Best engine protection bars for R1150GS ... ??

[retroman]

My 2002 R1150GS had a sub-20mph tarmac interface earlier.

The Hepco & Becker engine bars did their work and saved the cylinder heads, but were FUBAR'd in the process. So I need new bars.

I see that H&B are still available, but I note alternatives by HEED and Wunderlich, and there may be others.

Any thoughts / experiences please on the best to go for?

 

[iain1067]

I bought Heed for my 07 GS good fit great quality so far so good

 

[ThreeDawg]

Wrecked at under 20mph? Not very impressive.

 

[retroman]

Wrecked at under 20mph? Not very impressive.

Very heavy motorcycle, kinetic energy = wrecked bars.

The bars are sacrificial. Cylinder head saved and I was able to ride home. They did the job.

 

[Pukmeister]

I did similar to my H-B bars on my 2004 GS in a 30mph slide on wet/diesel tarmac in Australia. In my case they had ground through the wall thickness, so I removed the damaged bar and cut some mild steel pipe in half lengthways and welded it as a new skin over the damage then sprayed silver. They were too good to just throw away and the repair added a bit of cred to the bike anyway.

If yours are similarly damaged, perhaps pop into a local small engineering firm and see if they can do a similar repair for a small fee/jar of coffee/biscuits ? Low cost and the bike remains protected in future.

 

[retroman]

I did similar to my H-B bars on my 2004 GS in a 30mph slide on wet/diesel tarmac in Australia. In my case they had ground through the wall thickness, so I removed the damaged bar and cut some mild steel pipe in half lengthways and welded it as a new skin over the damage then sprayed silver. They were too good to just throw away and the repair added a bit of cred to the bike anyway.

If yours are similarly damaged, perhaps pop into a local small engineering firm and see if they can do a similar repair for a small fee/jar of coffee/biscuits ? Low cost and the bike remains protected in future.

My bike fell heavily onto the offside and slid for about ten yards, turning 180 degrees as it did so. The whole engine bar "cage" has been shifted to one side so I think the bars are bent in multiple places at the mounting points. I think it's more trouble than worth to repair, so will replace. Shame though, it looks kinda cool, beat up and gnarly!!

 

[Pukmeister]

My bike fell heavily onto the offside and slid for about ten yards, turning 180 degrees as it did so. The whole engine bar "cage" has been shifted to one side so I think the bars are bent in multiple places at the mounting points. I think it's more trouble than worth to repair, so will replace. Shame though, it looks kinda cool, beat up and gnarly!!

My accident was near identical.

A pity you need to change them. That damage sounds like it could be sorted with a turbotorch for applied heat and a bit of leverage from a crowbar or scaffold tube? If you were more local to me I could sort them out.

 

[retroman]

Epilogue - went for a set by SW-Motech, on order from from Motorworks. Thanks for input.

 

[retroman]

My accident was near identical.

A pity you need to change them. That damage sounds like it could be sorted with a turbotorch for applied heat and a bit of leverage from a crowbar or scaffold tube? If you were more local to me I could sort them out.

Very kind offer - with thanks - but my bike is going in for a bit of work anyway next week (shock rebuild, full service etc) so I'll just get the new bars fitted then.

 

[Paul Young]

The ‘Steptoes’ are an absolutely brilliant addition to any engine bars… I fitted a £50 set of GSA bars to my 2000 GS and added some Steptoes when Neil first offered them on here. They have saved the bike from some serious damage over the years, then get sanded down and re-sprayed.