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Crash Bars - Anyone got any (not Honda ones)

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W

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
I want to get some crash bars for my new black DCT AT, there are a lot being advertises but other than the Honda ones I don't think any are actually available in the UK

Has anyone fitted any non Honda Crash bars to their bike and if so what are they like?

Preferably I am looking for engine and from bodywork protection.
 
W

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
stephenat said:
Same here. Bee keen to know if you find any other than TT.
Rugged roads will have some soon. decent looking bash plate for the moment.

http://ruggedroads.co.uk/epages/00c.../12/CRF1000L_SD04_20161/Guards_and_Protection

steve
Click to expand...
Yes been watching them and TT (who I don't expect to buy) SW-Motech, R&G, Hepco and Becker and Holan, but none of them have anything actually available at the moment.

Holan say their engine bars are only for non DCT and they haven't bothered replying to my email asking if they will be doing a DCT version so I wont be buying from them.
 
marekm

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#8 ·
Crash Bars, yes we need crash bars :surprise:

Spanish demo bike










Unfortunately, none of the crash bars that are offered today appear to be any good. The problem seems to be with the bike - no proper fixing points. :frown2:
 
superfunkomatic

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#11 ·
Yikes. Pretty short life on that bike.
I'm not sure there is a lack of mounting points. The Holan, Honda, SW Motech, Touratech all seem to find different ways to connect under the front fairing but they all bolt directly to the motor/motor brackets. That's as solid as any other bike with bash bars.
I'd prefer not to find out which works best through testing.>:)
That being said, I've crashed SW Motech several times and they've faired well. The Honda ones looked strong in person and seem to have rubber mounts to cushion the blow. I guess we'll have to see when someone has a get-off which are the best. :nerd:

marekm said:
Crash Bars, yes we need crash bars :surprise:

Spanish demo bike










Unfortunately, none of the crash bars that are offered today appear to be any good. The problem seems to be with the bike - no proper fixing points. :frown2:
Click to expand...
 
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marekm

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#12 ·
The Honda "crash bars", as we see them on the AT, first appeared on the Crosstourer. At the time Honda did not dare call crash bars. They were marketed as "Cowl Ornament Kit
08P71-MGH-640", i.e. support for the led lights.

Those built for the AT may look a bit stronger, nevertheless Honda still calls them "Light Bar" and not crash bars and for a good reason.

The remaining manufacturers are trying to do better, but the AT is not factory prepared for mounting proper crash bars :frown2:
 
Eurico

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#13 ·
So far none of what I saw, please me, the mount points seems to me incorrect and that in some cases may even damage important parts more than protect.

I hope some manufacturer pull out the best of what is already done and present a good solution.
 
superfunkomatic

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#14 ·
Interesting. Have you seen them in person? Or do you have any information about their construction.:nerd:
Up close, they look identical to any of the other offerings and bolt to the same places as aftermarket ones.
I'm curious as to why you think they are only for mounting lights.
Someone ventured a guess that 'crash bars' wasn't a particularly good marketing term and opened Honda to potential liability issues.
I can't say for sure either, other than the fact that I've had 'crash bars' on other bikes and these look like they'd do the job.

** Edit - on second look on Honda part sites they are called 'cowl guards' not 'cowl ornament kit'. Guard would lead me to believe they are intended for protection.

marekm said:
The Honda "crash bars", as we see them on the AT, first appeared on the Crosstourer. At the time Honda did not dare call crash bars. They were marketed as "Cowl Ornament Kit
08P71-MGH-640", i.e. support for the led lights.

Those built for the AT may look a bit stronger, nevertheless Honda still calls them "Light Bar" and not crash bars and for a good reason.

The remaining manufacturers are trying to do better, but the AT is not factory prepared for mounting proper crash bars :frown2:
Click to expand...
 
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marekm

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#15 ·
The term "Cowl Ornament Kit, 08P71-MGH-640" refers to the Crosstourer.

I did say that the AT bars look stronger, but I still believe that they are crap as far as protecting a 250 kg bike goes, even if now Honda is willing to call them "Cowl Guard".

My long time friend and Honda dealer agrees. You don't have to :wink2:
 
superfunkomatic

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#18 ·
Fair enough. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

marekm said:
The term "Cowl Ornament Kit, 08P71-MGH-640" refers to the Crosstourer.

I did say that the AT bars look stronger, but I still believe that they are crap as far as protecting a 250 kg bike goes, even if now Honda is willing to call them "Cowl Guard".

My long time friend and Honda dealer agrees. You don't have to :wink2:
Click to expand...
All of the 'crash bars' or whatever we'd like to call them mount directly to the frame. Some, like the Holan, offer additional mounting points. I think that should be sufficient for basic protection - tip over, slow speed drop, etc. My guess is the Honda ones would do the same - we'll have to wait until someone actually 'tests' them. :wink2:

Although, (as I've posted in another thread) the SW Motech ones on my KLR did just fine falling over and sliding several hundred feet at about 50 km/h. Picked up the bike and rode on (in the Yukon) - scratched 'crash bars', scratched hand guards, scratched plastic corner on Trax bags. Glad I had them as it would have been a long walk home. :grin2:

marekm said:
Unfortunately, none of the crash bars that are offered today appear to be any good. The problem seems to be with the bike - no proper fixing points. :frown2:
Click to expand...
 
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2Sun

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#20 ·
Sure, just look at them from a structural perspective. They have just two mounting points down low (one either side), and only one very flimsy mounting point top-center under the lights. Look at close-up shots of that top mounting point. It's thin sheet metal, there to stop the bar from vibrating too much. It has no structural integrity. If your bike gets knocked down in a parking lot, the bars might save a little plastic damage. That, and give you a place to put lights, that's all.

Only the Holan Adventure Pro has more mounting points. But even those are going to have limited protection in a fall (inner part mounted to what looks like the radiator bracket... hummm...)
 
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Abubakar Ali
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