I can attest to those holes being quite helpful for NOT collecting mud and bits in. It is very easy to clean too. The wings will help make this thing perfecto.
International shipping costs and exchange rates play a big part here. For us in Australia, the cost of a shipped locally produced B&B plate would be about $100 cheaper than shipping in the Motosportz version. Wind the clock back a few years to when the exchange rates were much more favourable to US importers, and the Australian plate probably would have shipped to the US for $100 less than your locally produced product, and that's without changing any materials or manufacturing processes. Fortunately for us Australians, the $US and $AU being at parity means there are lots of US manufactured farkles which a few years back would have been prohibitively expensive which are now very affordable.
Very little mud gets trapped under the B&B as a layer of foam is fitted between it and the engine to keep it out and reduce vibration. It will handle a hard hit on a rock or anything else without fuss - I've done it several times over 20,000+kms of off road riding over the last three years - it's bloody tough. They are long established and highly regarded here in Aus and their products are used by elite racers. I'm not suggesting they are better than the one from Motosportz, but in the interests of fairness they are top notch. They also offer other products for the 650 - see http://www.bboffroad.com.au/tr_650_terra.htm
There you go, I was beginning to think everyone forgot that there is no frame under the engine, the engine acts as the frame...
Another resource coming: Just dropped off my Terra to Ricochet here in Salt Lake for them to prototype a Skidplate for the 650! Looking forward to seeing their solution for all the exposed lines -- http://utahsportcycle.com/index.html Full disclosure: for giving up my baby for a week, I will get a "smoking' deal" on the prototype. Paul
Dont forget that the holes also help dissipate engine noise. I have a BB on my 310. I took to it with a drill abd put in about 50 holes-makes a real difference in the engine resonance department. Like Motorspot plate looks very well engineered.
The Turatech website shows quite a few aftermarket accessories for the terra/strada....really like the looks of their plate. Think theirs is the one im going with. Not sure how to do a proper link but here it is: http://shop.touratechcanada.com/engine-guard-for-husqvarna-tr650-terra.html
Just ordered a Touratech skid plate....I like the way it mounts. Comes on and off fast for oil changes.
go to the Touratech web site, USA, and click on Terra. The Touratech has no holes in the bottom, 3 button head cap screws into the mounts. I like this so you can get all the crap out of the pan that builds up. Also the pan is corrugated to stiffen it up. Cleaver design for light-medium duty trails and leaves room to add crash bars.
Post #4 in this thread. http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/creating-posts-threads-read-this-one.16262/ If you are still having issues please state computer/mobile device type, browser you are using, and if possible what browser version you are using. I've noticed several people having issues - it could well be that a certain browser was 'upgraded' to be incompatible with cafe husky.
Here is the Touratech plate...tried to load the pic the conventional way but wouldn't work for me either. Not the best pic of them but i think im gona go with their handguards as well
I had to grind some off of the rear mount on the right side arm and add a washer on top of the spacer to get to clear the case not a big deal....the washer would probably have done it, fits nice. Comes up far enough in the front to help out and leaves room for crash bars I will be adding to protect radiator and the lines on the front sides of the engine.
