Radiator braces, who has them and who wishes they did?

[JRW]

TE 449, already dropped it and broke a lever (another topic) and thinking seriously about rad braces. Have you not bought braces and regretted it? I don't race, but may. I trail ride and do single track but single track is still a lot of work for me, just getting back into it after 20 years or so.... Money is important for me, but 100 is 100 and not thinking after looking at the bike that it's a priority. They seem to be relatively tucked in and ok.

Can I get some thoughts?

 

[danny318]

I don't have them and don't regret it yet. I've only dropped the bike a couple times ever though. If I was more aggressive and sloppy I would get them. They look cool anyways.

 

[Long_Stroke]

I got brace/guard combo (bulletproof designs) when I bought my WR300 new. I just replaced my radiators due to a crack near the upper inlet tube. Got the thicker Chinese ones. They are much nicer than stock. When I took the old ones off I noticed that the brace/guard on one side had taken a hard hit and bent, but barely affected the radiator. The flimsy plastic covering them is zero protection for your radiators, so don't think of them as being tucked in.
I put Enduro Engineering braces on the 144 I got this spring. They don't restrict the airflow as much as the Bulletproof Designs guards do and they're a lot less expensive. They retain the stock plastic louvers that direct air into the radiator, which I think helps get air to all of the radiator surface.
Think of it as saving your radiators from getting smashed, saving you from a potentially long walk out of a forest, eliminating damage to a motor that overheats while riding with a smashed radiator.

 

[9880sts]

i got them and they safe'd me several Radiators. Rocky rutted terrain.. once you drop a bit harder and its all over.
I run the 7602Racing braces. 85 dollar.

 

[Dangermouse449]

I don't have them, the bike doesn't land on them unless very unlucky.

HOWEVER

I got my bars locked with a mate a while ago trying to overtake him & we speared off into the bush, my bike landed on a log side on to the RH radiator. The rad got folded around the head, but kept the coolant in

I had a local radiator shop work their magic, they straightend the core & rewelded the bottom tank & thermo switch hole.
No dramas so far.

I don't believe braces would have helped a lot in this case as it was a 3rd gear stack.... dunno.
The repair was $77, braces are $150 -$200 over here.







This is how we parked Note the log behind the Husky's forks....

 

[Dangermouse449]

TE 449, already dropped it and broke a lever

Try Sunline levers on your bike, they fold up, down & away from the bars.
No straight listing for TE449/511s, but KTM listings fit, to suit KTM/Brembo brake side & Ktm Brembo Clutch side (Most are Magura clutches)

 

[JonXX]

After the flat track bike took a hard crash resulting in a wadded up radiator (looked like Dangermouse's only more), I put a Mylers Radiator on it, and put Devol braces on that and 7602 braces on my TC450 and TXC250.

 

[rabskyline]

Got a rock through mine on my wr250f, rode 10klms with it and no coolant, not advised.
I'd rather fit them than be stuck in shitsville !
Always keep a spare clutch lever in my bag too.
Fitting mousse tube to rear also, it cops a hiding from rock ledges and roots, front, not so much.

 

[Dangermouse449]

After the flat track bike took a hard crash resulting in a wadded up radiator (looked like Dangermouse's only more), I put a Mylers Radiator on it, and put Devol braces on that and 7602 braces on my TC450 and TXC250.

I like the look of 7602's braces. I am thinking about them.....

 

[rabskyline]

B+B stuff is solid, I have force. Have bent a few sets of force over the years, pretty soft and still squashed a radiator with them fitted

 

[duggoey]

Its better to have them and not need them rather than need them and not have them. Like a helmet, chances are small that they'll take a hit but all it takes is a branch facing the wrong way and pop. $ 100 isnt much when you buy $10000 dirt bike!

 

[LAHuskyrider]

7602 braces on the 144 and 310. You can keep the stock louvers with minor trimming. IMO, peace of mind while out on the trail. They went on both bikes with no drama. Nice fit and finish. My son tested them out on the 144 last weekend when he crashed in a rocky section. Solid blow to the right side and no damage.

 

[9880sts]

i did have the force guards installed from New. They bend within 2 rides. Went for the 7602, and they safe'd me 2 radiators already. One impact with a branch, and the front screens safe'd it. on the other side a massive rock from another bike.

 

[reveille]

Just remember that if you don't install braces and you bend your radiators you will most likely not be able to install braces due to bent warped conditions. Put them on when you buy the bike. Its not the cost of replacing the radiators. Its being stuck in bf Egypt with a wadded up cooling system that would ruin your day.

 

[Mike-AK]

I've got EE braces on my TE310. They didn't cost that much and it was a fun project. Thankfully have not needed them yet, but better to be prepared IMO.

 

[Dangermouse449]

7602 braces on the 144 and 310. You can keep the stock louvers with minor trimming. IMO, peace of mind while out on the trail. They went on both bikes with no drama. Nice fit and finish. My son tested them out on the 144 last weekend when he crashed in a rocky section. Solid blow to the right side and no damage.

I like the idea of just the braces. No covers & running standard louvers.
I don't reckon enough air can get to the fins with the covers on & without the louvers.

Might be why lots of peoples bikes overheat in my opinion. Never had an issue in hilly, hot terrain with the standard setup.
My 2 cents worth....

 

[JRW]

I like the idea of just the braces. No covers & running standard louvers.
I don't reckon enough air can get to the fins with the covers on & without the louvers.

Might be why lots of peoples bikes overheat in my opinion. Never had an issue in hilly, hot terrain with the standard setup.
My 2 cents worth....

That was my original plan when I posted this thread. I was just wondering what the general opinion on braces were before I ordered. Probably buy the 7602 Racing braces for my TE449. Do they have a CafeHusky discount code?

 

[Dangermouse449]

That was my original plan when I posted this thread. I was just wondering what the general opinion on braces were before I ordered. Probably buy the 7602 Racing braces for my TE449. Do they have a CafeHusky discount code?

The advertised price is a pretty keen price anyhow!

 

[rabskyline]

I like the idea of just the braces. No covers & running standard louvers.
I don't reckon enough air can get to the fins with the covers on & without the louvers.

Might be why lots of peoples bikes overheat in my opinion. Never had an issue in hilly, hot terrain with the standard setup.
My 2 cents worth....

Problem is, how many times have you came across 1/2" to 1" thick branches stumps sticking up at radiator height and going through rads or between radiator and shroud ?
For me, regularly in beerburrum, glasshouse.
First ride saw my shrouds broken on the 250r, thumb thickness, straight through it , snapped !

Cooling fan and front grills a must for me.

 

[reveille]

That was my original plan when I posted this thread. I was just wondering what the general opinion on braces were before I ordered. Probably buy the 7602 Racing braces for my TE449. Do they have a CafeHusky discount code?

Call 7602, they usually do a discount for the cafe crowd.