R1200 crash bars

[Seenthelight]

I ve recently bought my very first Bmw,and am very happy i chose the gs.Id like to buy some crash bars for it,but i m very unsure which ones to get,as i dont want to waste my hard earned on rubbish ones.Can anyone suggest which ones,in their opion,the best ones to get?Thanks

 

[Beedenb]

Hi Newbe

I have just gone down the route to get crash bars for my 1200GS - 2008 and I have these costs
The BMW protection bars are £212 + £44 fitting.
The Touratech bars are £245 + £87 fitting.
Helco & Becker bars from Motobins
Black @ 138.00gbp inc VAT and UK postage.
Silver @ 143.75gbp inc VAT and UK postage
I fitted the H & B bars and they look fantastic, they do not restrict the head cyl bolts so you do not have to pay service additional costs if they need to work on the cyl heads as the crash bars will need to be removed.

BeedenB

 

[swissrob]

do a quick search for crash bars and u get lots of mixed opinions - some say go for hepco& becker others say sw motech.

i went for H&B due to the mounting points - the swmotech bars mount to the bash plate fixing points which i dont think is wise as i believe any large forces will shear the mountings and rip a hole in the thinner sump material.

H&B mount on the side into thicker material

 

[Pukmeister]

I can vouch for H&B on two accounts:

Frist time, I was sideswiped by an Audi A6 in traffic with considerable force. Bike was unmarked, Audis doors were fecked.

Second time, a 30MPH Lowside in the wet (maybe diesel) on a roundabout. Ground the bars down in a shower of sparks. Bike had a small scuff to the topbox and handguard. Welded up the bars with a 'skin' made from a piece of old mild steel pipe. A bit of silver spray paint and shes good to go.

H&B are brilliant in my experience.

 

[Dave Cr]

I fitted the SW Motech ones to my GS a few months ago. They were easy to fit and I like the look of them on the bike. A few of my friends who own GS's also prefer the look of them to their own variety of fitments. Have a look at the Nippy Norman web site.

 

[GSwadd]

The Hepco Becker bars seem to be slightly heavier in construction than most and also wrap around the heads in a more protective fashion. Fitting is dead easy and rocker covers come off without removing bars. Additionally, you can add the tank protector bars later for that fat pig GSA look if that's your fancy (mine will be on order soon ).

 

[Brooner]

I have SW Motech ones on my GS - they mount on the side of the engine and have a link bar between left and right - bit of a bugger to fit, but look fine on the bike and give allround protection for the heads.

She has been on her side twice, both virtually at a standstill, but the most damage was dented pride.
The engine bars are the best £140 I have spent on the bike.

 

[Dave56]

I`ve fitted a set of SW Motech bars to my 07 1200GS, terrific value for money at £107 from Hein Gericke & I think they look a treat.

 

[karnevil]

I got the TT ones.Ordered em of Nick Plumb when he was pished at the Off road course last meal got a discount i knew how much they were and he could not remember they fitted fine and cme in les than 2 weeks.Had the same bars on both my bikes and no probs dropped it a couple of times and they have protected what they should

 

[patboy]

SW Motech, easy to fit and look good

 

[Seenthelight]

thanks very much everyone for your views,no doubt i shall be asking you all again on other things i can get for my bike,........thanks again

 

[the-other-bradders]

SW ones here 109.99

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/SW-MOTECH_Motorcycle_Crash_Bar_BMW_Type_8

 

[Snoopy]

The SWMotech bars are powder coated but all the rest of the mount kit isnt (just like their quick release pannier system). Mine rusted within a year. Factor in the cost of getting the rest of it properly coated.

 

[Oberon]

Protection bars

I ve recently bought my very first Bmw,and am very happy i chose the gs.Id like to buy some crash bars for it,but i m very unsure which ones to get,as i dont want to waste my hard earned on rubbish ones.Can anyone suggest which ones,in their opion,the best ones to get?Thanks

I got my 08 GS in August and after quite a bit of web searching went for the H&B bars for engine and tank protection. Lotst of info to look through but I think they look great!
Well happy with the job, easy to fit too.

Oberon

 

[Fudmucker]

I had Touratech bars on my '05 GS. They worked well, but I will be fitting H+B engine and upper tank bars to my new GS...because I like the look !

 

[ExpatinIstanbul]

H&B Uppers and lowers on mine. Uppers a bit fiddly to fit, a second pair of hands useful. I don't mean growing a second pair, that'd be difficult, ask a mate to help.

 

[Dahoum]

H&B for me too

NB: Once you've 'used' them once or twice the bars do not allow removal of the cyl heads - so you'll need to take em off before service unless you want extra charges (DAMHIK )

 

[Pete NL]

Touratech for me, cost more but stainless and IMO have a better look, not so agricultural like the others

 

[Palerider]

Interesting thread....I currently have a 2008 GSA and the n/s OEM bar bent the first time I dropped it green-laning earlier this year.

Popped down to my local BMW Motoradd retailer and the senior man in the workshop was very dubious of the aftermarket fitments - he believed they were too stiff and transmitted too much force into the engine casing mounting points, citing a case where a chap had to have a new engine as a result of the mounting point being punched through the casing after a low speed "incident" involving a car.

The only trouble with replacing the OEM versions is that the parts are 3 times more expensive than anything else out there.....

Views/feedback anyone (and no, the guy didn't seem to be saying it just cos he worked for BMW before anyone says it!)?

P

 

[GS_Chris-08]

Does any one know if the H&B bars fit with the OEM cylinder head protectors in place?