Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > BMW Tech
BMW Tech BMW Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to BMW riders only.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 7 Feb 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Finland
Posts: 29
Question Crashbars

Need to know what crashbars to mount on my R1100GS (-97). Most of them seems to be made in Germany (surprise). I don´t want to remove them when changing the oil or adjusting valves. Good protection is also an issue.
:confused1:
Any knowledge about Zweckdesign in Germany? Are they still in business? Tried to contact them by e-mail in english but no response.
They have a nice front-end modification as a set to remove the "schnabel".
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10 Feb 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Finland
Posts: 29
Zweckdesign

Zweckdesign seems to be in business. Got a reply from Manfred today.

Really no one out there with experience of crashbars on a 1100? Need opinions, good or bad!:confused1:
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 8
Hi, I have no idea about 1100GS crashbars cause I have a 1150GS but when I was to buy mine I got many information and my conclusion was that Hepco Becker crashbars were the best. Even the Touratech dealer recomended me to buy the Hepco. Also check Krauser and decide what you like best. Greetings...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
I've had both stock BMW and Hepco&Becker on my R1100GSes. They're both good in their own ways but if I had to pick I'd recommend stock OEM guards.

They're lighter, doesn't bend that easily (they just don't have any "room" to be bent) as H&Bs do and if they do they don't damage header pipes and they're easy to bend back. Also BMW sells all the parts separately if you damage one of the sides - a big pro. I've done through a serious high speed crash and stock guards did amazing job - engine was one of the only "non-touched" parts of the bike.

Now I have H&B guards, they're nice, but I've done through a smaller crash - they're now bent, they dented one of my header pipes also, it could have been much worse, and now can't do valve adjustments (valve covers don't come off coz of bent guards) w/o taking the whole guards off anymore, and it's so bloody hard to bend them back because of their design. Currently I've just taken them off, I'll try to bend them again, if no success I rather ride w/o the guards or buy BMW stock engine guards again.

Touratech's are very similar to stock BMW 1100GS guards, but a bit easier on oil replacing and made apparently from a bit stiffer metal (on the contrary, I think the "softness" of the stock guard were they key that the engine was OK after the crash while I think stiff guards would have damaged the engine in contact). Removing sump guard with stock engine guards is easy if you learn the easy "trick" how to lift out the sumpguard out. I removed the 4 sump guard bolts and one of the inter-connecting arm bolts between the two sides of engine guards, lifted them a bit apard so they give enough space to slip the sump guard out on the bottom of the engine, and again in after you're done with oil.

Last edited by Margus; 11 Feb 2008 at 12:17.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Guest2
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Patrick,
I subscribe to the "no crash bar is best" theory. More hasle than they are worth.
Some bars cause damage to the engine/frame by transferring impact energy.
Think about adding some rocker cover protection and leave it at that..

Steve.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 8
Hi Margus, thanks for giving your opinion. The main diference between the H&B and the original one (at least in the 1150) are the side bars, which give much more protection. I understand that if after your last crash the side bar of your crashbars is bended, if you would have had the originals one the crashbar wouldn´t be bended because they have no side bars, so your engine would be much more damaged. In some accidentes the side bars are not necessary, but sometimes they are, and in that case I prefer my crashbars to be bended but my engine to be in one piece. Greetings, Carlos.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boxercup View Post
In some accidentes the side bars are not necessary, but sometimes they are, and in that case I prefer my crashbars to be bended but my engine to be in one piece.
R1100GS after the high speed crash I did through:



We've kicked off by a polish fully tatooed chav who did illegal maneuver on the road with his car.

(PS: thanks to boxer cylinders my and g/f's (thanks to alloy boxes too) leg bones were saved, with any other bike I'd very probably had a broken leg)

That's the point where I'd recommend "soft" protection like the OEM guards are. They just 'softly' "wrap around" the engine/cylinders (it's on the left side cylinder on my scenareo) during the hard crash scenareo, while some HARDCORE protection like H&B will probably basically crack your engine casing or mounting since they're much stronger than the engine casing material.

Don't get me wrong, I think H&Bs do their job well too. But from my experiences H&B has apparently one big design flaw - they have tendency to damage the header pipes being too close to them, like they damaged on mine. And it was a relatively slowspeed crash while I did some enduro riding. I wonder if it were a bit higher speed or faster impact crash then I'd probably had written off header pipe and I'd be left on the road while I'd probably would continue with OEM or TT design-like protection...

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveAttwood View Post
Patrick,
I subscribe to the "no crash bar is best" theory. More hasle than they are worth.
Some bars cause damage to the engine/frame by transferring impact energy.
From my practice I tend to agree and I think the "soft" minimalistic protection is the best choice - not some hardcore stiff pipes that can do a lot of damage to the engine alone.

Last edited by Margus; 11 Feb 2008 at 13:23.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Estonia
Posts: 787
This seems also good idea:



Any experiences or "crash testing" with these?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Malaga, Spain
Posts: 8
Oh my God! What an accident you had! I hope you where not bad injured after that. The Spanish Wunderlich dealer (Boxertodo) had a big accident with the H&B including 4 or 5 somersaults, and the frame and engine resulted intact. As I can see in you picture the black side protector was damaged after the accident so the engine was beaten. This is what side bars avoid. But of course I also understand your opinion and probably the effectiveness of each part depends on the kind of accident. Sometimes H&B can be worse and sometimes better...What I definitly disagree is with the non protection, any silly fallen without crashbars can cost you lot of money to repair....Greetings
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Gecko's Avatar
Slippery when wet
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Spain
Posts: 311
I have the H&B bars on my 1100 for about 100,000km and "so far" I like them. I can get the valve covers off without a problem and an oil change doesn't involve dismantling the bike. A big plus for me is when riding long distance I can stretch our my legs over the cylinders and my heels rest on the leading edge of the H&B bars and I can sit with stretched our feet forward legs for miles and miles - very comfy. I put some non slip tape around the front of the crash bars and my boot heel just sits there very comfortably
__________________
...on the road to nowhere...

Biking roads by bikers for bikers www.bestbikingroads.com
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Redboots's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: On the border - NE FR
Posts: 865
Nobars

I'm with Steve. I have just binned my crash bars. Useless. They just fold into the engine and get crushed out of shape by the road and the motor.

Anything too substantial could deform the frame in a crash. You are unlikely to survive a crash that takes a pot of the engine so why worry... and you save a bit of weight...

John
__________________
Nostradamus Ate My Hamster
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 11 Feb 2008
AliBaba's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Norway
Posts: 1,379
I only own older boxers but I think there are some similarities.

IMHO crashbars are nice:
  • When you drive to close to big stones the stones hit your crashguard instead of the lowest parts of your cylinder. Cooling fins get ripped of that way…
  • Yes the crashbar bends and folds but that’s okay. They are absorbing energy that way, instead of sending the energy directly to the cylinders/heads.
  • When the bikes slides on it’s side on tarmac for a long distance it will hopefully rest on a solid crashbar and not a soft alu-cylinder head.


Yes you might call this crashbar overkill but after a crash in 100++km/h where the bike slide for 50-100 meters I started the bike and kept on driving.


Last edited by AliBaba; 11 Feb 2008 at 21:25.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11 Feb 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Finland
Posts: 29
Thumbs up Protection

Hey guys! I knew that you had experienced the hard way things that I want to avoid. I understand your point, and I have to admit that the decision is not easy to make. I think I will opt for the light crashbar. At least it is useful if the bike simply tips over. I also want something between those aluminum fins and Terra Firma. Thank You very much for your answers!!!!!
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 18 Feb 2008
Stephano's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Abu Dhabi
Posts: 887
Quote:
Originally Posted by Margus View Post
Any experiences or "crash testing" with these?
I’m also not a fan of crash bars. I can't speak for the TT guards but it’s a huge pity that Jim has stopped producing his fantastic Stanton head guards for the GS. If you ever see a pair on eBay, they are worth buying.


Mine had a fight with a car and won.
Stephan
Attached Images
   
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 18 Feb 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Caracas, Venezuela
Posts: 11
I recommend Touratech

They tend to be pricy, but worth the expense, IMHO. They do not have to be totally removed to change the oil, which is a big plus.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Transalp crashbars & centrestand Crusty Honda Tech 2 25 Feb 2007 22:53
Givi Crashbars for Transalp Robbert Honda Tech 4 21 Sep 2005 23:54
AT crashbars and centre stand wanted talljohn TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 0 28 Apr 2005 03:38
Which crashbars for Africa Twin -99? praatika Honda Tech 1 1 Apr 2005 17:00
Crashbars for XT600 Tenere(Party frock) GRIFF Yamaha Tech 3 12 Dec 2002 15:41

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:25.