Davey
Guest
Just wondering - has anybody actually ever had their oil cooler damaged from stones etc? Before buying a 1200 gs a rode my RT, unprotected fot 4 years/42000miles without damage.
Davy F
Registered user
Chances not, but I bought one of Reynos grills anyway as it looks the dogs danglies. 
i had one of these with the oilcooler mounted as shown & it never got dented 
Mouse
Registered user
I was offroading last weekend and on a few occasions myself or my bike were hit by stones thrown up by the bike in front. I was glad I had an oil cooler guard and headlamp guard fitted (both home made 
), the effort in fitting them is a lot less than it would be to recover a bike with a hole in the radiator.
But on the road, I agree it would be highly unlikely to suffer damage to the headlamp or oil cooler.
I take my headlamp protector off when I'm on tarmac as it reflects the light backwards and generally doesn't help visibility
), the effort in fitting them is a lot less than it would be to recover a bike with a hole in the radiator.But on the road, I agree it would be highly unlikely to suffer damage to the headlamp or oil cooler.
I take my headlamp protector off when I'm on tarmac as it reflects the light backwards and generally doesn't help visibility
Dellis
Registered user
Had a headlamp on my Triumph holed by a stone. After spending £249 on a new one I invested in some clear lens protectors and have fitted a similar protector to the GS.
Dave
Dave
trotsky
Registered user
I've had a small brown sparrow-sized bird meet a touratech oil cooler guard at around 50 mph on a slip road of the A12 - looked like the "upper mudguard" channelled the bird perfectly onto the radiator...
I had to bend back one of the aluminium slats which the impact had closed. The radiator would have been damaged without it but probably still rideable. I would probably have had a half hour of picking bits of bird out the gaps to stop it overheating.
This was an 1100GS and there were a few small stones stuck in the radiator when I bought it at ten years old which is why I decided to get the guard. On the whole, they are probably worth it if you think they are and a waste of time if you don't think they are worth having (see also engine guards).
I had to bend back one of the aluminium slats which the impact had closed. The radiator would have been damaged without it but probably still rideable. I would probably have had a half hour of picking bits of bird out the gaps to stop it overheating.
This was an 1100GS and there were a few small stones stuck in the radiator when I bought it at ten years old which is why I decided to get the guard. On the whole, they are probably worth it if you think they are and a waste of time if you don't think they are worth having (see also engine guards).
rocks
Registered user
Chances..
Well, I havent had a stone strike since i fitted one of Reyno's grills, which was fitted mainly for the look i will admit.
However, a few years ago.. a wheel nut came off a truck ahead of my on the road and took out my car windscreen.. what were the chances.. lord knows.. but for me.. the cost of buying one of reyno's grills were worth it.. if it saves me a rad repair. I win on both counts..
Why tempt luck when the option is there, and if you have the ware-withall..l?
Well, I havent had a stone strike since i fitted one of Reyno's grills, which was fitted mainly for the look i will admit.
However, a few years ago.. a wheel nut came off a truck ahead of my on the road and took out my car windscreen.. what were the chances.. lord knows.. but for me.. the cost of buying one of reyno's grills were worth it.. if it saves me a rad repair. I win on both counts..
Why tempt luck when the option is there, and if you have the ware-withall..l?
emjay
Registered user
A month after getting my 1150 in 2002 had stones hole the dip beam and chip the main so fitted a Ventura headlight guards and made an oil cooler guard from a black metal loudspeaker grill from Maplins, cost about a fiver, well worth it for peace of mind IMHO.
The Ventura guards were about £25, a lot cheaper than the £75 the dip beam unit cost me.
The Ventura guards were about £25, a lot cheaper than the £75 the dip beam unit cost me.
