MachineArt X-Heads R1250

[Njw1967]

Looking for a pair of MachineArt X-Heads for my R1250 Im really not keen on the bulky engine bars any more they add about 100mm to the width of the bike and must weigh around 4kg.
Has anyone used the MachineArt X-Heads in place of the engine bars and how effective are they as a replacement compromise

Regards Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sven]

Looking for a pair of MachineArt X-Heads for my R1250 Im really not keen on the bulky engine bars any more they add about 100mm to the width of the bike and must weigh around 4kg.
Has anyone used the MachineArt X-Heads in place of the engine bars and how effective are they as a replacement compromise

Regards Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I had them on my 1200 and now have them on my 1250.

I managed to drop my fully laden 1200 outside a B&B in Switzerland and they did their job. There was no damage to the bike and just a few minor marks on the X-Head cover.

 

[Matty589]

Definitely agree. On the 1200/1250 due to the width of the engine, if it goes over the heads touch down first. At the end of a very long day when I was tired and not paying attention I lost balance when coming to a stop and dropped my 1200GS. When I picked it up there was a 1cm scuff on the X head and a small scuff on the edge of the top box, and that was on the exhaust side. Engine bars add a fair bit of weight and most importantly make the widest part of the bike even wider, so I always preferred the X heads. If you do a lot of off roading I guess bars would be better.

 

[knutk]

Definitely agree. On the 1200/1250 due to the width of the engine, if it goes over the heads touch down first. At the end of a very long day when I was tired and not paying attention I lost balance when coming to a stop and dropped my 1200GS. When I picked it up there was a 1cm scuff on the X head and a small scuff on the edge of the top box, and that was on the exhaust side. Engine bars add a fair bit of weight and most importantly make the widest part of the bike even wider, so I always preferred the X heads. If you do a lot of off roading I guess bars would be better.

In my opinion, I suspect that if the bike slides sideways, rubbing on the heads, the rubbing motion potentially will tear off the x-heads. Thus my preference is both bars AND the X-Heads.
The bars alone will not fully protect the heads if the bike is dropped towards a rugged surface, and history have shown that people experience damage to the heads even with the bars mounted (from small rocks or similar). The extra with of the bars is negligible, as the handle bars still is the widest part on the bike.

 

[stick]

In my opinion, I suspect that if the bike slides sideways, rubbing on the heads, the rubbing motion potentially will tear off the x-heads. Thus my preference is both bars AND the X-Heads.
The bars alone will not fully protect the heads if the bike is dropped towards a rugged surface, and history have shown that people experience damage to the heads even with the bars mounted (from small rocks or similar). The extra with of the bars is negligible, as the handle bars still is the widest part on the bike.

Plus one with that.

 

[stick]

Definitely agree. On the 1200/1250 due to the width of the engine, if it goes over the heads touch down first. At the end of a very long day when I was tired and not paying attention I lost balance when coming to a stop and dropped my 1200GS. When I picked it up there was a 1cm scuff on the X head and a small scuff on the edge of the top box, and that was on the exhaust side. Engine bars add a fair bit of weight and most importantly make the widest part of the bike even wider, so I always preferred the X heads. If you do a lot of off roading I guess bars would be better.

The extra weight of the bars is small and also its carried low so would make no odds to the feel of the bike . A big top box would have more of an affect on the bike .The width as well is not much extra in the overall stance of the bike either . Both as Knutk says is sensible and more affective.

 

[Matty589]

Engine bars add about 2” per side. Pain in the neck filtering when you’re in traffic. Not everyone has the luxury of living in the middle of nowhere. And I’d very much doubt that the kind of impact likely to rip off something bolted to the heads in 3 places wouldn’t also knacker the engine bars and push them into the heads/rip off at the mounting points - which are on the engine.

 

[Nutty]

I always fitted them to my GS's, and stopped fitting bars. If you're going off-road, get bars and heads, for just road riding, just the heads will do.

If you have an accident on the road fast enough to warrant bars, you're looking at an insurance claim anyway.

 

[knutk]

I always fitted them to my GS's, and stopped fitting bars. If you're going off-road, get bars and heads, for just road riding, just the heads will do.

If you have an accident on the road fast enough to warrant bars, you're looking at an insurance claim anyway.

Probably so, I was not so much worried about the money part as the difference between riding away after a fall vs being hauled away.

For filtering, the handle bars is the widest part even with the bars mounted, so I don't see the problem.

Anyway, I don't claim to have the correct answer for anybody else. But by pointing out pros and conns, OP (as well as everybody else) is able to make their own decision, based on their own need.

The X-heads is a greit add-on to the bike either way. Snug fit, well made and some of the best looking protection around.

 

[Matty589]

Oh sure, I’m not saying engine bars aren’t useful - I have them on my bikes, mostly to protect the bike if it goes down, to decrease the likelihood of getting a leg trapped under it, and to make it easier to get upright again (any mid sized or above bike that lies horizontally is a right PITA to get upright on your own, even with the right technique). As the GS already prevents the bike going over too much because of the wide cylinders, and as the X heads are very solid, I preferred them.

 

[CPJS]

If you have an accident on the road fast enough to warrant bars, you're looking at an insurance claim anyway.

No so, I threw my bike down the road at 40mph on the exhaust side, over a curb and into some saplings. The bars were nearly ground through but they held the bike high enough to prevent anything touching down. The bike was still good to ride. The only damage was done by the saplings, cracked beak and headlamp mounting lugs. A new beak and some araldite, sorted.
I wouldn't be without them.
As an asside, we would have struggled a lot more to extracate the bike from the greenery without the bars, they make good handles and we put a security cable through them to help drag 1/4 ton of metal out of the trees.

 

[Njw1967]

So a mixed reaction but in general the X-Heads seem like a good bet.
I don’t go off road but I do have to get my bike in and out of my garage without touching my Car, if the bars were to touch by mistake it would almost certainly be new paint required however the plastic of the X-head would be more forgiving.
Think i will buy a set of X-heads and keep my bars and see how it goes.
I have to say having seen bikes with them fitted look a lot less bulky and aesthetically cleaner.

Thanks for the replies and any more opinions appreciated

Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CPJS]

So a mixed reaction but in general the X-Heads seem like a good bet.
I don’t go off road but I do have to get my bike in and out of my garage without touching my Car, if the bars were to touch by mistake it would almost certainly be new paint required however the plastic of the X-head would be more forgiving.
Think i will buy a set of X-heads and keep my bars and see how it goes.
I have to say having seen bikes with them fitted look a lot less bulky and aesthetically cleaner.

Thanks for the replies and any more opinions appreciated

Neil


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If it tight for room sqeezing past the bike the extra bit sticking out may make a difference, walking into it hurts as it has the same give as an anvil.

 

[stick]

X heads and bars

Hope these shots may help , cant get them straight for some reason.

 

[Cezinho]

does anyone know if they fit with OEM BMW crash bars on a GSA?

 

[Nutty]

does anyone know if they fit with OEM BMW crash bars on a GSA?

I don’t see any reason why not, as the engine and bars are the same on both models. I had both on my two GSA’s.

 

[Bubb]

I had just the x heads on my 1200, and liked the look.
When I got my 1250, the x heads were not available, so I purchased the bmw bars as I was off on a tour to check, and didn’t want to drop the bike unprotected.
Since my return, the x heads had become available (took some time) so I have these as well as the bars, and although I prefer the look without the bars, having purchased both, I have left both fitted.
It’s typical that although I have both, I haven’t managed to test them yet! Fingers crossed the fact I have them will mean I won’t drop it.

Ride safe, stay safe

 

[littleade]

I had SW Motech bars on my 1200 which did the job when I dropped mine at low speed but they didn't fit the 1250 so I've bought the X heads instead and so far I prefer them as it's easier to clean the engine. You can also buy them individually if you damage 1 side too which is a bonus

 

[Njw1967]

My X-Heads arrived today from NN and I can see me selling the ugly engine bars, The x-heads are not fitted and look better all ready


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pistole]

have always looked at these plastic head covers with a sense of trepidation. Can they really dissipate the forces in a drop and save the cam covers from damage ? A sliding drop ? A striking moment when the head clips say a bumper whilst at speed ?