Which engine protection bars?

[The Slow Granger]

I am going to fit some bars to a standard 1150 - because one day it will happen....

There seem to be loads of different deigns (above/ below the heads, detachable section for maintenance etc etc.)

As a newbie I haven’t started taking too much to bits yet so I cannot see where difficulties may arise in the future just from the sales pictures.

Can anyone please give me the pro's and cons of the different manufactures /styles?

 

[Possu]

Go for Hepco & Becker, they're cheap, strong & easy to fit - fited them to my girlfriends 1150.

I've got Wunderlich bars on mine, harder to fit, not sure how price compares to H&B's as I bought them used & the girlfriends came with the bike but not fitted.

 

[oblertone]

SW-Motech

I've just fitted a pair of the above to my 1100 curtesy of Caveman on here, he also supplies for the 1150. They were also cheap (less than £100 delivered), strong and easy to fit. You could do worse !

 

[DavidHale]

You could do worse !

By getting a set of T*uratat ones like I've got. Easy to fit, easy to get the rocker covers scratched/damaged/etc. Hmmm... think I'll follow this thread to see which ones I'll get to stick on instead...

Oh well, back to

 

[Gas'd Off]

Bmw bars look the best and do a reasonable job when dropping the bike but unlike all other types(except adv)removal is required to change the oil filter & get at sump plug.
H&B do the best protection job but look a bit iffy and start rusting when the paint chips see here . You may find you bang your shins on them as they wrap rigt around the cylinder head and fix to the rear subframe mount point.
Wunderliche bars look ok but I`ve heard they don`t do a great protection job.
Touratech, similar to OE bars but (I`m guessing here) painted mild steel. Will chip & rust.
Someone told me recently that there is another very good type on the market now. There is a brand that has extra bits that protect the tank also, cant` remember who makes them, sorry. Try a search.
That`s my two peneth, please feel free to correct my crash bar opinions all those who have them fitted

 

[oblertone]

OE Bars

Following a minor 'off' at the hograost I decided to replace the OE bars with something more substantial (SW-Motech).

When I came to remove the OE ones which are mounted using the bash -plate studs, I found that three of the four bash-plate mounts had failed, including one that had sheared leaving the stud in the case !

Although I would point out that it is possible to remove the bash plate for oil changes without completely removing the OE bars, it's just a bit fiddly.

 

[The Slow Granger]

Thanks for all the useul tips, I feel better informed already!

 

[Steve B]

Thanks for all the useul tips, I feel better informed already!

Yeah but which ones have you decided on????

Steve B

 

[the civil one]

least we forget !

.