Sump guard

[furious]

I have a Honda XR 250S (XR250L engine) and I am planning to go from Greece to India and I 'll ride extensive at Himalayas. The bike sold without sump guard and I am worried about this! Why? Doesn't it need one?

Thanks,
Helias

[andybee]

Hi - lots of Japanese bikes just come with a 'token' sumpguard - usually a couple of little tubes - nothing that offers proper protection. Personally, I always fit a decent sumpguard/engine guard if im going to be riding on stony unpaved roads or offroad. Usually, when I take the guard off at the end of a trip I'm amazed at how many dings and dents it has in it.

IMHO, if you are going on a trip where the reliability of your bike is important (so, almost any) then it really isn't worth the risk of a cracked crankcase. There are lots of ways of bashing your engine off things (I've personally tried many of them :-)) - even something as simple as clipping a big rock acting as a road marker.

There are lots of makes on the market. Personally, I've always found CRD stuff to be quite good. I've also just bought a SW-Motech one for my KTM (with tool boxes) - the Alu is 5mm thick - it's an absolute beast!

Good luck with your ride!

Andy

[Bossies]

I picked up two on ebay for £30 each...bargain. They come up surprisingly frequently on ebay..

[modre]

a shovel is thin, shaped right, cheap, and amazingly tough...you would be hard pressed to bend it when bolted on as a skid plate.

[furious]

Originally Posted by modre

a shovel is thin, shaped right, cheap, and amazingly tough...you would be hard pressed to bend it when bolted on as a skid plate.

Hey!!! Brilliant idea!!!

[furious]

Originally Posted by Bossies

I picked up two on ebay for £30 each...bargain. They come up surprisingly frequently on ebay..

Pretty low value! Where do you find them? Do you know if the guard for XR 250R is suitable for the XR 250S? It seems to be the same.