Engine Bars

[uncle buck]

Hi all

Got me an 1150 gs a month ago and am looking for a set of engine bars. Most of my riding is on tarmac, so any views on what to go for would be much appreciated.

 

[davegs]

Bars

Avoid BMW adventure bars like the plauge, if you have a prang at any speed
above very slow the bike will flip over and wreckage will result. (don't ask how I know!).

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I had H & B on mine when I was knocked off at 30mph, still trashed the rocker box cover. Don't know if they're really worth it, easier now to squeeze my bike into the garage.

 

[Dr Bones]

I lost my footing on gravel at an uphill road junction and dropped my r1100gs. I'm glad I had the engine bars on the bike as the damage was minimal, even after having to drag the bike into a position to be able to get it upright again.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Fair comment, slow speed drop and they work. There again, I lost my footing before the bars were fitted, just light scratches on the plastic head guards.

 

[Dr Bones]

Fair comment, slow speed drop and they work. There again, I lost my footing before the bars were fitted, just light scratches on the plastic head guards.

The bike went down pretty hard when I dropped it, as I said uphill junction, what I didn't say was it was off camber as well and the bike fell on it's right side with the wheels facing up hill in two directions. I had to drag the bike round to get it into a position to lift it. I'm sure it would have made a real mess of the plastic head guards had I dragged it on them. I not sure how the bars would perform in a higher speed accident (and I don't want to find out), but for me being quite small (5'7"), riding a big heavy bike having the bars gives me some confidence when the bike is at a standstill or doing low speed maneuvers. If you drop it, pick it up and ride away. I've dropped bikes with expensive consequences in the past. I don't worry about the GS.

 

[magicstu]

I got SW Motech bars fitted to mine, from nippy norman, spent a long time looking into it, they seemed to be the best compromise- you can get to do the valve adjustment without taking them off, which is a bonus,and easily fitted.
Not used them yet..

I need to change the belt in the near future, so i'm not sure how much of a pain they will be then... whether they need to come off or not.

 

[davegs]

Bars

Invest in a pair of Steppers head gaurds definately the best option.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

At 30mph the rockerbox cover was holed, it would have not been ridable. Bars also deformed enough to have taken the paint off of the inside of the petrol tank. Also dug into the footrest hanger.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=302020 Page 3, should be photos of the bars. I'm at work and for some reason the photos won't open for me.

 

[pce13]

I have Hepco & Becker engine bars on my 02 1150GS and while doing a U turn a boyracer hit me doing "just 60mph in 4th" all i saw was a red flash and was pointing the wrong way and on the floor bike on top of me, no damage at all to the engine just chrome scratched on the bars, only damage was a lug had snapped of right pannier thats all

 

[Steptoe]

I had H & B on mine when I was knocked off at 30mph, still trashed the rocker box cover. Don't know if they're really worth it, easier now to squeeze my bike into the garage.

I had another bike in two weeks ago, H&B bars fitted, trashed rocker cover and damaged head = written off.

 

[uncle buck]

engine bars

Well lads appears to be luck of the draw if engine bars are a positive add on. They appear to cause as much damage as they are supposed to prevent.

Thanks for all the replies. Im going to think this one over foe a while longer

 

[Awfers]

My research led me to the Wunderlich bars.

 

[Bugbear]

My research led me to the Wunderlich bars.

and me, strangely. I'm definately thinking about a set.

 

[Awfers]

Only thing I'll say about the Wunderlich bars is that when I opened the box, I could see the paint had cracked on one of the welds, so I bought some silver Hammerite paint and small brush and gave the weld a couple of thick coats of paint so as to avoid any water intrusion / rust.

They blend in very nicely to the engine, a bit more "discreet" than other bars I've seen.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

Don't buy a boxer engined bike, Simples!

 

[uncle buck]

Don't buy a boxer engined bike, Simples!

Trouble is ive caught "boxeritus". Got an RT 1200 as well.Find i keep going to the 1150 as its so chuckable on the roads round here and the wife likes it, 1150 that is. May try motoworks own brand crash bar as they are reasonable cost. The only cure i know for this addiction is a service or any work carried out by a bm official dealer

 

[STUBBS]

steptoes head guards

 

[B4ndit]

Don't buy a boxer engined bike, Simples!

Don't have an accident. Simples.