radiator and headlight guards...worthwhile or unnecessary?

littleade

littleade

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The new spangly red TE GS is now sat in the garage. I've added a uber fender extender, rear hugger, SW motech engine bars and optimate and shelled out for the vario panniers and top box so was wondering are the rad and LED light guards necessary or just add ons that empty the wallet even more for no real benefit. So has anyone who hasn't fitted them had a rad holed or headlight broken or those that have had stone impacts that would have resulted in definite serious damage if they hadn't been fitted. The bike will only be used on road. Cheers Ade
 
Bit of a stupid question really.
We've all driven along in the car when a chipping flicks up from a car in front and hits the screen. On some occasions it cracks and some it just makes a bang.
Every impact is different really.
For the sake of a few quid.. its not worth 300 quid for a rad and 700 quid for a new light.
 
Rad guards fitted to my GS TE & one is badly marked from a stone chip, so I'm all for them, doesn't impede airflow as tested before & after temps. (Cymark guards fitted)
Headlight ivebeen lucky but am waiting to find one I like..
 
Headlight lens is made of a Polycarbonate material and hard as nails. No need for protection. Radiators might be more vulnerable but it depends on where you spend the time riding the bike. Do you keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you etc....? It is the one component when damaged that can lead to engine failure.
 
tanneman said:
Headlight lens is made of a Polycarbonate material and hard as nails. No need for protection. Radiators might be more vulnerable but it depends on where you spend the time riding the bike. Do you keep a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you etc....? It is the one component when damaged that can lead to engine failure.
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Thanks for the repies everyone, especially snaponphil and tanneman. I'll be looking to 'make progress' once she's run in and I've also got a few miles under my belt after a period without a bike. So guess the most vunerable position will be when I move from the following position when looking for the overtakes so from what you've said the rad guards are worth a punt. If the headlight lens is as tough as you suggest TM (I'm not saying it isn't!) Then the chances of it being hit compared to a car windscreen will be low based on it's size and if it's that tough then maybe they're not so important and same as phil I haven't seen any I like. So Nippy Normans here I come......again!

Cheers :beerjug:
 
I've had a stone pierce a rad which then pissed coolant all over the front tyre. Luckily I'd entered a town and slowed so all I suffered was a long truck ride home.

Rad guards fitted after that incident.
 
I US Dollars the LED headlight is around $1600, or just over $2000 with the fan and assembly (so about 1073 to 1340 pounds). The halogen headlight is just under $500 (335 pounds). I have the factory cover, and while some think it is ugly, it works, is easy to remove for cleaning and actually improves air management, which reduces turbulence.

Radiators are less, of course, but still spendy at $300 each (200 pounds), so maybe worth the cost of guards.

Jim :cool:

PS No VAT included, which is what, 20% in the UK?
 
Most of us are also car drivers. How often have you found stone chips in your 'bumpers' or headlight glasses? Most car radiators are relatively unprotected aswell.

I suppose the front wheel on a bike may throw stones at the radiator but on road this is rare(mind you, N.Yorkshire highways are using a different salting/gritting mix this year which seems to leave a gritty residue that could have an impact). The MachineArt front mudguard extender should reduce the risk.
 
Fitted an Altrider headlamp guard on my GSA LC 2 weeks ago, cleaned it today and removed the guard only to find bad star crack on all 4 mounts plus their intermediate fixings as well, not good.
 
littleade said:
The new spangly red TE GS is now sat in the garage. I've added a uber fender extender, rear hugger, SW motech engine bars and optimate and shelled out for the vario panniers and top box so was wondering are the rad and LED light guards necessary or just add ons that empty the wallet even more for no real benefit. So has anyone who hasn't fitted them had a rad holed or headlight broken or those that have had stone impacts that would have resulted in definite serious damage if they hadn't been fitted. The bike will only be used on road. Cheers Ade
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I've ridden two LCs almost 35,000 miles, 90% on the road - I have not needed radiator guards or headlight guards.
 
Fordy said:
I've had a stone pierce a rad which then pissed coolant all over the front tyre. Luckily I'd entered a town and slowed so all I suffered was a long truck ride home.

Rad guards fitted after that incident.
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Thanks, this was the sort of answer I was after, proof positive that there is a need to fit some. The Wunderlict ones from NN look the business and I was well impressed with the quality of their hugger so I'm leaning towards those now.

Cheers

Ade
 
Nice 'n' Fat said:
And there are others who have holed a radiator after a few weeks ownership

It's a gamble :augie
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Well put. I don't mind forking out where there is an actual risk - I've put some SW Motech engine bars on after seeing the vid on youtube where that northern blogger watched as the demo GS he parked up toppled off it's side stand and holed the cylinder head casing
 
The LC radiators are mounted high and at an angle and also has a small area. Cars have grids in front so the minimal protection is offered. Only time we had to add extra protection on the pick up was to stop the seeds of long grass obstructing the airflow and risk a fire. Never had a stone or stick in through the radiator.

Been looking at the Wunderlich thingys as well.
 
I've been riding bikes for 30 years and never had a punctured radiator or broken headlight riding on the road which didn't involve crashing the bike :P
 
John Westlake said in the latest bike magazine that he hadn't holed a radiator in 25 years so doubted the value of fitting radiator guards to his Kawasaki Versys. The LC radiators are high up and essentially out of harms way compared to lots of other bikes so I tend to agree that that they are more bling than necessary, but if it bothers you then fit some, but make sure they don't restrict the airflow even a tiny bit or BMW might take issue if you end up with engine failure at any point.
 
One of the guys I know holed his rad within 300 miles and needed to be replaced at a crazy price, is it worth the risk not having guards?
 
cymarc do a good headlight guard at a reasonable price which is easy to fit. have a look at pyramid as well

you ride your bike faster than riding a car so maybe worth fitting a headlight guard. I am also of the opinion that rad guards are not needed as they are angled hence reduce the risk.

its your money so its down to you. at the end of the day if you change your bike the add ons still hold some value second hand
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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