Crash Bars

[Legend]

Can anyone offer advice on which crash protection bars to buy for my new 12GS, gotta keep it looking goood!
Looked at the Motec and Touratech, but leaning towards the Hepco & Becker's
Any help greatfully recieved

 

[PhilM]

I bought these from this gentleman, quality product and superb service.

http://www.nippynormans.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SWM-CB1200GS&variation=&aitem=3&mitem=8

 

[Geeza]

S W Motech

 

[Davy F]

I started out with SW Motech 'bars. Good quality and reasonable cheap and a good finish, until I dropped the bike at zero mph. They did save the bike from any damage, but looked decidedly second hand afterwards. I didn't like the way they went under the bash plate and I did hit the deck a few times during enthusiastic cornering.

So now I have a set of Touratechs' finest gracing my bike. To be honest, they are better value compaired to BMWs' own crashbars (they will give greater protection), even better as I circumnavigated buying them from TTuk. I like the stainless finish, they look really good and they are so easy to fit.

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Have used Hepco and Becker crash bars for current(1200) and previous (1150) bike. Also use tank protection bars on 1200. Pleased with performance and looks

 

[Yoda]

S W Motech

+ 1 more.

 

[bb1]

+1 For the Touratech bars.

 

[Legend]

Nice, look good. do they have bars for protecting the upper tank??

 

[johnnystorm]

Nice, look good. do they have bars for protecting the upper tank??

Nippy Normans have the SW Motech ones in.

 

[Phil Clarke]

H&B's from moto works - good protection and well braced so the chances of secondary damage to the engine is pretty remote. The only downside is the finish which is poxy. they do a better job of protecting the rocker covers than either the BM bars or the TT ones, they can stay on for servcing and they are much cheaper. SW motech look OK but I wasn't sure about the bit under the engine - looks like a rock grabber to me.

 

[The Bede]

Different religions

... S&W Motech 'strap' under the sump guard. It is claimed that impact is transferred around from the engine to the frame.
... Hepco & Becker and Touratech fix to the engine-frame mount and engine. The engine is possibly the heaviest single bit of the frame on a 1200, where do you want impacts transferred?

I started out with SW Motech 'bars. ... I dropped the bike at zero mph. They did save the bike from any damage, but looked decidedly second hand afterwards.

... Doing what they're supposed to If bars come up all spanky from a proper drop (0Mph counts!) then surely the frame/engine has copped all the damage.

... I have untested Hepco & Beckers, they're easy fit, appear fit for purpose and I hope suitably bendable should they ever be used in anger. Not very pretty but service work can be carried out around them.

... The S&W sound equally pukka, just a different philosophy.

 

[nomad]

I'm using Motechs as my preference is for the way they mount as opposed to the competition as stated by others here. However, when you take the bike for a service you need to either take the bars off first or pay extra for them to be removed as the oil filter cannot be accessed with the bars on.

 

[Davy F]

Here's a pic of a guys TT bars after a 100 kph (what's that in MPH, 60ish ?) spill. He only had minor damage to the exhaust,hand guard, stand and mirror.
I think the picture alone speaks volume about how well they did their job.

 

[The Bede]

Here's a pic of a guys TT bars after a 100 kph (what's that in MPH, 60ish ?) spill. He only had minor damage to the exhaust,hand guard, stand and mirror.
I think the picture alone speaks volume about how well they did their job.

... Can you service around them, including the 'head-job' 24,000Miler ?

 

[Davy F]

They have to be either loosened, or at worst, taken off for servicing the heads. But, as I have already said, they are easy to fit (it took me 20 mins to fit them after taking them out of the box), so this is no real hardship IMO.

 

[frank1200]

i have a set of h&b bars which are the same as the touratech bars just different sticker and i would highly recommend them they make a huge difference to the bike if and when you drop it,

 

[Geordie Steve]

i have a set of h&b bars which are the same as the touratech bars just different sticker and i would highly recommend them they make a huge difference to the bike if and when you drop it,

Noooo, they're not the same.

The TT bars are stainless (and expensive) whereas the H & B bars are mild steel with a silver paint finish.

I've got the H & B and I'd recommend them to anyone... silver hammerite is a good match for touching them up. DAMHIK...