Engine guards with panniers question

[bacon]

I have a question about using engine guards along with panniers.
I see all the guards out so far show how they contact the ground and distribute the load on a bare bike.
I will be running panniers almost 100% of the time.
With this in mind how does it change the contact patch and what one would work best with panniers?

 

[MikeBear]

Good question. I don't think anybody makes complete setup to cover that problem, or makes metal frames to safeguard panniers.

 

[TRUBRIT]

My little experience....two up loaded for a trip. OEM Crash bars and Paniers. Georgia Stop sign and traffic...put foot down....no road, big deep rut. Left side down. Slight scratch on curved part of crash bar. Scuff on front bottom corner of panier. Scuffed left handlebar end/bark buster. No other damage or marks.

 

[Globerider2002]

My experience is a lot of miles but minumal time on the side of the bike, but when it has happened most of the weight is on the front of the bike and the engine guards; little or no damage to the Touratech aluminum panniers. The new design panniers have a replaceable rubber strip on the contact area that make touch the ground. These can easily be replaced if damaged; check out the Touratech and Trax bags for the rubber strip design. You could also look at a soft pannier if you are really worried about this, but if you plan to keep the panniers mounted to the bike, I would go with the hard aluminum design. They have worked well for me over many miles. ::021::

 

[bacon]

My experience is a lot of miles but minumal time on the side of the bike, but when it has happened most of the weight is on the front of the bike and the engine guards; little or no damage to the Touratech aluminum panniers. The new design panniers have a replaceable rubber strip on the contact area that make touch the ground. These can easily be replaced if damaged; check out the Touratech and Trax bags for the rubber strip design. You could also look at a soft pannier if you are really worried about this, but if you plan to keep the panniers mounted to the bike, I would go with the hard aluminum design. They have worked well for me over many miles. ::021::

I guess I did not make myself clear its NOT the panniers I am worried about. Its the stress on engine guards that are designed around what looks like a bike with out panniers to get a full contact patch and spread out the load on mounting points. What I am concerned about is the panniers changing that and having just one conner of the guard take all the load. I don't have the bike yet just thinking about what to get when I do get the bike.

 

[EricV]

I guess I did not make myself clear its NOT the panniers I am worried about. Its the stress on engine guards that are designed around what looks like a bike with out panniers to get a full contact patch and spread out the load on mounting points. What I am concerned about is the panniers changing that and having just one conner of the guard take all the load. I don't have the bike yet just thinking about what to get when I do get the bike.

Bacon - Check out this thread and scroll down to see pics of my bike on it's side with panniers and w/o. It will give you an idea of how things change for impact on the side with and w/o panniers for most crash bars. The Rumbux shown are some of the more complete and beefier ones out there, but I think most crash bars will have similar type of impact as the bike goes over. Typically the front end hits first, then the bags touch down in a crash. Not that much dynamic difference, but the pics show the static difference to some degree.
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=4395.0

Full Disclosure, I am the Rumbux importer, so that is my vendor thread. If you have specific questions about the Rumbux, PM me or ask in that thread please.

I think you need to remember that crashes are all about movement. As the bike goes down, it may hit one part of the crash bar first, but it's not going to stick there, but continue rolling over to the full support of the crash bars, which will absorb the impact more evenly. I also ride with the panniers on all the time. I have Touratech Zega Pros and like that they have replaceable corner protectors, but it hasn't been necessary to stress about them.

For us on the S10, crash bars are an important part of protection due to the side mounted radiator. You do NOT want to crunch the fan into the radiator and have it become jammed. The fan will quickly burn out the motor and it's an expensive part, even w/o radiator repairs.

Hope that helps!

 

[Checkswrecks]

I guess I did not make myself clear its NOT the panniers I am worried about. Its the stress on engine guards that are designed around what looks like a bike with out panniers to get a full contact patch and spread out the load on mounting points. What I am concerned about is the panniers changing that and having just one conner of the guard take all the load. I don't have the bike yet just thinking about what to get when I do get the bike.

There are a lot of Teneres with a variety of crash bars, but generally they all have the same spots to attach. Some are REALLY cantilevered out a ways.
We've had bars with minimal damage, paint damage, and bent to hit the tank. But the mounting points have never been cited as a problem.


That answer your question?