2010 GS going in next weekend for 600 mile service and I having dropped it once already ( all the missus' fault as pillion naturally) want to get some protection. dealer will fit plastic cylinder head protectors since BMW crash are out of stock. but says they would have to take these off when the crash bars arrive. Is it worth bothering with lower crash bars once you've got the plastic head covers - what extra protection do you get, should I just stick with the head covers ? Or should I wait for the crash bars .. and be careful in the meantime? I would want to wait for the BMW bars as opposed to fitting after market. Any advice gratefully received.
head covers or crash bars
- Thread starter davnjud
- Start date
The OE BMW plastic head guards are about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Even if you did have them fitted, I can't see why they'd have to remove them to fit the crashbars.
I think if you're seriously interested in crash protection, then crashbars are the way to go. I've got the Touratech headguards fitted but believe that in a get-off they're prone to ripping the mounting bolts out of the cylinder head, destroing the mounting bosses in the process. I believe the same is also true for the BMW Adventure headguards.
I think if you're seriously interested in crash protection, then crashbars are the way to go. I've got the Touratech headguards fitted but believe that in a get-off they're prone to ripping the mounting bolts out of the cylinder head, destroing the mounting bosses in the process. I believe the same is also true for the BMW Adventure headguards.
Balders1450
Registered user
Wonderlich do head protector crash bars for the GSA/GS, I had some fitted at dealer on my first service the other week..... part No 8166220
If your dealer is a Wonder stockist get them to order as you won't have to pay p/p charge! Mine fitted £129 @ Wollastons
If your dealer is a Wonder stockist get them to order as you won't have to pay p/p charge! Mine fitted £129 @ Wollastons
the headguards as said are useless, 
did the same to mine within a week of getting .dropped it from a standstill and the heads got marked
put a pair of crash bars on and over the winter it went up the road on ice. never got near the heads 
Its the best £150 i ever spent
did the same to mine within a week of getting .dropped it from a standstill and the heads got marked put a pair of crash bars on and over the winter it went up the road on ice. never got near the heads Its the best £150 i ever spent
Depends what you're after. I've crashed twice over the years on the plastic protectors, both 5-10mph drops. Both times no damage was caused to the valve covers, albeit they were marked by the impact of the plastic. You could not really see the scuffs in the black plastic, so I didn't replace them, cost to me = £0.
Did a similar thing on the adventure, albeit at a slightly higher speed. Needed replacement ali guards and lower engine bars as it looked a state and would rust up in the winter. Cost was about £300.
I still think the plastic guards offer the best protection for low speed spills. I couldn't give a toss about the bike for high speed stuff, as I'm just happy to walk away.
Offroad is a different kettle of fish.
Did a similar thing on the adventure, albeit at a slightly higher speed. Needed replacement ali guards and lower engine bars as it looked a state and would rust up in the winter. Cost was about £300.
I still think the plastic guards offer the best protection for low speed spills. I couldn't give a toss about the bike for high speed stuff, as I'm just happy to walk away.
Offroad is a different kettle of fish.
GSband
Registered user
+1 
I agree completely.
If it's just tipping over, or a low impact fall, the plastic protection does the trick. Mine has topped sideways to the right (too much swing in getting on resulting in falling over
) and to the left as the sidestand I had just kicked out went back up 
, resulting in me laying it down ever so nicely, of course witnessed by dozens of parked bikers. 
. Alas, once a GS is leaning over too much, down she goes. Result : some minor scratch in the plastic protector.
If it's a heavy fall, you'll have damage to any kind of protectors anyway. I skidded on a wet mud covered road at approx 30mph, off she went, the plastic protector broke, but not the bolts by which it's attached to the cylinderhead. I chose to replace the valve cover, although the damage done was just a deep scratch to the surface. The valve covers can bear more than you may think.
BTW the reason that the plastic protection (MY '04-'09) supposedly doesn't mix with the BMW bars : they touch eachother on the left side, the LH side cylinder being more to the front. The 2010 plastic protection is different, perhaps to make the combination possible.
On '04-'09 models the tight fit looks like this :
This was in the Pyrenees, so I thought I'd better be on the safe side. Nothing happened, of course.
Home again I took the crash bars off; IMHO they're butt ugly.
I agree completely. If it's just tipping over, or a low impact fall, the plastic protection does the trick. Mine has topped sideways to the right (too much swing in getting on resulting in falling over
) and to the left as the sidestand I had just kicked out went back up , resulting in me laying it down ever so nicely, of course witnessed by dozens of parked bikers. . Alas, once a GS is leaning over too much, down she goes. Result : some minor scratch in the plastic protector.If it's a heavy fall, you'll have damage to any kind of protectors anyway. I skidded on a wet mud covered road at approx 30mph, off she went, the plastic protector broke, but not the bolts by which it's attached to the cylinderhead. I chose to replace the valve cover, although the damage done was just a deep scratch to the surface. The valve covers can bear more than you may think.
BTW the reason that the plastic protection (MY '04-'09) supposedly doesn't mix with the BMW bars : they touch eachother on the left side, the LH side cylinder being more to the front. The 2010 plastic protection is different, perhaps to make the combination possible.
On '04-'09 models the tight fit looks like this :
This was in the Pyrenees, so I thought I'd better be on the safe side. Nothing happened, of course.
Home again I took the crash bars off; IMHO they're butt ugly.
thanks for the replies guys - think I will go with the plastic head covers since my short legs make a low speed drop the most likely problem. Famous last words. Sorry to confess but I have now invested in pair of £45 2 inch heel boots off ebay. and they do give a lot more confidence when balancing one side only. my wife and kids are having a great laugh seeing me in these but I'm too old to care and would be even more embarrassed dropping my bike in front of hundreds of bikers at Devils bridge or Hartshead than by the somewhat extravagant look.
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