BILLSKI
Registered user
WHICH CRASH BARS. Wunderluch, SW motech, Tourtech or HB. I am looking at the full set, upper and lower.
CRASH BARS
- Thread starter BILLSKI
- Start date
Crash bars
Which bike?
Which bike?
BILLSKI
Registered user
Crash Bars
2005 1200gs
2005 1200gs
swissrob
Registered user
top bars??? i found out the hard way .. they are a pig to fit, dont fit properly and if u need to do a " get you home" FPC fix then u have to get the bars off first.....
top bars - dont even bother
top bars - dont even bother
Davy F
Registered user
We don't need no stinkin' top bars
Plus does it not restrict what choice you have if you want to fit the dopey top bars ?
Plus does it not restrict what choice you have if you want to fit the dopey top bars ?
swissrob
Registered user
yep its motech or H&B.
the hb engine bars are good tho
the hb engine bars are good tho
BMW bars
I have always had the BMW bars and then, when part-exchanging for a new model, persuaded them to fit the new ones free - as of course each model is different! So in the long run they could be the least expensive.
I have always had the BMW bars and then, when part-exchanging for a new model, persuaded them to fit the new ones free - as of course each model is different! So in the long run they could be the least expensive.
swissrob
Registered user
the U bolts are a pain in the arse, and if the tank bars do take a hit all the force is directed towards the fairly thin front support frame for the oil cooler and beak etc.
the mounting blocks for the tank bars are poor quality cast aluminium so are brittle - a good impact on the bars and they will crack apart as well as being directly mounted above the downpipes so the bolts will seize over time.
the bars also do not have equal spacing at the tank panels on each side.
oh and the RH upper mounting lug rubs against the oil cooler line so oil will come pissing out all over the bike one day.
badly designed pieces of shite ..... unless i just had a very dodgy pair but when i returned them the shop said " oh we get a lot of these returned"
so suspect im not the only one.
Davy F
Registered user
So, more form over function then.
Personally, if I wanted an upper set of crashbars, I'd buy an Adventure.
swissrob
Registered user
^^^^^^
yes
exactly ;o)
yes
exactly ;o)
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I also have SW Motech on mine, but I do not have the upper bars. The lower ones have already been useful when I dropped the bike while manoeuvring it, and have seen many threads where people mention how useful lower bars were after a fall in minimising bike damage.
I have thought of putting the upper bars on too, and yes they would look good, and may be useful for lights, but they are not cheap. What has stopped me doing this so far is I am not convinced what additional protection they would provide in a crash.
I can't remember a thread where someone said 'I dropped the bike, and was really glad I had upper bars fitted, as they reduced the damage to the bike'.
Any cases of upper bars proving useful after a fall? Jim
I have thought of putting the upper bars on too, and yes they would look good, and may be useful for lights, but they are not cheap. What has stopped me doing this so far is I am not convinced what additional protection they would provide in a crash.
I can't remember a thread where someone said 'I dropped the bike, and was really glad I had upper bars fitted, as they reduced the damage to the bike'.
Any cases of upper bars proving useful after a fall? Jim
Wally
Registered user
SW Motech
Just fitted a set of the S W Motech bars to my 05 GS. I was a bit annoyed that two of the spacers supplied with the kit were not machined correctly internally and the bolts did not pass cleanly through. I had to spend half an hour with a rotary file to get them to fit at a time when I was keen to get them fitted and get out riding.
Now that they are fitted the look OK and I will feel safer during any potential low speed spill but if I could have justified the considerable increase in cost I would have gone for the TT ones.
Incidentally I got them from Hein Gericke for £139 with a 10% discount.
Just fitted a set of the S W Motech bars to my 05 GS. I was a bit annoyed that two of the spacers supplied with the kit were not machined correctly internally and the bolts did not pass cleanly through. I had to spend half an hour with a rotary file to get them to fit at a time when I was keen to get them fitted and get out riding.
Now that they are fitted the look OK and I will feel safer during any potential low speed spill but if I could have justified the considerable increase in cost I would have gone for the TT ones.
Incidentally I got them from Hein Gericke for £139 with a 10% discount.
mherkin
Registered user
SW Motech
I've also got the SW Motech bars but only the lowers. Took about 3 hours to fit but then only because I thought I was being a clever dickie and assembled them all to ensure that the bars were aligned and it was a major exercise taking all of the bolts out to put Loctite on them.
Bought from Nippy Normans around £130, I think.
As others, I think they'd be OK for low speed and toppling over but anything more serious I probably wouldn't be in a position to care...
I've also got the SW Motech bars but only the lowers. Took about 3 hours to fit but then only because I thought I was being a clever dickie and assembled them all to ensure that the bars were aligned and it was a major exercise taking all of the bolts out to put Loctite on them.
Bought from Nippy Normans around £130, I think.
As others, I think they'd be OK for low speed and toppling over but anything more serious I probably wouldn't be in a position to care...
andyclift
Registered user
Threw my GS down the road recently and most of the impact was successfully taken by the BMW crash bars.
Result was one side of the bar was a bit of a mess. Thought about changing to a different make due to cost but discovered that the BMW bars come in three parts and its possible to buy the bits separately.
Although buying the complete BMW bar costs somewhat more than the aftermarket options, only having to replace one part was a lot cheaper and saves a lot of fitting time.
I think the BMW bar looks better than some of the others and its nice shiny finish is bettwer than paint or powder coating. I have discovered they work and in the long term can be more economic. I will stick to BMW.
As an aside, the rest of the impact was taken by the Zega pannier. Although it still has a bit of battle damage on one corner I was able to knock it back into shape so it still keeps out water and have managed to file/wet&dry/polish out most of the other damage. I wonder how my original BMW panniers would have coped?
Result was one side of the bar was a bit of a mess. Thought about changing to a different make due to cost but discovered that the BMW bars come in three parts and its possible to buy the bits separately.
Although buying the complete BMW bar costs somewhat more than the aftermarket options, only having to replace one part was a lot cheaper and saves a lot of fitting time.
I think the BMW bar looks better than some of the others and its nice shiny finish is bettwer than paint or powder coating. I have discovered they work and in the long term can be more economic. I will stick to BMW.
As an aside, the rest of the impact was taken by the Zega pannier. Although it still has a bit of battle damage on one corner I was able to knock it back into shape so it still keeps out water and have managed to file/wet&dry/polish out most of the other damage. I wonder how my original BMW panniers would have coped?
BMW bars
I have always tended to fit BMW accessories even if they are generally more expensive than those supplied by specialists such as Wunderlich, Touratech, Motech etc. The dealer will normally fit them free & accept them in part exchange if you are buying another bike. I agree with Andy that the bars, in silver, are practical and look right. On the other hand I know that many owners want to give their bike a touch of 'individuality' and personally I dare not visit the Toutech depot not too far away from here!
I have always tended to fit BMW accessories even if they are generally more expensive than those supplied by specialists such as Wunderlich, Touratech, Motech etc. The dealer will normally fit them free & accept them in part exchange if you are buying another bike. I agree with Andy that the bars, in silver, are practical and look right. On the other hand I know that many owners want to give their bike a touch of 'individuality' and personally I dare not visit the Toutech depot not too far away from here!
andyclift
Registered user
Brian,
Slightly off topic but when I realised my Black Forest hotel was about 3 miles from Touratech I thought I would drop in. Didn't actually cost me very much because just about anything I wanted was out of stock!
Slightly off topic but when I realised my Black Forest hotel was about 3 miles from Touratech I thought I would drop in. Didn't actually cost me very much because just about anything I wanted was out of stock!
Pathologic
Registered user
A rare vote for Toratech
Hi,
I have just taken the bars of my current bike in preparation for transfer to my new SE. Couldn't be easier and the bars do not interfer with removing the rocker covers.
The cost may be high, I don't know as i bought mine secondhand off this site
Regards,
Path.
Hi,
I have just taken the bars of my current bike in preparation for transfer to my new SE. Couldn't be easier and the bars do not interfer with removing the rocker covers.
The cost may be high, I don't know as i bought mine secondhand off this site
Regards,
Path.
I found out the hard way on Saturday morning at a junction near Le Mans. I had just filled up with fuel (adding to the already impressive weight) and came to a gentle stop at a give way sign. Put my right foot down to discover that the road disappeared due to a very steep camber.
Result - bike down, me with a pulled hamstring trying to hold the bike and leaping off, without much/any elegance.
The H&B bars did their job and have minor road rash, my right pannier has scratches as does the hand guard. My hammy is still sore ...
Result - bike down, me with a pulled hamstring trying to hold the bike and leaping off, without much/any elegance.
The H&B bars did their job and have minor road rash, my right pannier has scratches as does the hand guard. My hammy is still sore ...
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