Rufty tufty R1200GS bash plate

[Mouse]

I got the prototype of my new bash plate back from the fabricators over the weekend. It still needs a little tweaking but it went on the bike fine and looks like it'll be pretty effective.

The idea is that this will provide far more protection for the sump and header pipes than the standard BMW item (notifce the scuffs on my header pipes!) The front has a curved profile so it won't dig into soft ground, and the base is smooth (apart from the four recessed mounting bolts) so it shouldn't snag on rocks. It also extends further back than the original to provide a bit of extra protection to the catalyser area.

It's made from 3mm aluminium and mounts to the same points as the original item, although new rubber mounts might be needed, I haven't fully decided on that yet.

I'm thinking that, if people are interested, I could get a small batch of these made. The cost would be (hopefully!) £60 each plus postage, plus about £10 for another set of mounting rubbers if required. I think I'd need at least six orders to be able to guarantee this price. Please PM me if you are interested.

Comments are welcome! But please remember this is meant to be a functional not a "pretty" thing

 

[TheJoker]

And when you're making the camp fire, you can use it for your oven chips... Yummy! More than a pretty bash plate!



Seriously - are you worried about heat being trapped in there at all..? Oh and it looks like it'll trap a lot of c**p and water sprayed from the front wheel... I'd probably make a lip that would clear the front wheel's spray...

 

[Mouse]

Well I'm running my bike with it fitted for a while to see, but basically no ... there's an ample air gap between the plate and the pipes. And I've used my bike with an inch of mud covering the engine and pipes almost entirely, with no overheating problems. So I don't think it'll be an issue.

I suppose I could cut a load of holes in it for anyone who likes the "Touratech look"

Actually your point about water is a good one - it does slope backwards so should drain but a couple of small holes might be required. However the front lip on the plate is actually higher than the bottom of my (extended) mudguard. So it may well trap less dirt than the original.

 

[TheJoker]

aahhaaa.... the man has been thinking

You might want to point out that you're using an extendafendawendaschmenda so that others don't end up with a baking tin of muck on their bikes

 

[Mouse]

Anyone who needs one of these bash plates should not be fazed by a small mountain of dirt on their bike

 

[TheJoker]

Maybe you could add a recipe or something;
- Take one run through the herb garden at min 30mph.
- Then head for pastures where rabbits frequent; hit at least two at no less than 50mph.
- Then dip into ford for rinsing of excess blood
- Find either a potatoe or other vegetable field, find a jump to scoop up required vegetables.
- Roast on high RPMs and low speed for 1h
- Finish off with another run through herb garden and let idle for 5 minutes.

 

[Clive]

I'd be interested to see how it performs

 

[Mouse]

I get the impression you aren't taking this seriously!!

 

[Mouse]

I'd be interested to see how it performs

Well I'm out with the TRF this weekend so I shall report back!

 

[Engineer]

Will it reduce the air flow to the heavily finned sump?

Do you think that the oil temeprature might be higher compared to the BMW original?

Are you planning on adding a few holes to aid airflow?

 

[BMBEN]

Looks good so far for version 1. Have you through about extending part of the front up at least 100mm to protect the the front case. 3mm plate should be all right that distance. 5mm plate would make a stronger job and being alum. not much weight difference.

 

[BMBEN]

You always get the tyre kickers. Your write up are always good and I alway look for any replys by Mouse with interest. Keep up the good work. This goes to show that there is more to sitting around all day wasting time on the internet.

 

[Mouse]

To reply to the previous two questions

I don't think there's much cooling done via the sump. As I said above, I've ridden my bike round trails all day with the original bash plate full of mud and mud filling the fins on the cylinders, the temperature gauge didn't budge from the centre point.

Anyone who buys one of these from me is welcome of course to add some holes if that's what they want. I didn't add holes because I want to minimise the possibility of the plate getting snagged on rocks and rough ground. Hence the rather boring looking smooth surface

As to the thickness of the plate, I thought about going for one that would be much stronger than the original, for example 5mm. Weight is not an issue really, compared to the total weight of the bike at over 225kg

But I think it would be possible to make it too strong. If you take a really big impact then it's better for the bash plate to deform and absorb the energy than for it to stay rigid and transfer the impact to the sump, possibly breaking it. £60 for a new bash plate (or repair it with a hammer as I have done to the original on many occasions) versus god knows how much for a new engine case

I htink ultimately the bash plate has to be viewed as sacrificial protection.

As far as extending the front part upwards ... it's an idea but I think that if you took an impact to the front of the engine you'd have bigger problems. I'm not discounting it though - but my primary concern for this model was to protect the exhaust pipes and sump.

The true test of course will be this weekend, if it survives a day with the TRF I'll be happy

 

[Vern]

I think you've pretty well covered everything there.If you make it to thick,then it just transfers the energy of a good hit to the sump,forget the rubber mounts protecting it,they just hold it in place,you land 225kg on four little rubber mounts,well,say no more.

If the 3mm isn't up to it,then you can always try using a spaced type guard.All it is, is two sump guards that fit inside each other,with say a 3mm gap.You'd be amazed at how much difference it makes to the impact that arrives on the sump.

Quite right about the holes as well,far to easy to get hung up on.

What ally are you using as well,soft to deform or hard to slide?

Carry on

 

[Boz]

I run with the TT one including the centre stand bash plate - since I've been using it I've ridden some bad roads down here in South America and it hardly scratched!

Well worth the money and not to much extra weight, can't say the same about their crash bars!

Nik