Aside from reducing noise & vibration, the foam prevents mud building up between the bash plate & engine. Both of my last two bikes have had a B&B bash plate fitted & I couldn't be happier with their quality & performance.
So far I have not really need a skid plate, most of my riding is in sand and gravel. That said, I know it is a good idea should I find myself in condtions that might be worse or if I have to hop a downed tree. I like the looks of the Altrider plate, but being a cheap skate I wonder if the Ricochet plate would be "good enough"? I am more concerned with noise than I am with protection. The venting on the Altrider would make me think it might reflect less noise, is that true? How much noise does the Ricochet plate reflect?
My Altrider bash plate is solid as heck. Mounts easy, oil drain bolt access is large enough to access the bolt without getting fiddly. I sprayed the inside of mine with 8 coats of bedliner (dried between coats). As quiet as any bash plate I have had on a bike with or without foam. In addition there is plenty of space beneath it to allow washout of mud, gravel and slow squished squirrels.
The Altrider is super strong and covers well. I used sound deadening on my Touratech skid plate. It would ring if you thumped it. I bought some for the Altrider but didn't need it. It thunked when hit. I have the Touatech still and should sell it. Nothing wrong with it. I just liked Altrider better.
The toolbox is an SW Motech unit that I ordered with the skid plate. Drilled 4 holes and bolted it on.
So, these aren't waterproof or resistant from what I read. How do you keep your stuff from getting trashed in there?
I've got an old rag keeping stuff from rattling and used plastic zip lock bags for the tools. Its summertime in Australia, so not expecting rain for about 4 months , the dust is the problem here.
I really like the looks of the TCI plate, and it looks stout too. Only problem is that I already have a SW-Motech plate that seems to be doing the job well. Anybody want to trade?
I ordered a Happy Trail one hasn't come in yet.. Looks to me like it offers the best protection/price ratio .. The pic is from there web sight ... They have free ship right now so it cost me $154 total
Put the happy trail skid on today ... Kinda a pain to install but turned out pretty good... Looks like it offers plenty of protection..
Well I broke down and bought an Alt Rider plate. I am kind of let down. It was an expensive option. I am having issues with the rear mount rubbing the chain, anyone else find this? Also, I prefer to take my skid plate off when I do an oil change. I get oil all over the plate and its a good time to clean the crud out. I did not realize that this one ONLY mounts with the forward lower engine bolts. Its not impossible, but a lot more futzy to get them damn bolts and nuts in & out than a design where the plate is held on by screws from the outside.
I know what you mean. Spent way too much time deciding which plate to get, finally ordered the AltRider plate. Once I received it I remembered the way the back mounts, and was like damn it, why did I choose that plate.... Then thoughts of how I could make this plate bolt up to the rear like other plates, ran through my head. Screw it, it's on, it's done, it does the job, and it looks good. The one other thing i didn't care for, was the all the sharp edges on the cut outs. AltRider spent no time dressing the edges, and some are quite sharp. Did you go with the silver or black?
I got a black one, we will see how long that last. I had a black Motech plate on another bike and it had a nice sand blasted sliver stripe down it in short order. I would re-paint mine every oil change. I suspect the same will happen here. Motech seems to have figured that out and now do their plates silver in the middle, black on the sides which looks good. The Altrider plate does "look" great, but I am not impressed, particualy for its cost.
