They need to roll them out asap as only available in Australia at the moment 
Wasserhead achilles heel
- Thread starter OZGSer
- Start date
Davy F
Registered user
Agreed, but these was also a Honda Crosstourer on test in whatever bike magazine and it too got a holed radiator. A rad guard was one of the first after-market items I bought for my Versys and it'll be one of the first things I buy for an 1190 adventure.
GC6269
Registered user
They need to roll them out asap as only available in Australia at the moment
Ditto.
Group buy anyone?
simple solution, suprised BMW have not fitted a basic guard
They look pretty neat, but looking at how much plastic there is compared with open holes I guess that the airflow is reduced by at least 20%, so I estimate that the radiators need to be 20% bigger to keep the cooling at the same level. I know that is a crude estimate but radiator guards must have an effect.
i worked out the loss of airflow area for an 1150 oil cooler guard once. it was pretty big, but it didn't seem to make much difference to the oil temp.
My K1100RS has a radiator guard as standard - its hardly a Gelande Strasse adventure bike.
Same here.
I guess BMW will just let people have anything on , as soon as they release their own (if ever)
I do want radiator guards but I want something discrete and almost invisible.
BMW shouldn't restrict customers with something so trivial.
I don't believe it would be so much air flow loss.
It even doesn't make sense.
Moving bike has plenty of air getting to the radiators and if they tested it for 1000000 miles , some of it in the desert , there isn't anything remotelly fierce in Uk especially to stop the bike getting temperature right.
Standing bike switches on the fan and radiator guards just have no effect on it at all.
+ its only 30% watercooled, wouldn't they make it fully WC if it was such big risk with such a little restriction in air flow.
I call Bollox
I'm of the same mind. But no doubt someone will check. I await BMW's response with bated breath lol.
However, I've no qualms about fitting them on mine. They will be just fine for Northern European climes, if I have the bike shipped to Death Valley for a summer ride I might take them off...
I reckon the louvred design will also make sure airflow isn't excessively restricted. Initially I will keep an eye on engine temp to be sure.
Little-Brit
Registered user
I'm of the same mind. But no doubt someone will check. I await BMW's response with bated breath lol.
However, I've no qualms about fitting them on mine. They will be just fine for Northern European climes, if I have the bike shipped to Death Valley for a summer ride I might take them off...
I reckon the louvred design will also make sure airflow isn't excessively restricted. Initially I will keep an eye on engine temp to be sure.
That's got some lovely stone sized gaps in it!
Davy F
Registered user
Here's TT's rad guards.
http://shop.touratech.co.uk/black-stainless-steel-radiator-protector-bmw-r1200gs-from-2013.html
Were they not tested on the bike in more severe climes than the UK ? I think for BMW to say you can't have something to protect your rads as it will invalidate your warrenty is utter tripe.
http://shop.touratech.co.uk/black-stainless-steel-radiator-protector-bmw-r1200gs-from-2013.html
Were they not tested on the bike in more severe climes than the UK ? I think for BMW to say you can't have something to protect your rads as it will invalidate your warrenty is utter tripe.
That made me laugh
- I think that stones from the front wheel are very unlikely to get near to the rads because of the 'lower shelf' feature; more likely to be kicked up by another bike in front - if that happens then you can sue them for the repairs 
Stones come in all sizes, but what holes radiators is velocity and mass. A stone small enough to fit through the protector is unlikely to be carrying enough kinetic energy to hole the rad.
A small spear is a different matter, but the natives don't carry those down my way.
Doesn't it have fans
Sorry guys but this is bollocks. I'd happily run the bike with rad guards in 50 degrees and not worry about overheating. What a load of cack. The water cooling is 35% of the overall cooling on the bike, so I don't think a rad cover would make any difference. Running ice coolant would more than make amends imho.
Holeing a rad on the otherhand would be a worry, so rad guards are a must imho.
Sorry guys but this is bollocks. I'd happily run the bike with rad guards in 50 degrees and not worry about overheating. What a load of cack. The water cooling is 35% of the overall cooling on the bike, so I don't think a rad cover would make any difference. Running ice coolant would more than make amends imho.
Holeing a rad on the otherhand would be a worry, so rad guards are a must imho.
I quite like those aussie grills
And I agree with (whoever it was
), I want discreet under the radar jobs that do their job. Some of the aftermarket stuff is a bit blingy (all the 'LC' crap written all over it..) and to me still looks like it's leaving the rad a bit vulnerable ..
£97.88 in the Uk, but only 87Euro in Germany. That is a hell of a UK mark-up!
I may pop down to Kohl in Aachen (they are the BMW and a Touratech dealer) and give them a look
GC6269
Registered user
I quite like those aussie grills
And I agree with (whoever it was
Some of the aftermarket stuff is a bit blingy (all the 'LC' crap written all over it..) and to me still looks like it's leaving the rad a bit vulnerable ..
Well mine isn't due for another fortnight, but I'll happily put the cash down now.
http://www.radguard.com.au/products/bmw-r1200gs-2013-radiator-guards-black.html
Definitely worth an enquiry ...
Definitely worth an enquiry ...
What if I ride 600 miles with the big leaf blown in to radiator, or 200 bugs splattered all over it?
Radiator guards restricting airflow is such a bolloks it isn't worth mentioning.
Of course they have an effect on airflow but it isn't simply adding square area sum. Air isn't flowing straight in , besides radiators also radiate, 100% airflow on it is not even always needed , saying this one blocks 10 or 30 % and another 25% is just a loads of crap, thats not how air efficiency flow is calculated.
If its true BMW may restrict warranty on that base , it may be quickly chalanged
Radiator guards restricting airflow is such a bolloks it isn't worth mentioning.
Of course they have an effect on airflow but it isn't simply adding square area sum. Air isn't flowing straight in , besides radiators also radiate, 100% airflow on it is not even always needed , saying this one blocks 10 or 30 % and another 25% is just a loads of crap, thats not how air efficiency flow is calculated.
If its true BMW may restrict warranty on that base , it may be quickly chalanged
Bluesticky1
Registered user
TT guards don't do it for me. I like the Aussie ones, but I also like the Cymarc ones. Knowing his reputation for service, I'd get the Cymarc. It's a long way for a return, Oz!
Similar threads
