H-B vs S-W

fasteddiecopeman · #1 01-04-2013, 08:58 PM

I mounted up a set of H-B crash bars some years ago on my '08, then when I bought the '09 for in Canada I tried to get a set, but (luckily!!!) could ONLY get S-Ws, so installed them.

Last summer I bought a set of S-W 'skid-plates' for the '09 and installed them. I'm very happy having them, and the way they look, so ordered the same for my '08 here in AZ.

Another 'inmate' - Roam - inquired whether or not they'd fit with the H-Bs.

One of the problems I encountered was that the engine mount bolts go into 'captured' nuts, held in a 2/3 aluminum embrace on the front of the engine, and when I installed my H-Bs I could NOT get the required torque to them as they would turn, so NOT captured!

I tried various solutions (like trying to use a screwdriver blade forced against the nut to allow the bolt to be removed or tightened), but to no avail. I talked with a welder who agreed that we could weld a piece to one of the nut's 'flats', long enough that it would turn slightly and then lock-up against the engine case, allowing removal or installation. BUT (and there's ALWAYS a but...) for safety I should remove the computor and a few other things to protect my V. Did that over the last few days (I had a friend who would carry my V to the welder in his pickup), then down there for 30 minutes of welding, then home where I set up to TRY to mount my S-W skid-plate.

Now I can tighten the engine mount bolts or remove them, but when I tried the left S-W skid-plate mounting piece I saw that it would be 'fouled' by the left H-B mount, so - NO GO!

The only solution I can see is that I will order a set of S-W crash-bars, remove the H-Bs (and WILL put them FOR SALE here) then install the S-W bars AND skid-plate.

I'll add pics of the welded engine mount nuts so you can see what I've had to do.

fdale · #2 01-05-2013, 02:45 AM

I have been trying to decide between the SW and HB crash bars too.

HB - rad protection

SW - engine case protection.

Finally decided to buy both sets, join them together, and protect everything.

Will also join the front of the SW bars below the rad with a removable bar to join the two sides together and make a more rigid assembly.

twowheels · #3 01-05-2013, 11:46 AM

I crashed at speed with my SW Motech bars. They protected the rad and engine - very impressed. Bike would prob have been totaled without them.

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fdale · #4 01-05-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twowheels

I crashed at speed with my SW Motech bars. They protected the rad and engine - very impressed. Bike would prob have been totaled without them.

Thanks - good to know. Seem a quality product. Here you must beware of clones - thinner wall tubing, crap welds.

fasteddiecopeman · #5 01-05-2013, 09:42 PM

FWIT - my H-Bs did a GREAT job when I low-sided a couple of years back. Bit of a scratch on them and my Zeta "barkbusters".

Oh - and I broke a rib....

Time · #6 01-06-2013, 07:24 AM

I have had both HB & SW Bag Mounts and Crash Bars on different bikes I've owned. I found they both were nicely made and both were "Easy"

to install...NOT. The instructions for both suck IMHO.

But I decided to stick with SW Motech for the most part as Twisted Throttle really is on the ball if I need a part or have a problem. When I bought the HB bag mounts, for my Buell, I had to find a dealer who would order them for me and they knew nothing on the product and charged not only retail BUT a shipping and handling few of 25%!

I do think you can order from the importer directly now but not then.

I had the SW on my KLR and the Crash Bars have saved me more than once when the bike decided to "Take a Nap" in the woods. HOW ever the bag mounts bent and I had to bend them back. I thought about that and guess I'd rather the mount bend then the bike frame!