I'm not usually a crash bar guy...I don't worry about dinging up or scratching the plastic if I tip over, but after discussion with a Terra rider at China Hat I did agree with the point that the radiators seem a bit vulnerable in a tip over. So, I ordered up a set of AltRiders and installed last night in about 15 minutes. They came with the supplementary piece, are a very well made set of pipes, lighter than I expected, and have the added bonus of a nice mounting spot for a GoPro.
I too have been down now 2 times, once in a soft rutted sandy logging road trying to do a u-turn in first gear, front tire (you know the one) slipped out from underneath, dinged my right forearm, next was another u-turn at an intersection on the road, my left foot went down to discover nothing there to support me so the gravity did it's thing, brused left knee. Lucky no cars were coming. Nothing broken on the bike other then a few scratches to the ends of the handle bars, scratched the plastic red section right side and the front fender. I've got the BRMoto side racks on it now, soon to purchase the AltRiders crash bars. Does anyone know if the AltRider crash bar is compatable with the Motosportz skid plate and wings? I think I saw a thread that it was. Soon I will install it. Do I need to trim the skid plate wings for the crash bar to fit? Thanks
You need to trim the wings. We used a sawsall. Think that may have been the original intent for the wings - trim to fit (not sure).
Just got my SW-Motech bars. These things are beefy. I think someone said the flat plate used for mounting was 1/4", I find mine to be just over 5/16 at .317. I don't think anyone will have a problem with these. It would have to be one heck of a hit.
You might consider the Altrider skid plate. It is very well made, beefy, and looks good in black. I took off my Touratech skid plate and installed it. Good protection and strong enough so you can put the bike on a stand now..
Have crash bars and centrestand installed..SW Motech. (BTW thanks to the centrestabd thread Red loctite was a bugger but used my little propane solderer to heat bolt..focused heat without getting to paint.. Was going to chance the other plates but have gone all corporate and getting SWM plate. God knows there were enough combinations. Looking at some aluminum mesh to make own radiateor guard...a must have I think... You know the " must have " things...Air ,water ,food , Bike farkles.......
I am about to order crash bars, would any of my below assertions be incorrect 1 Mw bars 1/3 cheaper 2 altrider bars would not protect handle bar hitting the ground first whilst MW could 3 MW bars protect the engine more especially off road with uneven ground 4 my b&b radiator guard will save my radiator without the altrider bars http://bboffroad.com.au/shop/online-products/radiator-guards/radiator-guard-husky-tr650.html 5 combination of handle bars and MW bars should limit shroud contact with the ground 6 I'm 6 foot potential for altrider bars to affect riding position 7 potential to install clamp on fold up foot pegs to MW bars for long boring highway travel ( not sure on this just an idea ) 8 altering b&b bash plate to fit MW bars won't affect it's strength Any other positives negatives most welcome
1 Mw bars 1/3 cheaper - definitely cheaper 2 altrider bars would not protect handle bar hitting the ground first whilst MW could - dont think either bar would protect handle bars 3 MW bars protect the engine more especially off road with uneven ground - ya maybe since they are lower 4 my b&b radiator guard will save my radiator without the altrider bars - no http://bboffroad.com.au/shop/online-products/radiator-guards/radiator-guard-husky-tr650.html 5 combination of handle bars and MW bars should limit shroud contact with the ground - same is true for the altrider bar and handle bar 6 I'm 6 foot potential for altrider bars to affect riding position - have read some complaints about that 7 potential to install clamp on fold up foot pegs to MW bars for long boring highway travel ( not sure on this just an idea ) - ya, there are one or two here on CH that have done that 8 altering b&b bash plate to fit MW bars won't affect it's strength - doubt that it would change that much
I ordered the Happy Trails bars. http://www.happy-trail.com/ZoomImage.aspx?productID=4460c335-a594-48c2-b5ed-abdb177bb2c8 I like how they protect the radiator
man... this thread has been through the ringer! as have the bars listed in it... It seems Alt bars haven't really been retooled then? The SW bars don't really protect the radiator as much. And the TCI bars aren't really in the same category? More of a tough looking skid plate bonus type thing than crash bars. IMHO. I KNOW i'm a perfectionist, and also have a good eye for design and detail. That never makes my decisions easier. But man, I feel like some of these bars are just a hair off of being awesome. The companies know it. Why NOT make the BEST bar out there? Granted, our bikes have no future really, but they do have a TON of present. I'd rather spend the money on a good roller/bender, and some welding machinery/schooling and start making my own stuff sometimes... Oh well... Looking like I've hopped off the Alt bar bandwagon and jumped onto the SW bar one. although I DO love Alts skid more than ANY other, by a long shot! No hose clamps on that bad boy! ....edited... Damn it I do love the look of those Alt bars though... In the "parts included pic" what is the black plate looking thing? Somewhere I read that the plate ends didn't align with the frame, so they included a shim. Is that it? Why wouldn't they just make the end plates align perfectly? Our bikes aren't different are they? What gives? And damn they are pricey... looks like less material than other bars, but more cost? Are the materials better? Lighter? I'm really hoping lighter! THAT I'd pay for.
There's a thread around here somewhere that describes that black plate thing in detail. The bars are made to align with the frame perfectly, and they do. However, since the frame is tapered, over time, the bars may creep upward, eventually using the exhaust manifold as a stopping point. The black plate thingamabob becomes the stop instead, keeping everything tight and where it should be.
I think the comment about TCI bars actually meant to say Happy Trails. The HT bars protect the radiator much better.
Your right RD, WTH was I thinking? Meant to say HT... They definitely go a little higher up the radiator from the bottom than the SW
