Question? Instead of adding crash bars; has anyone added an additional bumper, extension, pad, hockey puck, etc. to the stock Yamaha guards that stick out under the side panels? I'm a little different in that I don't want to add aftermarket crash bars but think the stock guards need to extend out a bit more to provide better protection in a tip over. I would appreciate hearing some thoughts on this. Thank you.
Add a Bumper or Something to Side Crash Guards
- Thread starter old1959
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Jeff Milleman
Active Member
If your bike ever goes down you'll wish you had crash bars... $$ to fix stuff other then a scratch on the bars.!!
Jeff, I hear you but I'm questioning if aftermarket crash bars are the only way to go? I like what Yamaha has done with the small guards but think if they were further out the guards would be able to keep the side panels off the ground. Note: I primarily ride on pavement so I'm thinking along the lines of a simple tip over on pavement not boulders on a trail. The Honda ST1300 has some bumpers built in the lower fairings which got me thinking about a bumper of some material. Thanks.
EricV
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Perhaps this is what may appeal to you. OffTheRoad
IF - big IF - You never are off nice flat pavement then the stock guard actually do surprisingly well. Lay your new bike on its side and it'll rest on those and the hand guards, not the side covers. There are a lot of owners with no added protection.
That said, te bike has two Achiles Heels to be aware of. One is the fragile sump plate that even throwing up a rock from a gravel road has broken. The other is the radiator on the left side of the bike. If the bike goes down on the left and things are not smooth, we've had a number of owners lock up the fan or push the fan into the radiator and create a leak.
The two mounting points for the stock guards are basically flat steel welded to the frame. You could simply use some spacers to hold the left guard out a bit farther, but it would increase the risk of bending these frame tabs. Or do like a lot of folks and get a light set of bars, such as the Happy Trail, Puig, or Givis.
That said, te bike has two Achiles Heels to be aware of. One is the fragile sump plate that even throwing up a rock from a gravel road has broken. The other is the radiator on the left side of the bike. If the bike goes down on the left and things are not smooth, we've had a number of owners lock up the fan or push the fan into the radiator and create a leak.
The two mounting points for the stock guards are basically flat steel welded to the frame. You could simply use some spacers to hold the left guard out a bit farther, but it would increase the risk of bending these frame tabs. Or do like a lot of folks and get a light set of bars, such as the Happy Trail, Puig, or Givis.
Don in Lodi
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Those bumpers built in to the lower fairings have to be backed up by something solid. Our fairings are backed up by air and more plastic. Aftermarket is pretty much the only way to go, whichever way you go. Yamaha sells bars as well, so not "aftermarket" per say.
[QUOTE="old1959, post: 352720, member: 12964....I like what Yamaha has done with the small guards but think if they were further out the guards would be able to keep the side panels off the ground....[/QUOTE]
One more option is the crash bars by Mastech. I too wanted protection....to a point. In my opinion these crash bars are what you're describing. I have them, and have not "tested" them. They bolt on to the original slider position, and onto the front of the block. I was concerned about the stress to the block in the event of a crash. My tech said if the block was cracked/damaged by the bars hitting the ground, it would likely be the least of my worries.
One more option is the crash bars by Mastech. I too wanted protection....to a point. In my opinion these crash bars are what you're describing. I have them, and have not "tested" them. They bolt on to the original slider position, and onto the front of the block. I was concerned about the stress to the block in the event of a crash. My tech said if the block was cracked/damaged by the bars hitting the ground, it would likely be the least of my worries.
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Sierra1, thank you for the suggestion. I like what you sent and will investigate. Your comments reminds me of a fellow rider who questioned the strength of my modular helmet, compared to the solid full face helmet, in a frontal crash impact. I reminded him that if the loads were great enough to cause the latching mechanism to fail then my neck, skeleton structure, brain, chest, etc. would most likely fail too...