Engine bars & tank bars: which brand?

[P248]

I’m waiting delivery of a new 1250GS TE Exclusive (my first GS) and I’m trying to decide what bits it needs. In particular I’m trying to decide which brand(s) of engine and tank bars I should buy. Which brands are the best for build quality, fit, looks, etc. Any advice will be gratefully received.

My apologies if this topic is addressed elsewhere already. I have looked but couldn’t find a suitable thread.

 

[CPJS]

Touratech engine bars, mine have been well tested and are surviving. I wouldn't bother with tank bars unless you are going offroad.

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Touratech engine bars, mine have been well tested and are surviving. I wouldn't bother with tank bars unless you are going offroad.

Is Tesco,s not considered offroad..............however best check price new model has a few slight changes Wunderlich have them and they are good quality when dropped, how do I know...........

https://www.wunderlich.de/shop/en/wunderlich-engine-protection-bar-r-1250-gs-va-m26442-000-1.html

 

[Baked Bean]

BMW stainless bars are ok.

 

[P248]

Touratech engine bars, mine have been well tested and are surviving. I wouldn't bother with tank bars unless you are going offroad.

.

I read somewhere (ADVrider?) that there have been some problems with fit. I think the problem seemed to be lack of clearance with the top of the front suspension. Did you have any such problems?

 

[CPJS]

My bike is a '17 GS
I dont know if that is for the tank bars, I have just the engine bars, the fit is good.
The bars did not touch the heads(+ bmw head guards) during a 60ft slide down the road, in fact nothing touched down at all, even though it was the exhaust side, it slid on the bars and tyres.
Nearly ground through the bars, quick session with the wet and dry and a dab of black paint, all done.

 

[Spareparts]

Altrider have been brilliant on my 1200. I am sure they will bring out a 1250 version.

 

[pbbanks]

Just remember that engine bars for a 1200 wont fit the 1250 due to the different exhaust pipe route\shape on the 1250. As someone else mentioned the BMW stainless engine bars are good and fit well. Try and get a deal when you buy the new bike?? -- see if they'll throw the engine bars in, if not free, at cost price; ; nothing to loose by asking. ( full retail price is about £345 -- to fit yourself) . You'll be spending £16000+ on the bike why try and save £100 by fitting aftermarket ones?? .

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Just remember that engine bars for a 1200 wont fit the 1250 due to the different exhaust pipe route\shape on the 1250. As someone else mentioned the BMW stainless engine bars are good and fit well. Try and get a deal when you buy the new bike?? -- see if they'll throw the engine bars in, if not free, at cost price; ; nothing to loose by asking. ( full retail price is about £345 -- to fit yourself) . You'll be spending £16000+ on the bike why try and save £100 by fitting aftermarket ones?? .

If I knew what I do now, I would have done exactly as you say, get them on the bike at the dealer with a discount, did not think I wanted them at the time, but later realised how useful they can be.........

 

[pbbanks]

If I knew what I do now, I would have done exactly as you say, get them on the bike at the dealer with a discount, did not think I wanted them at the time, but later realised how useful they can be.........

Don't feel guilty , I did the same and was hoping I could easily adapt the old ones off my 1200. It was only when I got my 1250 that I realized it wasn't simply a case of sawing off a piece of pipe off the old bars and welding a extra piece in. They are a completely different shape & size due the the new head size\shape. Not the end of the world as I sold the old ones for a good price. Didn't like the idea of not have any on as they'd come into their own a couple of times on my old bike. Once when it just fell off the side stand on a sloped curb and again when I stopped to open a gate on a hill and it rolled forward off the stand. They work well because the bike sort of just wedges at 30 degree angle and apart from not doing any damage to the heads it's easier to pick up .

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Don't feel guilty , I did the same and was hoping I could easily adapt the old ones off my 1200. It was only when I got my 1250 that I realized it wasn't simply a case of sawing off a piece of pipe off the old bars and welding a extra piece in. They are a completely different shape & size due the the new head size\shape. Not the end of the world as I sold the old ones for a good price. Didn't like the idea of not have any on as they'd come into their own a couple of times on my old bike. Once when it just fell off the side stand on a sloped curb and again when I stopped to open a gate on a hill and it rolled forward off the stand. They work well because the bike sort of just wedges at 30 degree angle and apart from not doing any damage to the heads it's easier to pick up .

Spot on, it is so easy to pick up in case of a slip.....

 

[Martin S]

SW Motech do substantial bars for the 1250

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

I bought my 2018 with engine bars. They lasted 10 months before I decided they had to go. Apart from making the bike look very dated and clunky, in an "off" they could potentially bend your chasis and not necessarily protect the rocker cover. Obviously, it depends on the "off" and the angle at which it strikes an object but having written off my mum's fiesta in snow at 5mph once by hitting a kerb "at the wrong angle", I know first hand just how easy it really is.

I got BMW to fit a pair of Machineart tough nylon covers which improve the look of the bike (personal opinion) and will protect the covers much better than the bars ever will, not to mention not bend the chasis. I funded the covers with the sale of my bars which has cost me in the end, but I'm much happier with the result.

 

[pbbanks]

Like you say the look is a personal opinion. I think the engine bars give it a more rugged look. Heard the view before about bars possibly bending the frame in an accident but since they only fit to the engine mounting\frame points, and the engine is a stressed member of the frame, I don't see how they can contribute to additional likely hood of a crash bending the frame. More likely the bars would absorb some of the impact rather than the engine transmit the forces directly through the frame, as would be the case without them. Maybe the top\tank bars could possibly be more likely bend the frame ?? , maybe thats where the rumors of bent frames comes from??. Sure someone will voice horror stories of bent frames.
You can tell it's winter and cold\salted roads when there's nothing better to do than talk about engine bars

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

You're right; more rugged, in the way a farm vehicle might be and with a similar aspect . Just because something "looks" more rugged, though, doesn't mean that it is.

I'm pretty sure that they will afford some level of protection in an "off", I grant you, but it rather depends on the nature of that "off". In any case, pictures abound if you care to look which illustrate that they require additional rocker cover guards if you slide on them, especially offroad. Combinations are available.

They are, indeed, attached to the engine as well as the chasis but if you rip out the attachments the chasis is likely to be bent out also.

The ideal would be to have both if you offroad (bars and/or guards/covers) but that is a risk analysis on the benefits of protection vs the risk of bending something serious. I don't offroad mine.

Not only have I saved 3.4 kilos of dead weight (net), but it no longer looks like it should have a sidecar attached to it.

 

[Arsey]

You're right; more rugged, in the way a farm vehicle might be and with a similar aspect . Just because something "looks" more rugged, though, doesn't mean that it is.

I'm pretty sure that they will afford some level of protection in an "off", I grant you, but it rather depends on the nature of that "off". In any case, pictures abound if you care to look which illustrate that they require additional rocker cover guards if you slide on them, especially offroad. Combinations are available.

They are, indeed, attached to the engine as well as the chasis but if you rip out the attachments the chasis is likely to be bent out also.

The ideal would be to have both if you offroad (bars and/or guards/covers) but that is a risk analysis on the benefits of protection vs the risk of bending something serious. I don't offroad mine.

Not only have I saved 3.4 kilos of dead weight (net), but it no longer looks like it should have a sidecar attached to it.

No but it should have an anchor attached to it !

 

[malcopopolo]

if you hit an object with the BMW engine bars fitted, that it causes the chassis to twist etc then your bike will certainly be fucked with out them.

Great place to fit spot lights etc

I have a set of genuine BMW engine bars which are like new for sale in a couple of weeks - from sept 2016 r1200gs. PM if interested

 

[pbbanks]

"if you hit an object with the BMW engine bars fitted, that it causes the chassis to twist etc then your bike will certainly be fucked with out them."
With you on that one -- if the frame is bent after a crash & having had engine bars fitted the frame will probably be the least of your worries.

Between the two (engine bars or rocker covers) I'll stick with a piece of stainless steel bar giving more protection than a piece of plastic.

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

"if you hit an object with the BMW engine bars fitted, that it causes the chassis to twist etc then your bike will certainly be fucked with out them."
With you on that one -- if the frame is bent after a crash & having had engine bars fitted the frame will probably be the least of your worries.

Between the two (engine bars or rocker covers) I'll stick with a piece of stainless steel bar giving more protection than a piece of plastic.

Well, it's your bike. I'd just mention that I hope it isn't SS because the steel needs to be milder in order to bend and therefore not transfer the shock to the engine (or the chassis). Oh, and the covers aren't plastic, they're a bit harder than that.

If i offroaded mine I would certainly want it more "robust" and agricultural and on balance would have both the covers AND the bars. But I don't.

 

[Deleted account 220214001]

No but it should have an anchor attached to it !

Now, now, smartypants!

It wasn't me you were blinding with your 200hp brake lights last summer, now was it?