Cracked my Rocker Cover today

[GrinningGSer]

Went for a minor byway bimble:

Pictures no not show slopes, but I came a cropper going downhill at low speed:

No way could I pick the bike up, I tried everything that I knew, but because the bank was higher, I could not get enough leverage.

I waited for 30 mins, and luckily three quad bike boys came along and easily uprighted the GSA. On the floor was a puddle of oil... aargh !

Visible damage was very minor indeed :

,
but on removing the head protector, there is a tiny, very tiny crack near to the lower front rocker cover bolt. It is so hair line that I am surprised by the quantity of oil on the floor

I can only assume that the crack is wider when the bike rests on the cover.

Shame... off for a new rocker cover tomorrow !

 

[THE DOCTOR]

Going downhill at low speed!

Begs the question - what use are those protectors & engine bars?

Sorry to hear you've suffered a costly repair bill but, engine bars that don't protect the engine, surely a refund is due as they're not fit for use.

 

[GrinningGSer]

I suppose that the protector has prevented an actual hole, but it is very obvious that your crash bars do indeed provide superior protection
Why do you have those plastic protectors, if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[Decster]

Why do you have those plastic protectors, if you don't mind me asking ?

thems the lighter go faster protectors

 

[VAL. H.]

I suppose that the protector has prevented an actual hole, but it is very obvious that your crash bars do indeed provide superior protection
Why do you have those plastic protectors, if you don't mind me asking ?

I too have the plastic protectors. Initially I had them fitted when I bought the bike new. I didn't think the BW ones would be much good, so decided to look around for better ones. The plastic protectors where a just in case insurance on me new bike.

I when for the H&B bars and because the fitted right over the plastic protectors I decided they might as well stay there, belt and braces as it where.

As it turned out, when I did drop the bike it was into a river (the Corwen ford) a large pebble got wedged between the crash bar and the plastic protector

I know, if the plastic protector hadn't been there the pebble might not have got stuck But it would have very likely left its mark.

So for me the belt worked and it don't look too bad either.

Val.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I'm not surpriswed you dropped it looking at all that loose shite you were riding on. I never ride off road without some backup

 

[Snoopy]

So in summary the head guards are too stiff and transfered the energy to the mounts (magnesium, weak). The plastic (actually its hardened fibre of some sort underneath) would have just worn down.

I run the large tank and no crash bars/aluminium engine covers. I'm not saying it works though - as I've yet to test it out, but others (e.g Steptoe) seem to agree less=more.

Oh and there's the weight reduction, which might have prevented the spill from happening. Another maybe.

 

[GrinningGSer]

No , it hasn't cracked at the mounts,which are away from the cover, it has cracked directly opposite the crushing impact, which happens to be next to a cover bolt.

Only a wrap round crash bar would have prevented the damage.

 

[Snoopy]

Ah o.k, not obvious from the picture.

 

[Davy F]

I started with the plastic (or whatever) guards before fitting a set of crashbars. I then decided to take the plastic ones off, but they've marked the magnesium covers. So they're staying on (unless someone wants the plastic protectors and are willing to swap their covers).

 

[GrinningGSer]

Many thanks to John Armstrong on this site for his p.m. offer of a spare rocker cover
BMW head protectors are £62.01
The crash bars do not even have any scratches, so they didn't do much
Job done :

 

[Ravenbyrne]

Many thanks to John Armstrong on this site for his p.m. offer of a spare rocker cover
BMW head protectors are £62.01
The crash bars do not even have any scratches, so they didn't do much
Job done :

And that not the first time John has come up trumps