Tank guards and oil cooler cover feedback

[Mark Hooton]

Hi All, a couple of fellow Tossers have asked me to get a move on with an oil cooler cover and the tank guards which I mentioned in a previous post. here they are, with supporting comments, and before I get all `commercial` with them I`d be a bigger t*t than what I normally am if I don`t listen and consider any valid comments!

What do you think guys ?

This is the tank guard I came up with (there is one for the other side!) and it is fitted to my 2010 GSA. It`s supposed to afford some protection to the tank situated behind it and also enhance the bike (blingy blingy ). It`s made from hand finished stainless (feel the quality ) and is held in place by 3 strong rubber lined stainless clips. I expect the price to be circa £48. There are other ones on the market, namely by Twalcom and you may think this is odd for me to say this but to be fair the Twalcom ones seem lovely too (take a look) and are made from a more exotic material (unobtainium? ) than mine. The Twalcom ones are much more expensive but I am sure must be worth it so any choice must be left to you, The Customer. If mine get as far as a commercial item then I would really have to say that my creation is only an alternative to the lovely ones Twalco have made (by the way, I am not on a `back hander` - just saying it how it is). How they have attached them to the bike seems really good!

This is the oil cooler cover - I have had real problems with the design on this - I needed to afford some protection to the cooling fins but at the same time achieve maximum airflow. I would liked to have designed it to look much more appealing but I have favoured a more practical approach. Airflow is high but it isn`t the prettiest thing I have done. It`s also very `delicate` when compared to a lot of my stuff (lets over engineer everything - it`ll last that way) but I do believe it could make the difference between a holed rad and a continued tour. My up front concerns are that it should not be used in tropical or very hot conditions - paranoia creeps in regarding airflow. I also think it`s not going to stop a rock so I am really open to suggestions here. None of the other ones on the market really inspire me so it may just have to be one ugly mother, what do you think?

Best regards and isn`t the weather cr*p?

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I don't like the design of the cooler cover. Not pretty (yeah, I know, GS and Pretty )

 

[Mark Hooton]

Yep, I agree

Yep, I don`t like it either but nice ones only increase surface area = paranoia!

Back to the drawing board I think but I am really appreciate for the suggestions.

And I thought my sister was Bug Ugly...................

Anyway, MY GS is pretty................

(eye of the beholder.............)

 

[ghiribizzo]

My bike's not nearby, but why are the top corners chamfered off? Can it be made wider, to 'fill' the space behind the painted part better at the sides?

 

[(RIP) Miff]

Yep, I don`t like it either but nice ones only increase surface area = paranoia!

Back to the drawing board I think but I am really appreciate for the suggestions.

And I thought my sister was Bug Ugly...................

Anyway, MY GS is pretty................

(eye of the beholder.............)

And most cooler guard designs have already been done... I use a beowulf one. I am more concerned with keeping moths and flies out of my cooler. Bugger to clean, they are...

http://beowulf-performance-products.com/shop/imageview.asp?file=rgs 1200 rad_FS.JPG

 

[Journeyman]

Tank Guards

Mark

Looking at these..............there seems to be a large number of holes and small stencilling, unlike those on the fog light protectors!!

Would prefer larger diameter holes and stencilling i think.

Perhaps a piccy showing the two together would be useful?

 

[Yonkyo]

I have to agree with Miff about the oil cooler cover.

But the tank protector plates looks good (though the Twalcom ones look a bit neater because the brackets are hidden).

Still, I’d buy a set for 45 quid (without the GSA logo though).

Good job

 

[Mark Hooton]

All points taken

geezers, fair constructive points: a few replies:

The top corners are chamfered so that they `fit in` to the space better - too sharp and they wont look good - point taken about the panel being behind rather than in the enclosure. not sure if it would work though.........

Funnily enough the holes are exactly the same size, and so is the logo as the ones ont he light protectors! I used the same pattern!

The oil cooler cover - I don`t like it, I have a diamond shape in mind. Not as small as the beowulf one so not as good as keeping the wee flies out!

I`ll see what it is like and let you know.

ta so far,

mark.

 

[Bobster]

I am in the interesting position of having purchased both Twalcom and Mark Hooton, Crud Catcher and Side Panels. My observations are: Twalcom oil cooler cover very neat really light and circa £36.

Really do not like the stainless steel crash bar infill panels because the fixings look awful, but they are a lot cheaper than Twalcom!

By way of feedback with regards to my previos purchase of Mark's stainless steel Side Panels, they keep the shit at bay but unfortunately the left side panel blanks off the auxillary power supply, also got the awful (but necessary) fixings as mentioned above, but they are not in such an obvious position.

 

[darkhorse]

I think the cut outs on the oil cooler guard should stop short of and follow the inside curved line of the mudguard

 

[Deleted account 210516001]

I am not really in the market for tank guards because I have crash bar bags which as well as providing storage space also give a degree of protection.
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249862

However it occurs to me that if you want the protection of metal plates without the fasteners that people don't seem to like you could borrow the idea of the crash bar bag in the way it fits.

Make the tank guard bigger than the outside profile of the crash bars and fold over the edges on all sides except the front to fit the crash bar profile. Slide the guard on from the back like the bags and secure it to the front vertical crash bar. You would need to line the folded over edges with some sort of foam rubber to stop rattles.

Sorry I am not able to describe what I envisage in engineers terms and I presume that folding over the edges with the correct inside radius might require special tooling that would add to the price.

I have tweeked your photo to give a rough impression of what it might look like but the best description I can give is probably a crash bar bag made out of metal and without the bag!!!

PS you can't do any of this until you perfect the inward facing tool box. It is a real practical looking piece of kit and hidden away from view so I could not be accused of buying "bling"

 

[Mark Hooton]

Fantastic

Thanks guys for all the feedback, I am going to:

Increase the size of the tank protectors so that they actually cover the bars they currently fit into & sort out some sort of better fixing for them.

Redesign the oil cooler cover so it doesn`t look so much like my ass on a bad day

Re the inner pannier case I should have got on with it but to be honest I really am doubtful if I could make it make commercial sense (not that I do a lot of that anyway..........) - it looks simple but it will take days and days to get to a prototype for you guys to comment on and I simply don`t have that time at the moment - perhaps during the xmas break!

 

[RADZIOL]

tank ok oil cooler foogly

 

[Mark Hooton]

Eh?

Foogly?

 

[Yonkyo]

Foogly?

I think he means Fugly. Hardly a very constructive criticism either.

 

[RADZIOL]

 

[Mark Hooton]

Mmmmm

Ha.

Firstly, I must welcome every view and opinion as the forum is a great source of help, support and good intentioned people.

To be fair, it is a valid opinion and I can see what he is getting at but `foogly` - it does make me giggle and I hope the chap is kind enough to see the slightly funny side to it. I havent even met him and I like him already!

Mate - `foogly` does it for me!

 

[Mark Hooton]

redesign

Following the feedback from you guys I have redesigned the oil cooler cover. I think it looks better and rather go for the smaller holes i have gone for the larger ones purely for airflow - I will be fitting these to both my GS & GSA and I feel happier that the openings are significantly larger than all else available.

Sure, it won`t stop all the flies but it will still afford some protection against rocks and still allow more airflow through. Thanks again for all the constructive critisism - hopefully it has allowed me to make a better item.

This will now be also posted in the vendors bit if anyone is actually interested in buying one.

I am still working on the fuel tank guards...................

 

[Yonkyo]

Yes, that guard is a lot easier on the eye.
However, i do prefer the ones shaped like the BMW cars kidney grill.

Its the tank guard plates that im waiting for though.

 

[Mark Hooton]

ta and yes I know

Ta for that, I have taken on board everyones comments to produce a better item so taking the time to listen does work!

About the tank guards - I have just received some less obvious fasteners and I am currently redesigning the guards to a) cover the tubes as suggested and b) attach using not so obvious fasteners.

Personally, I prefer the rubber lined clamps - I think they are in accordance with the bikes `chunky` no nonsense appearance however I am not that daft not to listen to what other fellow Tossers think!

I have, however, put the standard ones up for sale if someone does feel the same as me............