I'm planning to fit some engine crash bars to my 2002 1150GSA and have looked at the options. The SW Motech looks best to me, but I'd appreciate any comments on these bars and other designs. Thanks. Patrick.
Best engine crash bars?
- Thread starter buster44
- Start date
I really rate Hepco & Becker - way better than BMW's Adv bars (and a fraction of the cost). The only advice I'd give you if you go down that route is to get them professionally powder-coated before fitting - the powder coat they come with is about as hardy as chocolate...
Mike
Mike
Bugbear
Registered user
http://www.wunderlich-bmw.com/shopa...ts-pool/8/Sturzbuegel-R-1150-GS-Adventure.htm
Beautiful, just beautiful
Beautiful, just beautiful
Fanum
Toubab
Just bought some SW Motech bars for my 1150 GSA 
Just bought some SW Motech bars for my 1150 GSA
And ..... ?
After a recent low speed spill I'm also interested in identifying something better than the BMW ones that came with my 1150GS. Although they did stop the casings (and tank etc) from impacting the ground, they did bend back and crack the equally ineffective BMW head guard. Lack of "backwards bracing" I expect....
It may be a case of crash bars AND head guards or just crash bars if they're more effective.
Watching this topic with interest..
It may be a case of crash bars AND head guards or just crash bars if they're more effective.
Watching this topic with interest..
ELIMINATOR
Registered user
I was struck from behind at 30mph, H & B bars fitted, rocker box cover still holed. Bars deformed enough to take a small bit of paint off the inner face of the petrol tank. Might be OK at a slow drop, not good at any faster speed though.
How so?
When I hit diesel back in Dec 02, the BMW Adv bars didn't stop both rocker covers being holed (went down at about 30mph and flipped gently on an earth kerb). As it was I'd broken my leg so it made no difference, but if I'd not, it would have stopped my journey. I just can't see the same happening in that type of drop with H&Bs...
Mike
There isn't a single good and effective head guard on the market for these bikes,and I keep an eye on what's always been available.
I made some templates for a proper set,but they would have cost over £1000 to make in batches of 25,so didn't bother,although I've always promised to make myself a set sometime.
I made some templates for a proper set,but they would have cost over £1000 to make in batches of 25,so didn't bother,although I've always promised to make myself a set sometime.
Fanum
Toubab
Bars are sacrificial elements.....they are SUPPOSED to deform, thus absorbing much of the force of an impact or slide.
Rocker covers getting holed shouldn't be the end of a trip....they are just covers and can be patched up with a tampon and duct tape/chemical metal.
I suspect it's one of those things that everyone has a different perspective on, depending on a unique personal experience....I used my 1150GSA with OEM adv bars as the lead bike in Morocco for years and never had an issue with the bars.......yes I did also have TT head protectors on, but even with those, I scuffed a rocker cover......They survived many crashes though, a lot of falling over onto large rocks, assorted Mercedes taxi nudges and a close encounter with a tonne of soil in an urn
My OEM adv bars still look factory new though,(apart from the scratches) ....they are stainless steel.
H&B (and please correct me if I'm wrong here) and many other aftermarket bars are mild steel, which may be better in some ways because they are less brittle and bend more, (is that better?) but they certainly rust under their powder coating/paint.
Horses for courses, but I won't be changing my OEM adv bars
PS I also like the fact that on a long cruise, I can put my feet up on my OEM adv bars......some aftermarket ones, you can't.
Rocker covers getting holed shouldn't be the end of a trip....they are just covers and can be patched up with a tampon and duct tape/chemical metal.
I suspect it's one of those things that everyone has a different perspective on, depending on a unique personal experience....I used my 1150GSA with OEM adv bars as the lead bike in Morocco for years and never had an issue with the bars.......yes I did also have TT head protectors on, but even with those, I scuffed a rocker cover......They survived many crashes though, a lot of falling over onto large rocks, assorted Mercedes taxi nudges and a close encounter with a tonne of soil in an urn
My OEM adv bars still look factory new though,(apart from the scratches) ....they are stainless steel.
H&B (and please correct me if I'm wrong here) and many other aftermarket bars are mild steel, which may be better in some ways because they are less brittle and bend more, (is that better?
) but they certainly rust under their powder coating/paint.Horses for courses, but I won't be changing my OEM adv bars
PS I also like the fact that on a long cruise, I can put my feet up on my OEM adv bars......some aftermarket ones, you can't.
Agreed - but I'm sure that protecting them from getting holed in the first place is a tad more convenient...
I had sw motech bars on my old GS1150 and the were very sturdy (I didn't crash test them but the steel was pretty heavy duty). The look of them is nice, but it was a tight squeeze getting the rocker covers off at service time.
Current GS has standard bars. They are easier to work on the bike with and, as fanum says, the finish is much better. I also agree that they are sacrificial in the event of a spill. They shouldn't bend if the bike topples over on the forecourt, but at 30mph they should cushion the impact.
Either set works for me, hb bars just look ugly imho.
Current GS has standard bars. They are easier to work on the bike with and, as fanum says, the finish is much better. I also agree that they are sacrificial in the event of a spill. They shouldn't bend if the bike topples over on the forecourt, but at 30mph they should cushion the impact.
Either set works for me, hb bars just look ugly imho.
ELIMINATOR
Registered user
Now that I don't have them, it's easier to fit it into the garage.
One side was also always a very tight fit when it came to doing the valve adjustment and removing the cover. As for the alternator belt.
Probably now looks less rugged though.
One side was also always a very tight fit when it came to doing the valve adjustment and removing the cover. As for the alternator belt.
Probably now looks less rugged though.
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