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Engine Protection Bars

22K views 47 replies 22 participants last post by  380506 
#1 ·
#4 ·
I've actually been looking at the Evotech crash sliders for two reasons, unlike most sliders or bars, they are supported with their own internal frame, so for either side you happen to fall, the frame is always supported by 4 support points instead of the usual two, or in the hepco case, 3. Second, while crash bars are great at low speeds, especially for protecting the tank, I'm more concerned about highspeed slides, where a crash bar might catch onto something and flip the bike.

Disclaimer, this is all just stuff that I've read in places, and possibly has no practical applications, so could someone please discredit me if any of this is simply FUD.

I'd love to actually get crash bars since they look better and they aren't on a factory backorder like the Evotech ones. Anyone have crash experience with either?
 
#6 ·
while crash bars are great at low speeds, especially for protecting the tank, I'm more concerned about highspeed slides, where a crash bar might catch onto something and flip the bike.
I think the HB crash bars, like the Triumph versions and most anyone's sliders will be nice, but in any high speed slide the bike is toast and so very likely is the rider on most public roads. A bent shift lever and/or brake lever will be the least damage the bike will receive. If the primary reason one wants protection of these parts, I don't thing there is anything yet on the market that will keep them safe even in a driveway tipover, except some good luck. Earlier posts mentioned making the shift lever a sacrificial part, at present, that may be the way to go.
 
#7 ·
Yes, the gear lever is one of those parts designed to break in a crash, therefore protecting the gearbox, weakest link and all that.

The bars are not necessarily designed to protect the cylinder heads, but provide a wider point of impact on the bike. As has been mentioned above in a high speed crash the bike is toast regardless, but in a low speed or stationary drop it will take the brunt, along with the exhaust.
 
#10 ·
On zero speed tip overs, there's been a couple of folks here where there's very expensive damage to the transmission because the shift lever took a hit. That's my concern. That's the only reason i would like crash bars. If you go down at speed, your pretty machine is pretty much fkd up crash bar or not. Meaning time for a new bike.
 
#11 ·
In my limited experience lowsiding on a T100, the shift lever was weak enough to bend/snap before causing any damage to the gear box. I would think that's an intentional design bonus on any OEM shift lever. But at zero speed as you cite...I can see how a bike falling directly on its side could be costly. My old kz had a stator that stuck out quite a bit, so the shift lever was never in any danger of taking damage. My left shin is permanently bruised from that hunk of metal though.

Don't be so quick to write off the durability of these classic styled bikes. I crashed my old kz650 a couple of times, once while riding in the snow, another time going into the side door of a car pulling a left in front of me. I credit my emergency brake practice for the damage not being so bad on that collision, but I got off with only slightly bent forks and a broken triple tree. I'd imagine that with some fork sliders, engine covers, frame sliders and a lack of hard obstacles to collide with, the bike might be mostly fine. :grin2: I'm planning on keeping all my high speed crashes on the track anyways.
 
#14 ·
Some T120 folks experienced the need for a gearbox reconstruction after a tip over at a stop. Worrying.

And someone else mentioned one way to protect the gear shifter in that case would be to limit the angle the foot peg can take.

Has anyone tried that yet? How did you do? How does it work?
 
#19 ·
In looking at the Renntec engine bars, it appears that the two upper mounts bolt across to the other side and the only attachment to the bike is at the low mounting point and that is to the frame...can you clarify this for me? They look quite robust and I think they should protect things quite well. Thank you!
 
#18 ·
Here is their webpage: https://renntec.com/triumph-bonnevi...0-water-cooled-2017-engine-bars-in-black.html They look quite like the cage they built for the air cooled Bonnevilles - they just might be big enough (and ugly enough) to protect the shift lever and the brake pedal in a tip over and maybe more in a serious crash. They come in chrome too for an additional 10£. They note that these are new to their catalog. If the previous webpage reference doesn't work, this one might and then you can navigate to those crash bars (on p 2 of that product). https://renntec.com/ If nothing else, they sure would be a great mount for driving lights or rocket launchers.
 
#20 ·
Hard deal, two wrists and an arm. I wish your wrists stand time painlessly.

Anyone has an idea what material the foot peg is? Cast aluminium? Cast SS? Antimony? --I don't think it could be antimony but the texture reminds it.

Weldable?
 
#21 · (Edited)
A closer examination of the photographs on the Renntec website, seems to show that the lowest mount is clamp fitted to the frame beneath the header and the upper forward mount ties into an engine mounting bolt - which would provide enough strength to keep them from rotating inward in a dump - not sure anything helps in a bigger crash - but then you're not worried about the bike anyway, it is you that matters. Maybe "Earthtones" can confirm the mounting. HEY, nevermind "Earthtones", the good folks at Renntec got back to me and said the mounting that I described above is how they mount to the water cooled bikes. Now if you would just dump your bike over in your driveway, first on the left and then on the right and let us know if there is any damage to the shift lever and the brake pedal, that would be great...only kidding, I guess.
 
#23 ·
Good note on NewBonneville:
https://newbonneville.com/shop/renn...neville-t100-t120-street-twin-and-street-cup/ looks like $224.95 in black or chrome

Also sold by: motoBars
http://www.motobars.com/proddetail.asp?prod=REN51021B $205.48 in black and
http://www.motobars.com/proddetail.asp?prod=REN51021C $220.58 in chrome

Buying direct from Renntec doesn't save much of anything, black 99.99 UK# (w/o VAT) + shipping of about 70 UK#, then the exchange rate - hardly much of a savings there. BTW, the horn, I think would need to be relocated as I think it is in direct line with the upper front bar on the Renntec, but not positive on that.

All prices in U.S. would be plus shipping. Yes, not very attractive, but then maybe you can't get good protection without a little ugly.
 
#24 ·
Ouch

Now that Rentec has established that its bars are brutally robust, it's time to design the premium version that actually looks good. I can appreciate what they've done, but these bikes are about swoops and curves. Every model of the WC Bonneville line has some sensuality to it, and a bar with a straight line between a stunningly curved exhaust pipe and rounded engine case is just lazy. No doubt they'll be tough bars, but I wouldn't put these on a Caterpillar.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for starting this thread.

Some experienced riders have suggested to me that I look into "crash bars" for my new Bonneville T120.

The Hepco & Becker Engine Guard for the Bonneville T120 look good.
 

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#28 · (Edited)
Just for reference, I managed to drop my T120 (on it's left side) whilst trying to do a slow U turn on a gravel/sand/rock hill.
I have the Hepco Becker engine guards on and the only evidence of it having gone over is a slight scrape on the centre stand footplate and a minute scratch on the Halcyon mirrors. I couldn't find any evidence of the gear shift lever or footrest having touched the ground (no marks or sand) and there were no permanent marks on the actual engine guards either but I think they may have just touched a sandy spot.
I have ridden the bike a fair bit afterwards and there is no sign of any damage to the gearbox at all.

It may have been that the incline and the position of the rocks etc all played in my favour but it does look like the engine guards have paid for themselves in this instance.
 
#29 ·
Reviving an old thread here. I’m in the market for some crash bars for my 2017 T120 and I’m kind of torn between the Renntec ones (i had renntec bars on my 2003 Bonneville and they saved it from serious damage a few times) and the T-Res racing ones

https://t-rex-racing.com/catalog.php?item=1319

The T. rex ones seem a little (barely) less ugly, although I’m bummed they don’t come in chrome. They’re also $100 less.

Anyone have experiences with these, or thoughts on one over the other?
 
#30 ·
I have the Triumph dresser bars on my T120 and I tested them with an unplanned zero speed left side drop in my driveway. The left side bar saved the tank but the left bar end cap, mirror, shifter peg and centerstand tang took the hit. The left bar was also bent back from hitting the concrete. I got lucky in that the shifter continued to function as it had before the drop.

If I were getting crash bars today, I would opt for the Renntec bars. They appear to project further out from the bike than the shifter peg. The three mounting points are also more confidence inspiring than the two mounting points on the OEM bars.:faceplant
 

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#33 ·
I'd also like to know this. Did you decide yet? I was looking at the SW Motech ones on revzilla. They look decent..I guess better looking than the Renntec ones but with less protection (plus they're around $75 cheaper than renntec). From a previous post in this thread I'm now put off by the Triumph Dresser bars for my T120. Sounds like they don't offer much protection. I'm going to think it over but the SW Motech ones will probably be the ones I'll get.
 
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