As with everything I have purchased from SWMOTECH the fit and finish is beyond perfect. :clap: The mounting kit (hardware) is OEM quality or better. My son and I spent maybe 30 to 45 minutes installing them last night. There is one minor tight fit and that is because of the California Emissions canister that’s on the left side of the bike (do non-Ca models have this?). In the area of the red circle the clamp is a very tight fit with the canister cover but it can be done. :thumb:
Those look good. I am still trying to decide between those and the H&B. The SW look like they could bend toward the bike in a crash. Like they need a cross bar connecting the two halves.
I was worried about the same thing until they showed up. The tab that bolts to the front is 1/4" steel (or close to it). They are VERY sturdy, if you crash hard enough to bend them there will be way more to worry about than radiator damage. I am very happy with my choice of crash bars. :thumb:
i wondered about that possibility also..so i made an easy fix...no way it will fold in on the radiator! made a support bar that goes from one side to the other...i posted pix of it in another thread
they look great. will they protect the gas tank side panels in a minor drop? could you drop your bike so we could find out? just kidding. if they do i will have to have them for mine.
I put a set of the SW-Motech crash bars on mine too. Very impressed with the quality and workmanship. I don't see a problem with the crash bars not connecting to each other. The front mounting tab is close to the front of the bars.
I chose the SW-Motech's over the HB because I liked the way they looked on the bike. I felt the SW-Motechs were more streamline and kept with the lines of the bike. Yes, you do have less top protection than the HBs so I fixed that by putting frame sliders on the fairings.
i love theses...slipped on some broken glass backing out of a spot once and dropped the machine. all i got was a 4 inch scratch on the bottom of the bars, barely noticeable, and a small scrape on the end of the handle bars. theses saved my baby from horrible disfigurement.
The most important thing to protect is the
engine side cases (which many bars don't
appear to). I'm told if you slide on either
side you may well lose the bike. These
bars look like they protect the vital areas.
I installed the SW Motech Crash Bars. They pit perfect and I also don't see a need to connect them in front of the radiator. They serve the purpose of protecting the engine and can"t see a problem damaging the radiator. I think if the radiator gets damaged you will probably have worse things to worry about. I purchased mine through Twisted Throttle and everything went well except the huge brokerage fees from UPS. Use USPS or Air freight ALWAYS when shipping to Canada, I was warned but now I know.
Not really that much of a PITA, but more than I anticipated. I've been twisting wrenches long enough to have known better than think this was going to be a "20 minute install."
My son and I spent maybe 30 to 45 minutes installing them last night. There is one minor tight fit and that is because of the California Emissions canister that’s on the left side of the bike. In the area of the red circle the clamp is a very tight fit with the canister cover but it can be done.
I bought a set and there appears to be clearance issues with the right-side (as you sit on the bike) contacting/covering one of the bolts of the clutch cover? Does it just sit on top of one of the clutch cover's bolts.
Additionally, was there any trimming for the emissions canister? Any more info. you can give me before I start the dis-assembly for that left side?
I bought a set and there appears to be clearance issues with the right-side (as you sit on the bike) contacting/covering one of the bolts of the clutch cover? Does it just sit on top of one of the clutch cover's bolts.
From what I've been able to gather from the forum, both the H&B and SWMotech are effective at protecting the V from a drop. Am I right about that? Do either interfere with lean angle/cornering clearance? Are there any other options, or is it just these two to choose from?
I'm leaning to the H&B, but might just go with cheapest...
My read on engine guards/ crash bars...Not a farkle at all...But a huge wallet protection device...You drop the V without them and you gonna be weepin...Replacing fairing, rad covers etc, is going to make your farkle fund look like chump change...Get either, but get them...Both great products and my H&B's are tested and proven to save major mulla...
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