Guards, protectors, whatever... are they really needed?

Depends on the design but is say it's 30% metal then you at least loose 30% airflow. In reality its possibly more than that because of turbulence. Same goes for the metal light guards, you are blocking light. Not saying your going to damage your engine because of it but I would rather not use one.
 
Marki_GSA said:
Depends on the design but is say it's 30% metal then you at least loose 30% airflow.
Click to expand...
That tends to contradict the mechanics of air flow. 30% metal will block substantially less than 30% flow .... or are you suggesting that there will be no increase of pressure going through the vent holes and 70%+ will all be somehow diverted out and away from the outer area of the guard ... in a position where the air is already being funneled? :nenau
 
Bobbin-Man said:
That tends to contradict the mechanics of air flow. 30% metal will block substantially less than 30% flow .... or are you suggesting that there will be no increase of pressure going through the vent holes and 70%+ will all be somehow diverted out and away from the outer area of the guard ... in a position where the air is already being funneled? :nenau
Click to expand...

Your forgetting that there is a restriction directly behind the guard being the cooler itself. On top of that because there is no gap the parts of the cooler directly behind the metal of the guard will see very little airflow. There also isn't a funnel as you say, there is only the beak at the bottom/sides and open air around the top. More than enough for pressure to spill. You can argue the proportions of restrictions all you like (i don't have any actual figures) but there is very definitely less cooling. Again I am not saying your going to blow your engine but you pays you money.........
 
Powder coating should be ok on mag alloy - its used all the time on wheels. But check with the coaters what temperature they use. I believe mine use 160C for powder and 180C for low temperature stove enamel. the big issue is even the tiniest oin-hole will lead to corrosion under the coating. Anodising might be better with paint on top.

For anyone concerned about laser cut rad guards blocking too much air, get some stainless steel woven wire mesh and clip some edge trim around it. It's strong enough to protect and fine enough to stop virtually no airflow. I've used it on an aftermarket oil cooler.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless...UK_Crafts_Other_Crafts_EH&hash=item1e74428eab
 
Crash bars aren't full rocker cover protection

BMW crash bars on 2004 1200GS and a fairly low speed slide up the road on ice last winter. Rocker cover still damaged badly enough to need replacing (visible crack on the inside). Other damage to fork slider, hand guard, rear footrest and top box, but only cosmetic. Maybe the bike wouldn't have got me home if no crash bars, don't know. They are still fitted.

Bike came with loads of extra bits like master-cylinder protectors but I wouldn't buy them myself. Front fender extender, rear hugger and plastic side-panels seem desirable (last one for rider & pillion more than for bike).
 
150,000 miles on GS's...................never needed an oil cooler guard yet:rolleyes:

Waste of money:blast
 
Thanks for all the feedback, guys. I'll be putting my Fenda Extenda on and leaving it at that for now. Other than a bit of ACF50 that is.

I'll let you all know if I have cause to regret this!
 
JohnnyBoxer said:
150,000 miles on GS's...................never needed an oil cooler guard yet:rolleyes:

Waste of money:blast
Click to expand...

Similar story, but...........(I know you love full stops..........) ;)
It's not how often you need it, rather, how badly you need it when you do, factor in the inconvenience of being stranded at the side of a lonely mountain road on a Sunday when all the dealers are closed..............
These things cost a small amount and as we all know the money is not spent but set aside, when/if you've finished with this particular farkle it will realise two thirds of its original cost as a used item in the classifieds here or on e bay, you pays your money etc.
 
2 wheel humvee said:
It's not how often you need it, rather, how badly you need it when you do, factor in the inconvenience of being stranded at the side of a lonely mountain road on a Sunday when all the dealers are closed..............
Click to expand...

That's why I tour with you, I know i'll get a lift back to the hotel on your bike:P, whilst the recovery team take the bike to the dealers - should the need arise:thumb2
 
has anyone ever "holed" a GS oil cooler?

it seems quite easy to bend the fins a bit, but actually make it leak with a flying stone? i dunno - never seen it happen :nenau

no headlight guard as the poly ones look horrible and soak up the light, then scatter it from the edges. the grills look good, but put stripes all over the road and the later bikes can't be fitted with the old TT flip down models. i have seen the odd stone damaged headlights.

no TPS guard, master cylinder guard, injector guard or any of the other useless guards.

no timing cover guard. no offence to MH, but i think they look fucking horrible and ACF50 seems to do a pretty good job IME over 35000 miles.

i do have an oil cooler guard fitted, but it was kind of a gift come accidental acquisition, so it went on.

i have the GSA head guards as they came standard. mixed feelings about them, as most of the bikes i've seen dropped that had them fitted, had the mounts ripped off the head :blast

i also have the rubber bump stops on the front suspension wishbone. they seem like a good idea to me.
 
I saw a 1200GSA with an oil cooler guard, a 'Hooton' guard, a headlamp screen and a fender extender.

It slid along the road, hit the bank and cart wheeled, writing it off. The scrape on the road was only about six yards long. The rider escaped with a bruise, his pillion spent two nights in hospital.

Believe me, the relative qualities of his crud catcher was not top of his agenda of considerations when plod (and then the consultant) came to speak to him.
 
cookie said:
has anyone ever "holed" a GS oil cooler?

it seems quite easy to bend the fins a bit, but actually make it leak with a flying stone? i dunno - never seen it happen :nenau
Click to expand...

:thumb :(
I had a new rad fitted to my 1100GS, £300 i seem to recall :tears
 
V4 TRV said:
All essential if you want to look like a Dakar hero :blast
Click to expand...

Blimey, will bling do this to a fellow?

Dakar2009_AnnieSeel_night.jpg
 
Bike came with fenda extender, so have left if on.

Added, Oil Cooler guard and light guard. Mostly as I'd had far too many chipped windscreens on cars so for the sake of a few quid thought it was worth it, esp for the not having to sit at the side of the road in the worst case.

Also added MH crud catcher and mudsling to try and keep the crud off bit of the bike. I'd rather ride than clean the bike.

Other than that it's standard I think..


Oh it's got a a TPS cover (again fitted when I got the bike), not got around to removing it. Can't be arsed to be honest.
 
cookie said:
has anyone ever "holed" a GS oil cooler?

it seems quite easy to bend the fins a bit, but actually make it leak with a flying stone? i dunno
Click to expand...

I had a holed oil cooler, cost me nearer £400. The tubes are very thin, it was stone damage.
 
I've got GSA Head covers on mine and Front / Rear mudslings just to keep the crap off.

The Headcovers have done a good job for me as it's been dropped 3 times and all they have are minor scratches. I picked them up second hand and based on the price of 3 cam covers, they have probably returned the price I paid on them.

1 drop was off road in Inverness, a low speed thing where I picked up a small rock / stone under the front wheel on the "corkscrew" and it went down on the right side.

Second time, idiot brother in law clipped it reversing out of the driveway with his car and knocked it over ...... that one still baffles me as to how he did it.

3rd time, reversing it back into the garage, wife shouting nagging about something, lapse of concentration, pop bike on sidestand to see what she want's, bugger, forgot the sidestand :-)

Nothing is really essential though in the grand scheme of things, but the head covers have done their job.

Light covers with the HID's are horrendous, the light scatter is bad, so I had some left over ventureshield / paint protections stuff so jut popped that over the headlight and and squeegied the bubbles out, you can't see it's there now. It may not hold up as well as a light cover to a decent sized stone, but my theory is it will hold the glass together and maybe prevent the lense getting holed.
 
Fluffmeister said:
I had some left over ventureshield / paint protections stuff so jut popped that over the headlight and and squeegied the bubbles out, you can't see it's there now. It may not hold up as well as a light cover to a decent sized stone, but my theory is it will hold the glass together and maybe prevent the lense getting holed.
Click to expand...
Good idea :thumb2
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Ash
  • Locked
BMW F750GS / F850gs all & R1200R 15 - 18 yrs GIVI hand guards / protectors - FOR SALE
Replies
3
Views
1,962
Ash
Ash


Back
Top Bottom