F8 GS Sump Guard

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Looks like a 1 off then! :nenau
 
F650??

If the fitting points are identical, then I'd be interested in one for my F650 as it doesn't even come with the plastic effort you lucky F8 punters are blessed with :)

Similar to the other replies, I'm not too concerned with looks as long as it's functional and not too pricey. Powder coated woud be nice but I don't mind bare metal.

If you could get the price down to £50, I'd be writing you a cheque instead of typing this.

MB
 
I've just purchased and fitted the BMW engine guard; perhaps not the cheapest but I knew it was guaranteed to fit, and wouldn't look c**p.
I'm happy it will provide enough protection for light off-piste riding in Morocco and I'm intending to fit the TT tool kit which easily bolts on.
Looks good sprayed black !
 
Oh I'm not new to it :D

Just a thought but:

I like Bigger coverage like the Rally one bottom side and some front protection like this http://www.twalcom.com/home.php , that looks armoured, like a small Tank, or a German armoured Car (the best ever a puma :augie ), but the pepper pot looks like it would fill with loose stone etc noise would do your sweed in. but you would need some holes to expell water, but something for Rugged Roads :augie I like black as blend with the engine but with use would show it bare metal in scars in time unless you only use yopur bike for shopping :nenau .

But your customers want to spend so little so I guess you would cut the corner buy less material machine it less so something like a polo mint yep a washer on some blue tack or back to the fridge magnet maybe steel with red oxide paint.

Try Here Then :D
 
Thanks for the links 'Puma'! Not much being given away on that site then.

I shall be picking up the R&D sump plate profile tomorrow and see how things work out. One thing for certain is that £50 per finished guard is out of the question.
There are material costs, machining, folding, welding, treatments, labour, packaging and shipping to consider. To put these out at 50 notes a throw means I am working for nothing and at a loss.
I understand everybody wants something for nothing these days but in reality prices are set for a reason, not to rip people off but to be able continue the purchases of materials, labour etc and continue production.

In saying that I do personally find some advertised prices very hard to justify.

Puma your points are very valid and along my lines of thinking generally. I am apprehensive about powder coating though because it won't take long for it to look second hand being in such a vulnerable position.
I am much more in favour of deep etched anodize because the treatment will out last PC due to surface penetration being part of the process, though all treatments have limitations in their wear rate of course.

Form over function:
I am not generally inclined to go with the 'form' in this instance because the items description suggests it should be 'up for purpose', meaning it is designed as a guard, not a decoration and therefore I'm sure it wouldn't be too long before customers started banging my door down saying 'I only looked at it and it folded on me'!
This is not to say I would produce something along the lines of a handle-less shovel to bolt on your sump! No, function would be priority, aesthetics a close second.

Why not build 2 types: Perhaps long term but initially a one guard fits all.

Colour Options: Black or Silver Anodize with a view to powder coating as another option at a later date, perhaps.

Pepper Pot Design: Yes stones could enter and rattle about but more importantly the oil cooler gets good air flow. The base could also be pepper pot design so those rattling stones find a way back out again.

Oil Plug Access:
How essential is this? 5 bolts will have the guard removed in 5 minutes. Have you got 5 mins to spare when doing a service?

Before I get too carried away (and no promises have been made) I will be closer to getting a final costing tomorrow, or the weekend at the latest.

Thanks for your input guys!

Ps: The 'magnetic' suggestion was a TiC comment btw! :thumb2
 
Hi Jay,

If i may add one to the list - will it cover the cat a bit? Some fall short here and people end up with those plates attached to the centre stand that always look a little... well... Blue Peter-ish...

I look forward to seeing the finished product!

S

PS I think people are after the oil drain cut out because the bolt-rubber-bolt thingys that hold the plate on get knackered...
 
If the fitting points are identical, then I'd be interested in one for my F650 as it doesn't even come with the plastic effort you lucky F8 punters are blessed with :)

Similar to the other replies, I'm not too concerned with looks as long as it's functional and not too pricey. Powder coated woud be nice but I don't mind bare metal.

If you could get the price down to £50, I'd be writing you a cheque instead of typing this.

MB

Yes MB I,m also glad the F650 does not come with a plastic bash plate or a chocolate tea pot :D

But yes the fit is exactly the same as far as in same part to same part :thumb
 
Hi Jay,

If i may add one to the list - will it cover the cat a bit? Some fall short here and people end up with those plates attached to the centre stand that always look a little... well... Blue Peter-ish...

I look forward to seeing the finished product!

S

PS I think people are after the oil drain cut out because the bolt-rubber-bolt thingys that hold the plate on get knackered...

Hi Smythson,

the protype guard has not been designed to cover the Cat. I take on board your comments and it's something I may address on final production items.

Unfortunately these kind of special requirements are going to affect final pricing to some extent and starts to go beyond a 'basic' design. To cover the Cat requires quite an extension of the aluminium and would ideally require some kind of supporting bracket to stop it flapping about and potentially creating audible vibration, this again would add to costs. You can see where this is going I'm sure. The more specific the higher the cost.

I am aware that I won't please everyone and as with all products, a compromise will be factored in somewhere along the line.

In hindsight I think sump plug access probably would be a good feature.

Cheers.
 
Here's a link to my DIY efforts at making a sump guard for my F8GS . . . .

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=278485

The type of alloy I use has been used before (by me) on several different machines - F650, 600 Transalp - and has proven very capable of taking a good knock from stones and rocks (is there a difference between the two?) even though it's only 2.5mm thick. I admit to never having hit anything big and hard with either of the previous machines, but they have both been grounded without any damage apart from the obvious scrapes.
With the F8GS plate I was not worried about access to the sump drain plug because, as has been said already, it's only held on with 5 bolts, so no big shakes to remove. I don't think you'll ever make a decent guard that protects the oil filter AND allows you access to remove it with the guard in place.

Just thought I throw my tuppence worth into the mix.

SteveT

:cool:
 
In hindsight I think sump plug access probably would be a good feature.

Cheers.

Yup, think doing without would be a con rather than a pro. It's true most folk will only change oil once a year at most, but it would still be nice not to have to remove the guard to get the drain bolt out. Maybe you could simply form a kinda 'funnel' shape into the plate to direct the oil into a catch tank!
 


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