Engine Guard

[keeponriding]

Opinions folks: Anyone seen the OEM engine guards? Any comments?

Thoughts and considerations buying after-market vs OEM?

 

[Swagger]

.... Anyone seen the OEM engine guards? Any comments? .... Thoughts and considerations buying after-market vs OEM? ...

I can't offer much I'm afraid .... I purchased my bike with the OEM kit .... the bars well made and seem to protect the right areas with regards to the motor. I'm advised that they are good with low speed offs and general light 'put downs' but they do leave the upper cowls exposed to damage with a more radical off. The rad is under the nearside cowl and can be compromised ... I've heard that this has happened to one of the ADV guys. You have to remember that if you do take a big tumble on a bike of this size the weight alone will muller just about anything and the greater the speed the worse it will be. I may change mine later as I attempt to harden the lines of the bike ;D

 

[keeponriding]

Agreed....I've dropped bikes putting them on the center stand, hitting a log at 15 mph (I thought I could go over...I could on my mtn bike) and , once, forgetting to put down the sidestand....it's that kind of protection I'm looking for.

 

[RomKnight]

I bought SW-Motech protections (it was a awhile ago and now more options are available)

I can only tell i'm satisfied with them, although they do not cover the engine like the Yamaha originals, they give you plenty of room when layin the bike on its side, so it has to be a big rock to hit the engine.

Anyway, I only put the bike to its side once (RHS on slimey mud - the type that sucks your boots off when walking on it) and the mud didn't even reach the plastics or the engine.

There are crashbars,, namely from Greg @advrider, in develpment that combine engine guards with ones like sw-motech. Keep looking.

 

[fredz43]

RomKnight, I read Greg's report of the SW-M bars and he said he could just barely remove the right side cover with the bars on. He never reported whether he could remove the left (radiator) side, but I assume that he could not do that with the bars in place. I say this because he had pics showing the right side being farther away from the bike than the left side. There is interest in whether both sides can be removed with bars in place, as you have to have those covers off to remove two bolts to raise the tank to service the air filter. If no bars can accomodate this, I think the next important thing is how difficult is it to remove the left side to get that cover off. Of course, you don't have to get to the air filter that often, but it is a point of interest.

I know that you can remove both covers with the Yamaha bars, but they provide no protection to those panels, so I would not consider them.

 

[RomKnight]

I was probably one of the first to get the sw-m crashbars. It gets tricky to take off/put on the RHS crash bar. But it has a way.

Never though you need to take the LFS bars to get to the air filter... I thought that only the radiator and fan where there. ??? so I was never "worried" about that.

I'll have to read the service manual now...

 

[Waspworks]

RomKnight, I read Greg's report of the SW-M bars and he said he could just barely remove the right side cover with the bars on. He never reported whether he could remove the left (radiator) side, but I assume that he could not do that with the bars in place. I say this because he had pics showing the right side being farther away from the bike than the left side. There is interest in whether both sides can be removed with bars in place, as you have to have those covers off to remove two bolts to raise the tank to service the air filter. If no bars can accomodate this, I think the next important thing is how difficult is it to remove the left side to get that cover off. Of course, you don't have to get to the air filter that often, but it is a point of interest.

I know that you can remove both covers with the Yamaha bars, but they provide no protection to those panels, so I would not consider them.

I never tried to remove the L/H side cover as I am 99.99% sure it will not happen with the SW-M bars in place.
In fact, I have my doubt's that the L/H cover could be removed with just about any manufacturers full side cover bars (Yamaha O.E.M excepted of course) installed.
The thing that must be considered is that the L/H side cover is one full (assembled) piece, as opposed to the R/H cover being in two pieces.
To remove the right cover you only need to loosen the four qtr turn fasteners and pull the cover away a minimal amount before it can be slid sideways between the bar and electrics. The removal of the L/H side however requires that the entire panel is removed in one piece and pulled further away from the body to clear over the radiator.

Good luck to those who are working on this at the moment.

To be honest, I have never really had a concern over the ability or lack off to remove the covers with bars installed.
If I plan on touring or traveling a goodly/remote distance from home I would be carrying the minimal tools required to remove the bars + sump guard + wheels etc.
Besides guys, this is a Yamaha not a Beemer :

Greg

 

[Chadx]

Since everyone's main concern is getting to the two gas tank bolts so it can be flipped up for air filter service, the real questions becomes getting to those bolts. That may not necessitate removing both side panels in their entirety. Is it possible that the LH side could be loosened and pulled out enough to access the LH tank bolt and full removal of the LH panel is not necessary at all? Just asking the question.

 

[Jakeboy]

Since everyone's main concern is getting to the two gas tank bolts so it can be flipped up for air filter service, the real questions becomes getting to those bolts. That may not necessitate removing both side panels in their entirety. Is it possible that the LH side could be loosened and pulled out enough to access the LH tank bolt and full removal of the LH panel is not necessary at all? Just asking the question.

Excellent question, Chadx!

 

[colorider]

Besides guys, this is a Yamaha not a Beemer :

Greg

That about sums it up!!!! Heck, I have never had the tool kit out on my FJR!!!

 

[protondecay123]

I'm wondering if anyone could give me the diameter of the Yamaha OEM engine guards. I'm close to getting deliver and looking at placing some MFW footpegs, but want to make sure the clamps will be correct. Thanks!