Triumphrat

lancashirelad · 02-08-2005

While I'm in the mood for asking questions, should I remove the crash bobbins & fit Touratech crash brs or not?

bigD · 02-08-2005

My own personal preference would be for the crashbars but each to his own. I just feel with the bobbins the protection is minimal & the chances of putting high stress loads onto the mounting points for the bobbins is high thus increasing the likely hood of frame damage.

D

Badger955 · 02-08-2005

IMHO crash bobbins will give a lot less protection than an effective set of crashbars. I fitted the Touratech ones which have been "tested" :wink: by one of the members and passed as effective.

djr · 02-08-2005

If you are protecting against dropping at a standstill the R&G's will be ok. They are very well made and I think would offer no extra potential damage than any kind of bar mounted via the engine mounts. In fact given they are very high quality (I had on my TT600 but never had to test them) I would guess there would be less likelyhood of damage compared to a set of bars that are poorer quality/fit.

How much protection the offer depens on how far out they actually come.

I have seen crash bars fitted that still enabled the engine covers to get trashed and have seen some that buckled and broke in a low speed off.

My belief is that you need to check with some sort of straight edge to see what would and would not be protected and I think it is wrong to assume bars will give better protection. No doubt, some are very good and some have been tested (to varying degrees) but it is not safe to assume they would be better than what you already have.

Timtiger · 02-08-2005

You colud always sell your bike and buy an R series BMW. They come standard with these HUGE metal crash bobbins hanging out each side.

Only joking.

djr · 02-09-2005

lancashirelad · 02-09-2005

As I haven't really looked how the bobbins fix, I was wondering if I get a set of Touratech bars would all the fixing bolts still be on the bike or would the original owner have ditched any bolts in favour of the RG kit?
Don't want to get the bars then find out I have a engine bolt or summat missing....

Timtiger · 02-09-2005

I think it is highly inlikely that the bobbins would use the same locating bolts as the Touratech bars. Have a look at the photopages to see how the Touratechs fit. Crash bobbins are generally fitted much higher up. It is worth noting that the Touratech bars are most excellent and come with all the necesary parts. They require removal and refitting of 2 (from memory) major engine bolts. It also seems that the bars do not always bolt straight on. It is unclear if this is due to a slightly misaligned production jig, or just a little variation between bikes. In my case the front crossbar needed quite a bit of ENCOURAGEMENT, and I had to replace the double ended rubberised bolt on the right hand side with a longer one. It cost $5.

They are totally worth the trouble.

Timtiger · 02-09-2005

I think it is highly inlikely that the bobbins would use the same locating bolts as the Touratech bars. Have a look at the photopages to see how the Touratechs fit. Crash bobbins are generally fitted much higher up. It is worth noting that the Touratech bars are most excellent and come with all the necesary parts. They require removal and refitting of 2 (from memory) major engine bolts. It also seems that the bars do not always bolt straight on. It is unclear if this is due to a slightly misaligned production jig, or just a little variation between bikes. In my case the front crossbar needed quite a bit of ENCOURAGEMENT, and I had to replace the double ended rubberised bolt on the right hand side with a longer one. It cost $5.

They are totally worth the trouble.

Timtiger · 02-09-2005

I forgot to say that the most important tip for fitting Touratech bars is to fit everything but keep the bolts loose - especially the engine bolts. One everything is connected, then tighten it all up. Much easier.