Engine bars or new head guards

[MattW]

Great thread with fantastic posts - thanks all.

I've got a pair of 'Ard cases' which were excellent in a spill in 2010.

At the moment I'm favouring head guards, panniers, quality hand gaurds and rubber indicators - but I'm still open to pursuasion

Decent hand guards would be a very worthwhile addition. As you'll know, the standard 1100 guards don't offer a great deal of protection (for your hands or the levers...). My 1100 had a lie down on a little bumpy Scottish ferry which bent the left bar and clutch lever - didn't snap the lever but it was close. I'd take spare brake, clutch (hand and gearbox side) levers with me

 

[Slipperyeel]

Thanks for the pics. I did get my behind into gear and checked out Steptoe's site. They look good and yes, just like some Stanton's I didn't win on EBay a few weeks back. Think I'll be adding to Steptoe's coffers in the near future!

Cheers

If you PM me your email I'll send you a pic of Steptoe's very fine head guards fitted on my bike. Can't post pics on here too thick!

 

[gspod]

Thanks for the imput, please put me down for a pair Neil.
Original handguards do look crap but they've been suprisingly effective when called upon a couple of times (including the time I hit a pigeon mid flight at about 60mph - me , not sure of the pigeon's speed!!). There're pretty well shot to bits now so more research.

 

[Packer]

Should also have mentioned that in a moment of crass stupidity I climbed on the bike, stuck it in gear and being in a hurry gave it an enthusiastic launch up the road..........................

until the disk lock impacted the speedo drive and stopped the front wheel dead resulting in bike and rider parting company quite rapidly. I landed on my feet unhurt apart from my pride. The bike landed on the head protectors and panniers no significant damage apart from a knackered speedo drive cable.

 

[dizzyrascal]

Headguards

Hi

Steptoe I will be interested in the headguards when you get them in any idea on price, will send you a PM

 

[namesarefortombstones]

I'd be interested in head guards too

 

[Steptoe]

Next batch DUE any moment..

 

[Massive Lee]

Next batch DUE any moment..

I am defintely interested in a set. I saw some pictures and still woder if they fit the twin-spark heads from a 2006 R1150GSA SE. It seems the bottom bolt is not at the same location as my plastic guard (horizontal in the pictures, vertical on my heads). If guards indeed fit my bike, where do I sign-up? It's prhaps the nicest GS product I have seen in a while. Good work. ;-)

That bolt underneath is horizontal.

And mine is vertical (bolting upward)

 

[monkeyboy]

I didn't see any Tescos in Chile, or an AA man by the side of the road in a van either. Fact is, good bars will protect more of the bike than just head guards. The B&W ones prioritise ease of maintenance and compromise on strength IMO. There are plenty of other essential things that can get damaged and not every accident is a convenient drop or a small slide. A million other things you've never thought about could happen that bars might help with. I know they're a pain for servicing but, really, they take 10 minutes to take on/off, it's not the end of the world. Steptoe's guards are good too, but even they will potentially let stones penetrate the cover if you fall off on a rough road. I know someone who had something like that happen, though with different guards. I'm with the belt and braces brigade. Plan for the worst. I've got another long trip next year, about 12k one way, and I'll have the H&Bs on with Verns. Both took a hit when I came off on Ruta 40 but they just get on with it. Forget the weight and what they look like. I doubt bulletproof vests will be featuring on any catwalks but truly functional equipment isn't made to be attractive.

 

[gspod]

Wise words and, I suspect, the approach I'll eventually take.

I didn't mention Tescos in Chile and as for AA men - I will be fortunate enough not to be restricted by too much of a time schedule, so can take solace in Ted Simon's attitude that there is a man with a truck and a bag of spanners in every area no matter how remote, you just have to wait around long enough.

In the end though, it will probably be belt and braces.

Cheers

I didn't see any Tescos in Chile, or an AA man by the side of the road in a van either. Fact is, good bars will protect more of the bike than just head guards. The B&W ones prioritise ease of maintenance and compromise on strength IMO. There are plenty of other essential things that can get damaged and not every accident is a convenient drop or a small slide. A million other things you've never thought about could happen that bars might help with. I know they're a pain for servicing but, really, they take 10 minutes to take on/off, it's not the end of the world. Steptoe's guards are good too, but even they will potentially let stones penetrate the cover if you fall off on a rough road. I know someone who had something like that happen, though with different guards. I'm with the belt and braces brigade. Plan for the worst. I've got another long trip next year, about 12k one way, and I'll have the H&Bs on with Verns. Both took a hit when I came off on Ruta 40 but they just get on with it. Forget the weight and what they look like. I doubt bulletproof vests will be featuring on any catwalks but truly functional equipment isn't made to be attractive.

 

[Steptoe]

Wise words and, I suspect, the approach I'll eventually take.

I didn't mention Tescos in Chile and as for AA men - I will be fortunate enough not to be restricted by too much of a time schedule, so can take solace in Ted Simon's attitude that there is a man with a truck and a bag of spanners in every area no matter how remote, you just have to wait around long enough.

In the end though, it will probably be belt and braces.

Cheers

A few years ago GSdave hit a dog while riding through panama, no doubt on his way to panama city .. Having bmw crashbars fitted caused his bike to be flipped over and truly fecked it.

He called me to post him a front end. But in the end he managed to obtain what he needed locally.

 

[monkeyboy]

Hitting a dog with the cylinder could easily have the had the same effect. Bars or not, you've still got a big target on each side of the bike to get hit.

As for the man with a van - that's true, but you don't want to be waiting in the middle of the Atacama if you don't have to Having said that - some of the best times I've had have been searching backstreets with an enthusiastic local directing on the back trying to get something fixed.

 

[oblertone]

... still woder if they fit the twin-spark heads from a 2006 R1150GSA SE.

From personal experience I can categorically state that yes they do

ps - All the SE's were 2005 production.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Photos on the third page, I was struck from behind at 30 mph. Look at the bars and make your won decision. The rocker box cover was gouged enough to leak oil.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?302020-ELIMINATOR-Down&highlight=accident

 

[gspod]

That's a horrible tale, I hope all is well now.

I see your bike was written off and I assume that you think the engine bars made things worse - am I right?

This is a great thread - thanks to all.

Photos on the third page, I was struck from behind at 30 mph. Look at the bars and make your won decision. The rocker box cover was gouged enough to leak oil.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?302020-ELIMINATOR-Down&highlight=accident

 

[monkeyboy]

Photos on the third page, I was struck from behind at 30 mph. Look at the bars and make your won decision. The rocker box cover was gouged enough to leak oil.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?302020-ELIMINATOR-Down&highlight=accident

Was there a hole in the rocker cover? It's impossible to see in the picture. It doesn't look that gouged but obviously there is oil coming out the plug hole. Did oil spurt out when you ran it? You didn't mention it in the thread.

I'm only a couple of miles from you too.

 

[Fanum]

I used to run Touratwat covers and OEM Adv bars, for several years off rocky/sandy offroading in Morocco.

I still managed to carve a couple of big dollops of Magnesium out of the rocker covers.....if you land that way, nothing short of a foot of foam is going to stop it

An extended bash plate also stops big nasty stuff from getting up into the space that the CAT left.

I only parked like this to show you

You can see the protection that bars combined with Vern's superb crash protection boxes (which also, most conveniently, double us as large storage boxes ) give when you look at the bike from head on.

After a couple of minor dings in the front of the tanks, I also chucked on some TT lobe guards to the tank

 

[Massive Lee]

From personal experience I can categorically state that yes they do

ps - All the SE's were 2005 production.

SEs were indeed manufactured until around 09/2005 but they were sold as 2006 model in the US to celebrate 25 years of GS - 1981/2006

THanks for confirming the guards fit twin-spark heads.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

gspod, I am not saying that the bars made the damage worse, but, I don't think they did a great job, but, the damage may have been worse without them. I no longer use crash bars, bike fits garage easier, and the alternator cover is easier to access, also one of the rocker boxes was always a tight fit to remove, as the crash bars were so close.

Written off, but, bought back, still running lovely. Next year will be my 10th year of ownership

 

[ELIMINATOR]

monkey boy, the rocker cover was gouged and had a small crack, this was enough to leak oil.