Hey Dave, Just bought a new 2018 S-Ten and I've got some SW Motech crashbars to install. Just wondering if you installed your Motech bars yourself?? You posted:
"Only the electric side panels could be removed." Did this pose a problem? Or interfer with maintenance? \
Thanls................SHUMBA
I generally do all my own work, so yes I installed them. The right or electric side they do cone off. You need to flex the lower a bit and use caution so the captive screws don't drag across the painted upper section, but not a big deal at all. The upper comes right out.
The left side would not come out. I did a major service including changing the coolant. I was able to get it done, it was a minor bit of fiddling around. I removed all the fasteners and popped the left side cover loose. I had to flex the upper rear corner out and away to get at the radiator cap. I was able to get it all done.
I probably put 50 or 60 thousand miles on the SW Motech crash bars and never had an issue, maintenance or otherwise. I never crashed them hard, several drops at a slow roll.
Reason for the change...
I had the SW Motech skid plate and it fastens to the sump. Several riders have documented that is a bad pan if you get into any heavier rocks on the road. I scored a Rumbux system on the want ads at a good price so I went that way. Very robust and the skid plate fastens only to the lower engine guard, which mounts to the frame.
Going to Alaska this year (2019) and I did not want to do that with the Motech skid plate. There are other's I could have used that do not mount to the engine, but when I was all done swapping from SW Motech to Rumbux it cost me only a hundred bucks or so.