Crash Bars or Engine Guards?

[LeonardoNYC]

I was curious as to your opinions on whether to install engine guards vs. crash bars? I have seen a few crash bars and not so crazy about how they affect the lines of the bike and are usually more expensive. Engine guards seem unobtrusive enough but am wondering about the protection they offer.?
Do crash bars also protect the tank and other components in sliding type crash or simply the cylinder heads?

Thanks in advance.

[qgaex]

Hi Leonardo

Crash bars can have a few disadvantages.
In a light accident they probably take more damage than a simple engine guard.
In a bad accident they can deform the frame or break the engine depending on where they are attached and finally cause more damage than they prevent.
So look very carefully what type of bar you buy.
I prefer the unobtrusive original engine guards.
(I once had a light slide with my old R850R and the engine guard did just what it was supposed to do: Keep the blacktop from eating my valve covers.)

Just my two bits

qgaex
*whohopesthathewillnevertestanysuchdeviceagain*

[Caroanbill]

I will use the OEM cylinder head protectors. I had them on my oilhead (R1150RS). As partner found out, they work very well in a small drop - they protect the valve covers and the cylinders themselves hold up the bike. The RS landed on a cylinder head and a bar end .. maybe the R12R would hit an indicator too.

In a big crash the cylinder head protectors don't do extra damage to the bike (as a couple of friends can attest)

Until the R1150RS, I'd always had the BMW engine bars - I quite liked the lines of the simple curved crome bar on the airhead motor (R65LS and R80 mono). They were good for drops and small slides and I thought they actually improved the bikes' look. The BMW bars on K100RT and K1100LT looked barely passable, but worked well and provided good light mounts. don't know why BMW no longer offer them, but judging by the R1200GSAdv bars, they certainly can't design a pretty one!

I really don't like the look of the R1200R aftermarket options - none have the simple, elegant line the old airhead engine bars had. The small head protectors look OK, are unobtrusive and do the job (even if they're no longer cheap .. $200AUD - ouch)

[mogu83]

I use the GS valve cover protectors on my bike they look right and should do the job in a light get off. I think those magnesium covers would go away fast sliding down the road.

I've watched my airhead spin down the road a few times on the valve cover and saddlebag. Only once did the valve cover wear through, had to turn it (valve cover) upside down and stuff a bandana it the hole to ride the 250 miles home. But it did get me home.

I agree that crash bars can cause more expensive problems than they prevent on a street bike. Off road in the dirt is another story.

[OlyVR]

Until the R1150RS, I'd always had the BMW engine bars - I quite liked the lines of the simple curved crome bar on the airhead motor (R65LS and R80 mono). They were good for drops and small slides and I thought they actually improved the bikes' look. ...

I really don't like the look of the R1200R aftermarket options - none have the simple, elegant line the old airhead engine bars had.

Have you seen the Hepco & Becker ones?
They were on the Trophy concept by Wunderlich and I think they have the classic airhead lines - but you're right not cheap.

http://www.wunderlich.de/html/intermot2006/R1200R.pdf

[vielzebub]

I love the Hepco & Becker crash bars. They seem to evoke the classic airheads...at least to my eye.
I suspect the crash bars will be my next purchase for the R. Followed by the Wudo fairing and the Sargent seat....

To be honest, I wish I had three R's. One I'd keep clean and modern like mcavotta, the other would be vintage looking with crash bars and pin stripes, the third would be hot rodded up.

The R is a great canvas. Build your own and rest assured it'll look great with either crash bars or engine guards.

[Dan-A]

Hello, I am new to this board.

I have the BMW engine head guards and like the look, plus they can protect for small tip overs.

[celticus]

I like the looks of the ones on mogu83's bike. I believe I'll put some on this winter.
How about those tail lights on the Wunderlich site? Also if they offered dual headlights like on the Speed Tripple. And on and on and on.
Mark