Engine protection options

[maxredline]

Please share your engine protection experience in regards to tip overs, crashes, parts added or clearance issues.
I"ll start with grumpys video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW_U4c_BC70
At the moment I have BMW engine covers with MacineArt (MaMo) brackets for Aux lights. I have been thinking about getting bars for more protection? Certainly not for looks.
Picture is from web, the only difference between my bike is I have Denali D3 LEDS.

[36654]

Please share your engine protection experience in regards to tip overs, crashes, parts added or clearance issues.
I"ll start with grumpys video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dW_U4c_BC70
At the moment I have BMW engine covers with MacineArt (MaMo) brackets for Aux lights. I have been thinking about getting bars for more protection? Certainly not for looks.
Picture is from web, the only difference between my bike is I have Denali D3 LEDS.

I've been happy with the BMW head covers since day 1 with this bike

[Grumpy Goat]

I've been happy with the BMW head covers since day 1 with this bike

Have you had a tip over or a crash with them on and how did they work?

[Pyrrho]

Grumpy mentioned not using MM X-Heads with his crash bars because they didn't fit. Have you checked out these? https://twistedthrottle.com/shop/protect...0rt-19-20/

[maxredline]

Grumpy mentioned not using MM X-Heads with his crash bars because they didn't fit. Have you checked out these? https://twistedthrottle.com/shop/protect...0rt-19-20/

^^ 1250 bars, MSS0790410201B
Below 1200 bars, SBL.07.573.10000.B
https://twistedthrottle.com/shop/protect...1200rs-15/
Both pictures look like there is some room for head covers, newer model or just deceiving?
1200 picture

[Lee]

I've been happy with the BMW head covers since day 1 with this bike

Have you had a tip over or a crash with them on and how did they work?

Debbie had the BMW covers on her bike when a car knocked her bike over.
No damage to the the valve cover. There was two small dings in the metal cover and the replaceable plastic piece was damaged. I think the replaceable piece costs $20.

   

   

[Grumpy Goat]

Both pictures look like there is some room for head covers, newer model or just deceiving?

The MaMo valve cover protectors have solid rubber inserts under them, between the tough plastic outer and the valve cover itself. That makes it stand a bit proud of the valve cover. On my bike the interference was at the bottom rear of the valve cover, IIRC. Did not feel inclined at the time to "adjust" the MaMo cover to make it fit.

[maxredline]

The SW engine guards SBL.07.573.10000.B
are out of stock most places. I found an online store in Wales that had them in stock
for a better than average price.
IMO the bars are one of the better looking ones on the market.
They are suppose to be compatible with the BMW engine covers and the MaMo light bar.
Pulled the trigger, cheap insurance.
Later I will consider the clamp on protectors or suitable hose for the bars. Insurance on insurance lol.

[ESquared]

The SW engine guards SBL.07.573.10000.B
are out of stock most places. I found an online store in Wales that had them in stock
for a better than average price.
IMO the bars are one of the better looking ones on the market.
They are suppose to be compatible with the BMW engine covers and the MaMo light bar.
Pulled the trigger, cheap insurance.
Later I will consider the clamp on protectors or suitable hose for the bars. Insurance on insurance lol.

Look forward to hearing how that purchase goes and to seeing pics once installed. Nothing like "an ounce of prevention"! Or two!

[Freddyfruitbat]

I had OEM engine bars on my first RS which sadly got trashed about 4 years ago after a significant 'unscheduled dismount'...

Despite the engine bars, the bike was written off by my insurance company as the cost of repairs exceeded its value. However, because of the engine bars, the bike's actual engine was 100% undamaged and would have been a great buy for someone wanting a used, low mileage lump. But that was of of no benefit to me, obviously.

My take-home message from this experience was that for a big crash, engine bars are somewhat pointless. For a very low-speed crash or a tip-over, it would be good to have some protection there - cylinder-head covers seem a good idea.

Actually I transferred the old OEM bars on to my next (current) RS, just because I already had them (and they were in surprisingly good shape despite the crash). If not, I'd have bought head covers.

[Pyrrho]

My last RRS had (I think) plastic BMW sliders. They came with the bike and did their job admirably. I put that bike down way more than I care to admit (it happens when you commute in winter in Wisconsin) without a single scratch to the heads. The stock heads were cast magnesium on the R1100RS, not aluminum, so probably were even more expensive to replace.
   

New RRS will also have plastic BMW sliders, just integrated in the optional head design. The 40 years of GS edition R1250GS has these heads with yellow sliders. Sliders are around $40 each to replace. My guess is that they'll be OK for a stopped tip-over but if the bike has enough momentum to keep rolling further onto the head, the side of the case above the slider plastic will get torn up.
   

Here is a HP head -- nearly identical design, included to highlight which part is plastic.
   

My take-home message from this experience was that for a big crash, engine bars are somewhat pointless. For a very low-speed crash or a tip-over, it would be good to have some protection there - cylinder-head covers seem a good idea.

My thoughts exactly. It doesn't take damaging too many parts on a RS to make it no longer worth repairing by your insurance company, and as you've experienced, the heads can be perfectly fine and the rest of the bike is still (easily) a write-off. I understand why people fit crash bars, but they sort of feel like training wheels on a RS -- and I'm sure that's influenced by my previous experiences with an RRS with just side covers and didn't feel I needed anything more.

[maxredline]

^^^ cool covers.

I tore a bicep tendon off the bone once trying to save a bike from a tip over on a gravel driveway.
The last time I had a tip over I waved at the bike as it fell. Being short I do not have the leverage that taller riders have, at least that is one of my excuses.
Better safe than sorry for me. Of all the bikes I have had this bike will be the only fitted with soon to be crash bars but then again it is my first boxer.

[Boxerboy55]

I laid my bike down on the LHS dealer fit crash bars.

Was almost stationary while parking on rough ground.

The bars are SS and show some minor marks, but that’s what they’re for. Engine protection.

My panniers protect the rear end.

[Motorhead1977]

I ordered these last night direct from RG Racing. Couldn't find any in stock in the USA. These bars will mount allowing me to keep my BMW engine spoiler in place.
https://www.rg-racing.com/browsebike/BMW...20/AB0057/#
I like the appearance and they seem to be sufficient for engine protection in a drop. Agreed that in an "unplanned dismount at speed" there isn't much that would be a lot of protection. RG says I'll have the bars in a couple weeks.

[Pyrrho]

I ordered these last night direct from RG Racing. Couldn't find any in stock in the USA. These bars will mount allowing me to keep my BMW engine spoiler in place.
https://www.rg-racing.com/browsebike/BMW...20/AB0057/#
I like the appearance and they seem to be sufficient for engine protection in a drop. Agreed that in an "unplanned dismount at speed" there isn't much that would be a lot of protection. RG says I'll have the bars in a couple weeks.

I'm meh about any bars but those CF head covers look slick. They messed with the white balance on the image -- the spark plug cover is way darker than it should be -- meaning the bars are too. Will be interested to see your impressions and photos of what it actually looks like when it arrives.

[Grumpy Goat]

I'm meh about any bars but those CF head covers look slick. They messed with the white balance on the image -- the spark plug cover is way darker than it should be -- meaning the bars are too.

I doubt that it was white balance that caused that darkening. I corrected the WB to the small triangle at the 4 o'clock position of the valve cover and that caused a slight cooling of the tone but the cover was still dark. I adjusted the exposure to brighten the shadows and mid-range in the below photo.

On topic - not bad engine guards ... good access and if it allows the engine spoilers to be retained then that is great. Mine are still off the bike because my SW Motech bars interfere. Also, being small and black it blends into the engine quite nicely. What brightening up the shadows confirms for me is that the lower cross member is a hollow circular section as opposed to some sort of flat bar, so better strength. With 2 points of fixity these cross members need to be strong, even if they are pushing against flat bar tabs bolted to the engine.

As for the CF covers - not a fan personally, especially glossy CF. If CF is to look good to my eyes it has to be (a) real and (b) matte. To each his own. But I wonder what is with the large smudge in way of the R&G decal ...? I would hope it is on the surface and not some sort of clouding of the finish.

   

[Lee]

The black color of the spark plug-coil cover looks correct to me for a new cover.

[Motorhead1977]

I'll post a follow up when they arrive.

[Motorhead1977]

Bars have arrived and look to be a quality kit. Lightning fast shipping from the UK as I only placed the order on May 1st. Reading through the install instructions for another time to be certain I'm getting the process down before beginning. I'll read once more in the morning before undertaking the install. Pictures to follow when completed.

[Motorhead1977]

Installed the RG Engine Bars the other day.  In all they went on without much drama once I got the top engine mount bar nut loose.  I thought I was going to have to resort to air tools but some "Nuts Off" did the trick.  The supplied instructions were deficient when it came to identifying the location of and all the screws necessary for removing the factory engine spoiler.  However, the process is rather self evident and having done that removal before it was not new to me.

In all the total working time from start to finish was about 1.5 hrs working at a relaxed pace.

The finished product looks very nice indeed, fits with the factory engine spoiler and doesn't stick out too far.  I'm content with my purchase so far