crashbars

[seefour]

Guys and Galls,
Some advice, looking for a set of crash bars for a 1150gs, and some recommendations would be helpful. Whats the best set, need full access for servicing without removal ideally, and i dont want head protectors, so whats the best. Been looking at hepco and becker but they look very close to the engine and i thing will cause issues when servicing, any ideas would be helpfull before i part with my hard earnt.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

I've had a set of Wunderlich crash bars fitted to my bike since new (2003 R1150GS). They have never needed to be removed for any part of the servicing. I've dropped my bike loads of times from stationary and they have always protected the engine cylinder heads. I rate them good and solid. Made from steel not stainless steel so they can corrode. They also had a couple of brackets welded to them to allow the fitting of spot/fog lights.

 

[Ugly Cow]

Guys and Galls,
Some advice, looking for a set of crash bars for a 1150gs, and some recommendations would be helpful. Whats the best set, need full access for servicing without removal ideally, and i dont want head protectors, so whats the best. Been looking at hepco and becker but they look very close to the engine and i thing will cause issues when servicing, any ideas would be helpfull before i part with my hard earnt.

H & B do not need to be removed for doing the valves.

 

[seefour]

Yes i am aware but have you tried replacing the alternator belt with the Hepco bars on????

 

[ELIMINATOR]

One side was a doddle, other side was always a fiddle with the H & B.

 

[Ugly Cow]

Yes i am aware but have you tried replacing the alternator belt with the Hepco bars on????

It can't be done and is a real pain. I chopped the bars and made slugs so that I only need to loosen the part of the bar that fits in front / under the fuel tank.

 

[seefour]

So an obvious question are then any crash bars on the market that allow are required access to the engine for servicing without having to touch the bars

 

[Madmountainman]

Get some GSA bars, the cross brace unscrews to access the front cover and the heads aren't fouled by any part of the bars. You may slightly scuff a head if you drop it though, as the level of protection provided by any bars varies. H&B bars protect the heads, at the expense of possibly toppling the bike onto the tank if the bikes' dropped on its' side, as the position of the bar around the head acts as a fulcrum. Not had much experience with other manufacturers bars, so can't comment.

 

[Dazzle]

steptoe has a set for sale cheap too

 

[Ugly Cow]

Get some GSA bars, the cross brace unscrews to access the front cover and the heads aren't fouled by any part of the bars. You may slightly scuff a head if you drop it though, as the level of protection provided by any bars varies. H&B bars protect the heads, at the expense of possibly toppling the bike onto the tank if the bikes' dropped on its' side, as the position of the bar around the head acts as a fulcrum. Not had much experience with other manufacturers bars, so can't comment.

Not in my vast experience of dropping my bike, but definitely will rock over and break the screen and front indicator.

 

[Steptoe]

. H&B bars protect the heads, at the expense of possibly toppling the bike onto the tank if the bikes' dropped on its' side, as the position of the bar around the head acts as a fulcrum. .

You're confusing bmw ADV bars with H&B crashbars.

I've had more than a few bikes come in with ADB bars that have been written off due to the adv bars flipping the bike over onto the bars/ screen/dash. And it can happen it incredibly slow speed if the tank is full.

Ask davegs, he had it happen to him in america.

I've never seen a bike with H&B bars thrown onto it's top end

 

[Madmountainman]

Following Ian B a few years back, down off of the Stelvio, slid off in the rain and the bike rocked over, but not flipped in dramatic style, onto the tank with his H&B's. Not had a problem with my Adv bars, but i've only dropped mine at very low speed off road.

 

[seefour]

Thanks for the replys, still not sure which way to go, seems H&B are preferred choice but not to happy with the engine access for servicing. Maybe H&B with some modifications is the way to go, we will see. Thanks again for the info i will keep mulling over the issue.

 

[Steptoe]

Thanks for the replys, still not sure which way to go, seems H&B are preferred choice but not to happy with the engine access for servicing. .

The H&B bars get in the way of the R/H rocker cover when removing for servicing (L/H cover has more room), and the alternator cover.
The bars don't need to be removed to replace the alternator belt, i've done a few free service days in the past for groups of ukgsers at various places around the country showing how to service their GS's.
And i've shown them how to change the belts on bikes fitted with H&B bars.

BUT if you have a later 1150 with servo brakes and the extended alternator pulley you will have to do a lot of bar loosening to get the front cover off as the pulley extends so far out.
Best thing to do if you have one of those models is to cut the plastic alternator cover in half (across ways) using a fine blade so it simple lifts off without any bother at all.

 

[seefour]

Steptoe, thanks for the info, the font of all knowledge as always, many thanks.