[Yromulus]

From the AdvRider forum:

"My local dealer took possession of their Africa Twin demo bike last week and had it prepped ready for first rides over the weekend. The second rider to take it out laid it on its side at around 30 mph: he claimed that he hit some black ice... The bike was equipped with the factory crash bars but, even so, the shop is quoting between £3,000 and £4,000 including labour for the repair! I had a look around it today and, to be honest, there doesn't seem to be too much damage, however, every panel had touched down and been scraped."

An off-road bike you shouldn't drop obviously.

Make sure you get proper crash bars...

 

[iSlanderYT]

... and not Honda 1100€ cowl...

 

[marsbeetle]

I would have been interested to see a picture of that and the condition of the "crash" bars but interesting nonetheless. Not sure how the "every panel had touched down and been scraped" unless there was something protruding from the ground. Usually the handlebars and foot pegs take most of the brunt in a fall.

 

[Yromulus]

I guess dumping it on the road means it will slide a bit and possibly hit kerbs along the way. If you dump it off-road the chances are damage might be more isolated unless you're really going for it in which case they could be worse!

But yes, it was interesting that the Honda cowl bars seemed to have offered little protection if the fairing/cowl/whatever they call it was damaged as well. I seem to remember early reports on the latest GS1200 said that the OEM crash bars didn't work very well on that either.

I must say, IMHO, the Honda ones don't look particularly effective because they may move to the side easily. Mind you, the after-market cowl bars I've seen so far seem to be roughly the same design so may also be ineffective. Maybe they are all reluctant to bolt them to the frame or the engine as that could cause even more damage?

Might invest in some swing arm and fork bobbins too...!

 

[FullThrottle]

Ouch, that must stink for the dealership if they're footing the bill. Better invest in some tough crash bars and sliders and everything you can throw at it. :grin2:

 

[Yromulus]

In the UK you sign before you ride - a minimum value you pay is around £750 but it can go higher depending on the detail... So the dealership will probably be fine - the rider that dumped it on the other hand...

 

[Adventurer]

Smart move by dealers to get that done.

 

[JustPlainBill0]

If you have full coverage on your bike, wouldn't your motorcycle insurance cover the damage to the dealer's bike? It might vary by country and carrier, but I am covered for any bike I ride (not garaged at my address over 10 days) with the same coverage I have on my bike.

An interesting situation a friend in Las Vegas ran into: he had to sign a purchase agreement before the dealer would let him test ride a bike. There was a provision that if he didn't like it, the agreement was off. If he wrecked the bike, I assume he had to buy it.

 

[anotherbiker]

If you have full coverage on your bike, wouldn't your motorcycle insurance cover the damage to the dealer's bike? It might vary by country and carrier, but I am covered for any bike I ride (not garaged at my address over 10 days) with the same coverage I have on my bike.

An interesting situation a friend in Las Vegas ran into: he had to sign a purchase agreement before the dealer would let him test ride a bike. There was a provision that if he didn't like it, the agreement was off. If he wrecked the bike, I assume he had to buy it.

Not in the UK. Vehicle insurance in the US generally means anyone can drive/ride anything (through either your insurance, the owner's insurance, or I guess conceivably both). But in the UK, you are only insured to drive your own vehicles unless someone else makes you a named driver on their vehicle's policy (at an extra cost).

The whole "I can ride/drive any bike/car and, with the owner's consent, be insured" was a pleasant surprise to me when I moved to the US!

The dealership in this case will have insurance on those bikes, but with a high excess. The guy who dropped it on the test ride will be paying the excess as per something he signed before taking it out.

 

[Yromulus]

I read a case in one of the bike mags over the last year where the excess was just the start of it - the guy was asked to pay for the whole repair. You need to read the form you sign very carefully and not assume the excess is your maximum limit.

My car insurance allows me to drive anyone else's car as long as I have permission to do so (if I steal one I'm not insured!) But the cover is only third party.

 

[BobA]

Crash Bars ?!!!

Honda have been VERY careful to name them "accessory bars" so that, I guess, nobody can go knocking on their door claiming they're not fit for purpose.

Those expensive, and ugly in my opinion (well at least from the front) Honda bars are just there to hang two lights on folks!!!

:grin2:

 

[Husky93]

Crash Bars ?!!!

Honda have been VERY careful to name them "accessory bars" so that, I guess, nobody can go knocking on their door claiming they're not fit for purpose.

Those expensive, and ugly in my opinion (well at least from the front) Honda bars are just there to hang two lights on folks!!!

:grin2:

Yup you can push the Honda crash bars back into the body work just by pushing on them.

 

[Juha]

Yup you can push the Honda crash bars back into the body work just by pushing on them.

Thats correct > picture.

 

[Yromulus]

Excellent - an accessory that causes damage whilst masquerading as protection. Just what is needed.

Judging by the cagerontwowheels video where he did a slow drop with no "protection" you are perhaps better off not getting the Honda bars if you are remotely concerned about dropping it.

Get a cheaper and better one elsewhere. Same for the top-box! Jury's out on the panniers...

 

[Husky93]

Excellent - an accessory that causes damage whilst masquerading as protection. Just what is needed.

Judging by the cagerontwowheels video where he did a slow drop with no "protection" you are perhaps better off not getting the Honda bars if you are remotely concerned about dropping it.

Get a cheaper and better one elsewhere. Same for the top-box! Jury's out on the panniers...

If you want fog lights TT ones £364, but I'm still waiting for mine not that I have my bike yet.

Will wait for crash bars, TT have updated the lower ones. Just ordered a Termi from Rugged Roads, I'm waiting for their bars.

 

[rider_marc]

If an AT (or any other bike) owner is carrying full-coverage insurance, why spend the money on crash guards. They are sure to be a loss as well as the body work under them.


Nothing on my Concours 14 for this same reason. Had a tip-over a little over two years ago. Some scratches resulted, but the used-bike value has plummeted; so, nothing gets replaced unless it is broken.


Now, engine guards make sense for me if they can prevent a rock puncture. (It happened on my KLX650 in Panama--long time ago.)

 

[anotherbiker]

If an AT (or any other bike) owner is carrying full-coverage insurance, why spend the money on crash guards. They are sure to be a loss as well as the body work under them.


Nothing on my Concours 14 for this same reason. Had a tip-over a little over two years ago. Some scratches resulted, but the used-bike value has plummeted; so, nothing gets replaced unless it is broken.


Now, engine guards make sense for me if they can prevent a rock puncture. (It happened on my KLX650 in Panama--long time ago.)

This, my friend, is an interesting question!

I looked into the cylinder head guards for my Guzzi, until I realized that replacement rocker covers actually cost less than the guards themselves did!

How much are the plastic fairing panels on the AT is the question here? If you assume that you'll probably have to replace the crash bars, or respray them or something if you drop it anyway, do you save much more than you would replacing a fairing panel? I don't know.

I suppose though, the other advantage to upper fairing bars could be protecting the radiators?

 

[rider_marc]

Adding... Plastics get scuffted and mud-rubbed producing a not-so-new look. I would put 3M paint guard over the covers and be happy.


3M paint protection applied to my Concours in key locations.