Skid plate question

[Yamaguy55]

Since the bike wasn't here anyway, I haven't stocked up on goodies. Now that delivery is approaching, I'd like to get the needed items.
First up: Skid plate. My use for this bike will not likely be super technical off road stuff, mostly two track and short hops onto single track. That said, I so live in an area infamous for rock, rock and more rock. It looks like southern New England out in the woods with all of the boulders strewn about. I don't expect to try true off road, but am concerned about the vulnerability of the engine. I have really whacked my Flatland racing plate on the WR250R hard enough several times to bounce the entire bike. That's the background.

Here's my question: has anyone tried everything available, and what are the pros and cons of them vs the factory item. Since I don't plan to buy four of them, buying a good but expensive one is OK by me.

Inputs? Thanks in advance for any info, helpful (or not!)

 

[colorider]

has anyone tried everything available

I doubt anyone has tried everything available and most of us are in the same boat trying to weed through various user reports here and on other forums. Seems the best user review I can recall seeing was for the AltRider one, due mostly to it's mounting method. The one on the Hepco-Becker website looked good too, but no prices or first-hand reports that I have seen.

 

[HoebSTer]

yamaguy, there are threads from ALTRider here stating their system. There are ride reports of guys in Africa riding the Tenere who blew out the bottom of the cases with the OEM skid plate after hitting something. SW Motech in my opinion, is the middle fo the road for strength and price. I, like many others will be riding mild off road, but still think there is that one time where a stone, or rock can jump up and turn your day to real crap!!!

 

[Waspworks]

ALTrider looks to be the best (design + mounting) and most solid to me.

Greg.

 

[Yamaguy55]

yamaguy, there are threads from ALTRider here stating their system. There are ride reports of guys in Africa riding the Tenere who blew out the bottom of the cases with the OEM skid plate after hitting something. SW Motech in my opinion, is the middle fo the road for strength and price. I, like many others will be riding mild off road, but still think there is that one time where a stone, or rock can jump up and turn your day to real crap!!!

Agreed. I saw the South African video and story, that was quite a hit. However, this bike is heavy and expensive enough, and the chances are good enough, that I'll probably go for the Altrider plate. Long push home from some of my wanderings, and I'm too lazy.

 

[Yamaguy55]

ALTrider looks to be the best (design + mounting) and most solid to me.

Greg.

Have you tried one of the Altrider versions, or seen them?
I have been sort-of following your mods, but I don't remember anymore (that silly work thing keeps getting in the way)
- I did see where you stated nobody makes the crash guard you like, so you were going to make your own. I saw the Altrider SS version, that certainly looks stout enough, but sort of too obvious. Not sure where I'm headed there; your thoughts?
- luggage: you decided on the Traxx with SW-Motech mounting, correct?

Sorry for the question barrage, but the time is approaching and you've already been there.

Thanks

 

[TierHawg]

I like the fact the AltRider has a variety of pics showing their product. SW-Motech is almost the opposite, where they have one basic pic.

After some looking around, I found the mounting instructions for the SW-Tech plate:
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/artikelpdf/mss_06_150_10000_s.pdf

Compared to the AltRider plate:
http://www.altrider.com//files/product/690/SU10-2-1200%20XT1200%20Skid%20Plate%20Instructions_R1.pdf

Looking at both made my head hurt. Both appear to share the same mounting points, both are 3 to 3.175 mm aluminum. Both would work my intended purpose of keeping flung rocks and such from hitting the underside of the bike. One is $100 more than the other.

My mind is still not made up.

 

[jajpko]

I like the fact the AltRider has a variety of pics showing their product. SW-Motech is almost the opposite, where they have one basic pic.

After some looking around, I found the mounting instructions for the SW-Tech plate:
http://shop.sw-motech.com/cosmoshop/artikelpdf/mss_06_150_10000_s.pdf

Compared to the AltRider plate:
http://www.altrider.com//files/product/690/SU10-2-1200%20XT1200%20Skid%20Plate%20Instructions_R1.pdf

Looking at both made my head hurt. Both appear to share the same mounting points, both are 3 to 3.175 mm aluminum. Both would work my intended purpose of keeping flung rocks and such from hitting the underside of the bike. One is $100 more than the other.

My mind is still not made up.

After looking at both instructions, it seems the SW Motech has at least one bolt(11) going into the sump. I do like the rubber cushions. I still like the ALTrider best, as that is the one I bought. lol

 

[limey]

If I am hot mistaken I think Wasp has the SW-Motech skid plate on his bike. ALTRIDER for me........

Paul...

 

[TierHawg]

After looking at both instructions, it seems the SW Motech has at least one bolt(11) going into the sump. I do like the rubber cushions. I still like the ALTrider best, as that is the one I bought. lol

Great catch, I totally missed that. That is one of those little minor details that can have a significant outcome on performance.

 

[tubebender]

I went back and forth on this a months ago. I originally ordered the Alt Rider skid plate, but then canceled it cause I thought it was too expensive.

I looked and read and looked and read and made a decision.

I re-ordered the Alt Rider plate. Why :question:, because I like the way they engineered the rear mount.

One other detail. The weld quality looks good and they back welded the corners. What I mean by that is the main welds are on the outside of the plate but where the major joins are they have welded from the edge back approx. 1.5 " on the inside as well. This tells me that some one has a clue :lamp:

 

[KSH]

I have changed my mind on a Skid plate numerous times.
I finally just ordered the factory one, I don't need a lot of protection and re-engineering the rear mounting tab will be easy enough.

When I start some serious off-road I will buy a heavy duty one.

 

[Waspworks]

Have you tried one of the Altrider versions, or seen them?
I have been sort-of following your mods, but I don't remember anymore (that silly work thing keeps getting in the way)
- I did see where you stated nobody makes the crash guard you like, so you were going to make your own. I saw the Altrider SS version, that certainly looks stout enough, but sort of too obvious. Not sure where I'm headed there; your thoughts?
- luggage: you decided on the Traxx with SW-Motech mounting, correct?

Sorry for the question barrage, but the time is approaching and you've already been there.

Thanks

Hi Yamaguy.

No, I have not seen the AltRider in the flesh only in the original development sneak peeks and then the video.
I stand corrected as I thought their bash plate had the signature pressed tunnel base, a feature which adds considerable strength to the underside of the component.
Studying the install manual I see that it in fact does not... A very disappointing surprise and I believe a mistake on their behalf.
They must have had their reasons for excluding this desirable feature, not the least of which is probably the lack of solid fixings at the front of the motor to warrant such a solid base.
That said, they do appear to offer the most solid front fixing arrangement so far. The rear mounts seem similar to SWM and TT or HB, but at 3.2mm thickness they are no better or worse than the others apart from the location, number, and magnitude of the strengthening bends.

On the crash bar front: Call it arrogant confidence, or ultimate stupidity but recent photo's show that I removed my SWM bars and now ride without any crash bar protection.
Most of my riding is off-road through often challenging terrain at a pace probably not conducive to this size bike : and as such I decided that I wanted to trim a bit of weight off the front wheel.
I am doing a lot of development work on products for this bike at the moment, one of which is the crash bars. I now have a design that I am happy with in terms of ergo's, weight, and appearance but it may be a few weeks to a month before I can get onto manufacturing a set.
Both the SWM and ALTrider bars seem solid and effective enough for the job but, as seen in Barge's crash, all products have a chink in their armor or vulnerable points,.

Yes I use SWM luggage and racks but even that is under revue for modification.
The SWM racks sit way too low on this bike and i will be modifying to raise them around 3.5" as well as balance them side to side to enable use of the same size boxes leaft and right.

Greg.

 

[colorider]

As usual - VERY good product feedback from Greg!!!!!!!


Thanks for being a member of our community!!

 

[Yamaguy55]

Hi Yamaguy.

No, I have not seen the AltRider in the flesh only in the original development sneak peeks and then the video.
I stand corrected as I thought their bash plate had the signature pressed tunnel base, a feature which adds considerable strength to the underside of the component.
Studying the install manual I see that it in fact does not... A very disappointing surprise and I believe a mistake on their behalf.
They must have had their reasons for excluding this desirable feature, not the least of which is probably the lack of solid fixings at the front of the motor to warrant such a solid base.
That said, they do appear to offer the most solid front fixing arrangement so far. The rear mounts seem similar to SWM and TT or HB, but at 3.2mm thickness they are no better or worse than the others apart from the location, number, and magnitude of the strengthening bends.

On the crash bar front: Call it arrogant confidence, or ultimate stupidity but recent photo's show that I removed my SWM bars and now ride without any crash bar protection.
Most of my riding is off-road through often challenging terrain at a pace probably not conducive to this size bike : and as such I decided that I wanted to trim a bit of weight off the front wheel.
I am doing a lot of development work on products for this bike at the moment, one of which is the crash bars. I now have a design that I am happy with in terms of ergo's, weight, and appearance but it may be a few weeks to a month before I can get onto manufacturing a set.
Both the SWM and ALTrider bars seem solid and effective enough for the job but, as seen in Barge's crash, all products have a chink in their armor or vulnerable points,.

Yes I use SWM luggage and racks but even that is under revue for modification.
The SWM racks sit way too low on this bike and i will be modifying to raise them around 3.5" as well as balance them side to side to enable use of the same size boxes leaft and right.

Greg.

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks for the detailed reply. Since the Altrider plate is a full 100 bucks more expensive, I may go with the SWM, and perhaps add a stiffening element if I feel the need. Some suggest a polymer pad between the engine and a plate (not just for the Tenere) but I would be reluctant to add anything where water and much could congregate and remain, ultimately corroding the cases. I'd rather it be "pillars" of polymer, rather than a block or sheet.
I don't plan on heavy off road, as stated above, but there's plenty of riding that requires reasonable protection. I'll just take it easy until I know what mods I need to do to the plate I purchase.
I'm hoping my guys at Flatland racing take on this project, because my plate for the WR250R is exactly what I asked for; I had them add additional cooling holes in the front, and that poor plate has taken some substantial hits and is still new appearance.
Again, thanks for the great info! I'll add if I find Flatland Racing is making a plate.

 

[Mellow]

I'm going w/Altrider skidplate and crash bars myself... I actually like they offer a silver crash bar to contrast the black side panels of the U.S. version of the bike..

 

[rem]

What a clever boy you are. My thinking exactly. I have a black on order, and I thought the silver crash bars and skid plate would provide a nice contrast. Mine are supposed to be on the way. R

 

[Koinz]

I dont have the skip plate, but I have the silver altrider bars to accent the raven black as well. ;D we are either the 3 stooges or maybe great minds think alike. I think the latter.

 

[colorider]

;D we are either the 3 stooges or maybe great minds think alike. I think the latter.

No comment..............

 

[Mellow]

No comment..............

Oh... wiseguy..nuk nuk nuk..