Crash bars for 1200GS LC - Any recommendations?
I had Wild at Heart lower crash bars fitted to my GS before taking delivery of it on Friday. When I collected the bike, Dave pointed to the RHS bar and told me to watch my shins. Little did I realise what I was in for.
Done two rides this weekend with my wife as pillion and on several occasions I've bashed my right shin against the back of the bar, mostly in stop-start, busy traffic where I needed to get my feet down quickly. My shin is now swollen like a balloon and I'm treating it with Arnica spray, ice and elevation. Obviously, I need to make a plan with those bars, so the way I see it, I have a few options:
- Remove the Wild at Heart bars and fit SW-Motech or BMW bars instead?
- Remove the bars and fit just the cylinder head covers, but not sure that will give enough protection in the event of a fall or side stand incident?
- Fit BMW / SW-Motech bars and cylinder head covers?
The problem is only on the right and looking from above I see the RHS cylinder is set back more than the left. This obviously aggravates the problem and seriously reduces the available leg room behind the cylinder.
At this stage, although I know I might be in for an expensive exercise, looking at my shin and the pain I'm in right now, the cost is not that much of an issue. I need to sort this out quickly as I commute almost every day by bike, and can't afford any more shin contact until this has healed.
Maybe Johan can modify the RHS bar to run lower down, more under the cylinder head and not behind it, to give me more leg room?
Any recommendations from other LC riders?
In the meantime I've cut a section of pool noodle and cable-tied it to the bar, so that the next hit will be a softer one! However, by doing so I have even less space so tomorrow's commute is gonna be interesting and probably eina!
Hi Trevor
Mike at RockFox supplied and fitted my 1200LC crashbars and I have no problem with them.
They look good and fit well and no issues with the shins.
Also accommodate my spots and are in black which fits in well with my Triple Black.
Regards
Hi Trevor,
I have 3 suggestions......in order of MY preference....
Rockfox
Rockfox
Rockfox
I feel I must apologise to Johan of Wild at Heart. It sounds like I'm slating his product and I'm not, that was not my intention. The RHS bar just doesn't work for me and I should in retrospect have first phoned Johan this morning and given him the opportunity to respond, before making this post. My bad.
Anyway, water under the bridge, it's out there now. I had Johan's bars on my 800 and no problems, saved the bike a couple of times. I was happy to install WAH bars on my 1200, they are good strong bars and keener pricing than other options.
I've spoken with Johan this morning and he's very accommodating and willing to assist me to rectify the problem, despite my post, so together, we will work out a solution and I would like to thank Johan for his understanding. This is good service. I will report back after the problem is solved.
Okay, so I eventually went with the Rockfox bars as per your recommendations.
Did a short ride yesterday with pillion. So far, so good.
Thanks for your advice and thanks to Johan for his great customer service.
Rockfox
I am also looking at crashbars to fit my Trophy.
I was really keen on Wild@Heart ones. What part is hitting you? DO they stand out that much. On the pics it looks quite close to the cylinder covers. I liked how they protect. Then there is Rockfox and SW-motech as well.
Im thinking a crashbar and then a polyurethane or metal "cover slider"so that rocks don't go through.
One thing im not really keen on as it really spoils the look for me is the upper crash bars. I suppose they are seriously needed?
Personally, I prefer the "full" crash bars, i.e. top & bottom.
With the bottom bars only, it looks too much like a girl in panties only and no bra.........
Hi Nox
The bar that runs behind the right cylinder was hitting my shin when I put my leg down. Not always, but sometimes. Especially if I had a pillion rider with me. The left side was fine because there's more space there.
I now have the Rockfox bars on and I've had no further issues with my shins. I went for lower bars only as I ride 95% on tar at this stage, but I have the option of fitting the upper bars later if I want to. The Rockfox bars are designed like that, so you can easily add the upper bars as and when needed.
I see them more as 'cylinder head protectors' than 'crash bars', because that's what they do and also why I fitted them. But if I was a regular off-roader, I'd probably fit the upper ones too.
Hope that helps? If you Google Rockfox there is a nice photo gallery where you can see how their bars look on the bike.
Nothing wrong with a girl with no bra Dudley LOL!
Ha bottoms only rocks in my world ;)
Thanks Trevor, it makes sense how you describe it.
I love the work Mike and Co does so no need to be convinced of the quality and professionalism. They made a real nice tail tidy for my BMW XChallenge. Holding up great and looks the business. I am just a stickler for looks as well sometimes so will go look at the pictures. I might not need more convincing though seems you tried the pudding.
I suppose the upper crashbars will be needed :(
Edit: I had a look at the pics. It seems they are quite wide sticking out past the jugs.
What about only pod covers...what's the verdict?
Im looking at some of the cylinder head bars and it looks that if one goes down esp in dirt that it will dig in and flip the bike since many have the bar pointing out.
Wondering if one gets a nice and big cylinder head protection cover if that wont be as good? Yeah the engine takes the nock but thats already secured in the frame.
Like these:
http://machineartmoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/r-side-w_graphic.jpg
But yeah I suppose it's not a good idea since more people would have done that if it was the better solution I guess. Best to have both.
I have no crash bars on Mr.Badger at all. And I have probably dropped Mr.Badger more than anybody else on this forum. All I have is those steel tappedt-cover protectors - and even those are fairly new. At least half my falling was done with the plastic protectors on. I went through at least 10 plastic ones.
There was a stage in the early days when I was practicing every day. My rule was I could only stop for the day when I have dropped the bike 5 times. Other notable falls have been highsiding down a slope in the quarry near Zone 7 such that my handlebar bent, sliding out on tar on a diesel slick, lowsiding on Montagu pass with pillion, and uncountable falls at various speeds on the West Coast. Not once have I damaged the bike.
When I looked today I couldn't see the pics. There used to be a 'gallery' type of album on Google, showing the bars from all different angles.
I don't think they stick out any more than the other designs, but whether they would flip the bike or not in a fall can only be answered by those who have fallen with these bars on.
I could take some photos of the bars as fitted on my bike and send them to you. Or we could meet up somewhere for you to view them in the flesh, so to speak?
I fitted mine mainly in the event of a 'side stand incident'. Had two of those in the garage with my 800 and the Wild at Heart bars saved the bike from being damaged.
I'd really like to see the bars from a few angles. Pics will do but it will be great to meet if we can. I sent you a PM.
Charles yeah, if though about those covers. Seems it could also work.
Decision Decisions.
I have the SW Motech crash bars. They are there mainly to protect my radiator and have kept my fairings in relatively good order. I have a theory about damage to my bike. Lance complains that we carry all the tools just for me, as I am the only one that ever uses them on trips. He has fallen plenty, but the damage tends to be non-severe (though he has replaced every panel on the front of his bike...).
I have a 650, which is a narrow little bike. The only stick-out bits are the handlebars and everything on them. Therefore, when I hit earth at anything more than just side-stand incident speed, I lose mirrors (have lost plenty) and snap off levers (I have snapped off both a front brake and a clutch lever). I have now bought a spare clutch lever to carry on trips. You can cope without a front brake - I've done it before.
Before the Jurg se Kaya trip, I loosened the handlebar combinations switches slightly. I would thank my lucky stars for doing this on a trip a couple of months later. I had a blonde moment and left my bike in neutral on a slope. Next minute it made the acquaintance of a nearby tree. The entire left-hand-side combination switch (including mirror) shifted, but nothing snapped; aside from (oddly) the opposite mirror on which my helmet was perched. 4 mirror adaptors and 3 mirrors down and counting... At least I have cheap (R100) after-market mirrors and the adaptors are R50 a piece.
I need crash bars for my handlebars...
Haha, good tip on losening the combo switch and mirrors a bit.
The SW Motech stuff is really good. A bit more expensive than local Still can't make up my mind what to go for. though. I really like how the SW Motech bars look though.
On my XChallenge I have foldable mirrors. Quite affordable and looks good. While riding you can also just push them up and they fold up with a ratchet like action. Had one drop with them and they just folded up.
For your handlebar you can get Barkbuster handguards, and 2 finger levers.
The nice thing about them is that while providing less chance of braking when a fall happens they also allows you more control on the bars while covering the brake or using the clutch. So your index and middle finger can change while pinky ring and thumb are still around the bars.
Some are also fully adjustable. I'm thinking of adding them to my GS eventually.
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