H&B crash bars

[mylovelyhorse]

With them fitted, it's the very devil of a job to get the alternator cover off. I should hate to have to do it in an emergency (e.g. with a snapped alternator belt).

A very simple amendment to the bars is called for to insert a removable section into the bit where the bars go round the front of the engine and meet.

Anyone know of an engineering company in the general area of Hampshire that they could recommend? My plan is to ride bike to company, describe what needs doing, take bike home & bars off. After work is done, bars go back on never to be removed again.

 

[Steptoe]

Oh dear Oh dear - stand back and have a good look, and a think.

The cheapest and easiest thing to do is cut the plastic alternator cover in half so you have a top and bottom.

Job done, no more problems whatsoever removing the alternator cover.


Although i've never had any trouble removing the cover with HB bars in place, by just undoing the cross member that runs across the cover and holding it open and letting the cover drop down.

I showed doubting people how to do it at one of the many GS service workshops organised by Judge.

 

[mylovelyhorse]

i've never had any trouble removing the cover with HB bars in place, by just undoing the cross member that runs across the cover and holding it open and letting the cover drop down.

Tried that and after a fair amount of ragging about found that the cover simply won't come off. I suspect that the bars may be a closer fit across the front on mine than on yours. There's certainly not the room to just slip the cover down and off.

H&B do seem to make things with a fair amount of, er, 'tolerance' - and more or less say so in the fitting instructions, so this may be relevant here.

 

[Steptoe]

I suspect that the bars may be a closer fit across the front on mine than on yours. .

It's not my bike they're fitted on ( i won't have crashbars on my bike, they cause more problems than they prevent ).
It's customers bikes, and a couple of guys bikes at the "servicing workshops", so it's a broad spread of bikes not just the one.

 

[MattW]

It's not my bike they're fitted on ( i won't have crashbars on my bike, they cause more problems than they prevent ).

Do you use anything Steptoe (bolt on rocker cover guards etc)?

I ask because I'm on the lookout for my first GS and most you see for sale come with engine bars. I've always thought that these to be a decent idea given the fact that a drop at some point is almost inevitable (for me anyway!). However I've bugger all experience when it comes to beemers so real world experience is very welcome

cheers
Matt

 

[mylovelyhorse]

i won't have crashbars on my bike, they cause more problems than they prevent

Depends on where you ride, surely?

On (for example) a bit of an off could have been v. damaging to the cylinder heads, tank and so on.

It's customers bikes, and a couple of guys bikes at the "servicing workshops", so it's a broad spread of bikes not just the one.

Ah well, I shall amend the phrase to "I suspect that the bars may be a closer fit across the front on mine than on others" and note that this might be due to the off on the sand road, or might be just how they fit. But there isn't the clearance to get the alternator cover off with them fitted. If you're close enough I'll even bring the bike to you so you can see, try and end up agreeing with me