which crash bars

[jacro]

which crash bars are best for 1200 gs. motech, touratech, hepko baker, alt.

from pictures on web. Im thinking the rounded motechs look sturdy but the staight bar between left and right on the touratech's might take a hard impact better.

i'm confused.

what you reckon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cheers

 

[Steve E]

I had SW Motech bars on my 1200 when I was knocked off three years ago. left hand bar suffered damage and was ground flat by being dragged down the road. They did their intended job and prevented damage to the cylinder head.

I replaced them, purely for cosmetic reasons with Hepco + becker bars. This was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent. My Bike was knocked over by persons/vehicle unkown whilst parked in Oxford. The bars Crumpled and caused damage to the Left hand Rocker cover (breaking two of the fins). Also the cross bar has two lugs that bolt onto the captive nuts on the engine/frame support. These are welded on . The impact of my bike being knocked over caused thes two welded on nuts to pop off.

I have now refitted my old and battered SW Motech bars.
In my opinion the Hepco bars are not up to the job. They are made from much thinner tube than the Motech ones. they look good but provide minimal protection. If you want protection get SW Motech bars. I am sure that there will be people who disagree buts this is my opion.

Steve

 

[seadog]

i have motech on mine, they feel sturdy enough, good quality weld and finish

cheers
mike

 

[Bobster]

Crash Bars

SW Motech, well impressed with mine.

 

[CDN1100GS]

SW Motech

I went back and fourth between TT, Motech and AltRider and finally decided on the Motech upper and lower bars. They are very well finished, strong and easy to install. I hope there will never be a need to test them...

<a href="http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff120/canadianbc/?action=view&current=IMG_1059.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff120/canadianbc/IMG_1059.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Brian ROSEN]

I was about to ask "what is wrong with the standard BMW ones; However I then saw the photo of the Motechs and can see tht they offer a great deal more protection; the only snag, if it is one, is that the whole bike then looks rather too much likr the bikes the driving schools use here in France, which are surrounded by bars!

 

[GoSquirrel]

+1 SW Motech!!

 

[adventuredon]

Hi, looks great. Can you say whether (IYHO) will these protect the cylinder heads from light scratches at a standing fall? Looking for bars that protect the heads, since the plastic covers I have on them snap off when bike is dropped at slow speed. If the answer is yes, do you have a part number for them? Thanks
.

 

[Davy F]

I had the SW Motech ones fitted first to my GS. They were fine, but the finish didn't stand up too well when I had to set her down one day .
I then bought the Touratech 'bars. Beautifully built and looked brilliant. Downside is you have to loosen them off for doing the valves, but that's no real hardship as they're easy to do. Expensive tho'.

 

[adventuredon]

thanks for the input. Yes TT look more expensive and also of good quality, however, the question still stands: which ones protect the cylinders from cosmetic damage?

 

[Davy F]

To answer your question, all the crashbars mentioned will do your job. Also, if you're looking for crashbars that also will (cosmetically) withstand a drop, look for the stainless steel variety like the BMW supplied style and TT ones as you may be able to 'polish out' any small scuffs.

 

[Riktus]

SW Motech bars deffo do their job - I ditched my GS doing about 50mph when a considerate farmer decided to give the road a wash with diesel - my fault I know I should have been riding a little more "restrained". Both bars are scratched to hell (they are approx 4 years old now and I am pretty sure they have been updated recently because you have to slaken mine off to get to the valves and I dont think you do that with the new bars).

There is not a scratch on the cylinder heads and I am not planning on changing the bars yet because apart from a couple of deep scratches they did exactly what they were designed for.

As the bike flipped when it eventually hit the verge side it got a good pasting on both sides but the cylinder heads are in original condition - not even a scratch on them!!!

Cant comment about any others - just know these worked

Cheers
Rik

 

[adventuredon]

brilliant. Problem solved. SW motech and cheaper than TT too! thanks all

 

[timtim]

Hi CDN...
Nice lookin bike..
What make are the panniers please ?
Cheers, Tim.

 

[Davy F]

What make are the panniers please ?

Psssst, the clue is on the side.

 

[timtim]

Doh !

Shoulda gone to specksavers.......

 

[Gromit]

It says on the nippy normans website that these bars wont fit with the black plastic BMW head guards on? Would they fit if they had the touratech ones on?
Rob

 

[Prof]

touch down

Take care if fitting engine bars and Dunlop Roadsmarts. After years of round the hairpins in various European mountain ranges (on Tourances and BT 020s and 021s) last year I fitted Roadsmarts (which are brilliant tyres if you don't stray off-road). They touched down and gave me a bit of a fright. I've ditched the engine bars and now have engine covers which give a bit more clearance.