Peru' to Tierra del Fuego, so mostly on gravel roads.

Good one! I am from Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego! I am now settled in Epsom, Surrey though. But my dream would be to take the F800GS down there sometime... I bought a F800GS, I think the whish of owning one comes from seeing so many riders arrive to town on BMW bikes coming all the way from Canada!
My family still lives there so you can PM me if you want the contact details should you need anything while there.

Cheers

tr5esu, many thanks for the offer!
currently the biggest issue i have with this trip is convincing my company to let me go and disappear for 2 months! Bike is there, we found the container to ship the bikes to Valparaiso... time is the biggest obstacle!
I have been in Ushuaia already a few years ago and spent Xmas over there, really enjoyed my time there! I will take your offer and get in touch with you later on, once i know whether i can go or not!
thanks again!
gianluca

 

[Micky]

From the Wunderlich site ... the engine bars look much better than the other incarnations

Screen looks as though it might do the job... hope it's not floppy at the toppy

I just hate that fancy sh*t on the exhaust pipes though... what's it s'posed to do

 

[Tim Cullis]

One brilliant advantage of the Givi engine bars is that you can use them to rest your legs on and have a stretch when riding long distances.

Coming back from the Pyrenees I alternated between
- sitting normally on an Airhawk,
- letting my legs drop straight down nearly touching the ground,
- standing on the foot pegs on slow bits,
- using the rear foot pegs (but beware of high-speed weaves with luggage fitted) and
- stretching my legs on the Givi bars, Easy Rider-style.

Tim

 

[wonky]

The silence is deafening!!!

How are they looking, Chris?

Sorry guys, its has been hard but we're nearly there! Finally got some pre-production prototypes made out of tube and are finalising the jigs.
The cross-bar part isnt finished yet, but should come around the bottom corner of the side panel(protecting it) and then scallop into the radiator to allow the front wheels full uninterrupted suspension travel.
Heres what we've got so far.........

They look better in the flesh and most importantly, we're confident they will work rather well, being made of high tensile steel and coated to match the bashplates.

We're getting a small run made up next week to make sure the tolerances for production will be right.

Its over to you............

Chris:

They look REALLY good to me!
Far superior coverage for the faux gas tank!

... I might have made the bend along the top section where it meets the back vertical more squared off to "frame in" the contour of the back of the radiator vent opening (like it does in the front) but otherwise I like the looks just fine, and there might have been some good reason for not doing that ... like the riders knees would hit them ... and ... ummm that would be bad

I like your bash plate very much as well, good protection for sides and oil filter - if I could make one change there, it would be to extend it farther back to protect the cat. converter when stump jumping (like the BMW / TT unit). I know that TT makes a "guard" that mounts to the center stand that extends protection, but it also has some clamps to the center stand verticals that don't do much for me! (or maybe your bash plate does go back and it's just my viewing angle?)

I may get a buddy with a torch to just tack weld a shield between the centerstand legs for me

You've got my e-mail address!

Please send me details when you're good to go!

Thanks,
Jim W.

If the cross bar joins the two sides, consider making it suitable as an auxiliary lighting mount (per the 1200GSA)

Tim

i agree the option if at all possible to mount auxillary lights would be great. the bars look well and seem to fit the lines of the bike very well as if they came from the bmw factory. i wouldn't mind seeing a picture of them with the black bashplate.

We were thinking of mounting a couple of trail-tech HID's on the highest point of the bars, but the cross bar could be good.
Looking at the photo below, our cross bar wont come up as high.

Going to be more like this......

Im glad the response so far is positive. After a lot of and I dont think another big revision was on the cards before

It is important to get this feedback before we commit to production volumes.
A few people have asked but i really cant speculate a price until we get the quotes back from the pipebenders and price up the fixtures and fittings. Sorry!

chris

Hi Chris,
first of all just to let you know that i just fitted (yesterday!) your bashplate - I waited until i have done the first service - and looks great on the bike. well done! If I could suggest an improvement, i would like it to extend a bit more backwards to cover the catalyzer. In fact I also installed the TT protector on the central stand and there is a gap between them just under the "bubble" of the catalyzer.

Going to the bars, they look very good, they protect right where it is needed (fairing and radiator) just hope the cross bar will not make the bike look too bulky. Also, the fitting plate on the left hand side, where it attaches to the engine case, look a bit rough and oversized (I guess that once painted in black will pass more unnoticed) and I was wondering if that is the fine shape for that plate, or you are still working on that.

What color(s) are you planning to produce it?
cheers
Gianluca
------------------------------
www.gianlucamarucci.com

 

[Micky]

On the 1200GSA I have the auxilliary lights plus HIDs but for the 650/800GS I plan to convert the dip/main beam to HIDs and the purpose of the auxiliary lights would therefore be mainly 'presence', in which case the lower position would be OK.

Tim

My sentiments Tim I have the Les W HID main/dip conversion and they're great.

Was going to fit aux lights near headlights/indicators but will wait for engine bars to be fitted and fit the aux HID to the bars. At the moment it's a toss up between the Wunderlich bars or BMW's..... need to see 'em!

 

[sijohnston]

Tim & Mickey....
What kit/bulbs did you guys use for the HID light conversion? How big a difference did it make?

Thanks, (Yank still waiting for his bike) Jim

almost everyone has fitted Les Wassalls HID's. I went for the 50W and can assure you that it's the best money spent on the bike to date. Cars pull in in an instant, and it makes a significant difference to driving at night. That said, I am also going to fit aux lights for the reason Tim says...and they also look nice

 

[Uriel]

I just phoned Williams in Manchester to ask about availability of the BMW Engine Protection Bars. They checked with BMW and were told that due to "production problems" the bars won't be available in 2008.

Well at least that narrows it down to Touratech, Hepco & Becker, SW Motech and Wunderlich!

I wouldn't be so quick to include TT in that list. I've had some on order since the start of May. Last week they told me they still couldn't give even an estimated ETA. Cancelled those and ordered come Motech ones from Nippy Normans. Here 2 days later and at bang on half the cost of the TT bars.

 

[Berin]

I wouldn't be so quick to include TT in that list. I've had some on order since the start of May. Last week they told me they still couldn't give even an estimated ETA. Cancelled those and ordered come Motech ones from Nippy Normans. Here 2 days later and at bang on half the cost of the TT bars.

Mine came 2-3 weeks ago, and I've just fitted them - very nice too, look slimmer than the others and also they seem to be the only ones with the mount points extended back to the footpegs, giving good protection without sticking out too far.

 

[Fruitcake]

I wouldn't be so quick to include TT in that list. I've had some on order since the start of May. Last week they told me they still couldn't give even an estimated ETA. Cancelled those and ordered come Motech ones from Nippy Normans. Here 2 days later and at bang on half the cost of the TT bars.

yep did exactly the same - gave up waiting on the TT ones and got motech - arrived yesty as we only got back our hols at the weekend and had said to nippy's to hang on to them till we were back. will fit them tomorrow

 

[fishburger]

Bmw crash bars,no show

Hi
Was told by my dealer to get any crashbars for my bike but BMW which I had on order(and payed for) as Bmw has canceled this item.
Got the givi one which is good and does the job.
The dealer could supply Hepco Becers\Givi.
fishburger

 

[kalli]

"The dealer could supply Hepco Becers\Givi."

Geir, Is Hepco&Becker and GIVI the same crashbars?
It was much cheaper for me to get the H&B, because of shipping charges, so I have those on order.

 

[jimbob59]

Crash bar fit - F658GS vs. F800GS ???

I started thinking... (Yeah... I know that is dangerous)

being in the USA I've naturally never seen an F800GS and F658GS side-by-side.
Since the F800 has a bigger radiator does this affect the "fit" of crashbars that go high enough to offer protection to the plastics... vs. using the same bars on a 658?

I guess I'm thinking mainly here of the SW-Motech, soon to be released Adventure-spec, and maybe the Hepco-Beckers?

Seems Givi and BMW would be low enough to not be bothered (and low enough to not offer the plastics any protection so ... not on my list of "options").

Any input apprecaiated!

Thanks,
Jim

(1 month to go... on my F658 I hope.........)

 

[fishburger]

Hi
The Hepco becker and Givi is two different things,look in this forum and you will see that the Givi will protect your radiator,if your bike fall over standing still or moving slowly
If you hit anything at 80km\hr you have other worris and dont need any crash bars..
fishburger

 

[jimbob59]

fitting crash bars on 658 vs. 800

Thanks FishBurger...

Sorry I should have had more coffee...

I was trying to put the:

* SW-Motech
* Adventure-spec
* Hepco-Beckers

in the "extends higher up / offering more protection" category

and the

* BMW
* Givi

in the "lower / probably doesn't protect the plastics" category

I am only trying to protect against low speed / zero speed tip-overs as result of soft ground / loss of balance / etc....

Then I got to thinking that maybe the scoop/cowling design of the F800GS is enough different from the F650GS that I should perhaps take that into consideration?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[kalli]

Jim...
The part number is different for H&B crash bars for 650 and 800. It could be because of the radiator.
I have these bars on my 800GS and and I am quite happy with them.


BMW F650 GS Modell 2008
Art.-Nr.: 502.935 00 01 schwarz
BMW F800 GS
Art.-Nr.: 502.936 00 01 schwarz

 

[Micky]

The engine bars in my post #98 and below, are made by H & B specifically for Wunderlich and only available from Wunderlich. H & B produce a different engine bar for the F800GS which they market themselves.

I'm across at Wunderlich next month and I'm being allowed to fit the bars while there, so we'll know then if they fit with the BMW bash plate



www.adventure.gs