Newbie has a crashbar question

[rnolletti]

Is there a crashbar that can be installed on my newly aquired 80' R100RT? It appears it would require cutting some holes in the fairing. I ask this because 25 years ago the crashbar on my 77' Yamaha XS650D saved my life. As a result, it's kind of a priority on the bikes I ride. Thanks.

Ralph Nolletti
Hughesville, Maryland

[tghsmith]

cylinder protection bars were made for your bike, you will need to find a nos set(which has the templates for cutting the holes in your lowers) or make your own templates from a set that has been already holed. they offer no more "Protection" than the cylinder and in anything more than a parking lot fall-over can do more damage, plus they can make the bike a pain to work on....

[sumran]

cylinder protection bars were made for your bike, you will need to find a nos set(which has the templates for cutting the holes in your lowers) or make your own templates from a set that has been already holed. they offer no more "Protection" than the cylinder and in anything more than a parking lot fall-over can do more damage, plus they can make the bike a pain to work on....

+1. Those cylinders are far stronger than bolt-on bars. The saddle bags are surprisingly helpful as well. I have seen a few bikes that experienced lowside dismounts with lots of scuffs but little internal damage to bike or rider. I hope I don't ever get to test this aspect of the cylinders. Well, other than the two embarassing parking lot tests and the soft sand campground test I have already performed.:blush No damgage to the bike in these "tests". Slight ego bruise to rider, but it healed quickly.:laugh

[rnolletti]

Thanks guys, I never thought about the strength of those jugs.

I lowsided coming off a cloverleaf at about 45mph on my 650 when I hit a patch of slick summertime asphalt. The bike slid out from underneath me thanks to the crashbar and continued down the highway for 120 feet. Meanwhile I slid sixty feet . I jumped up, ran down to my bike, picked it up and pushed it off the road. The crashbar was completely ground through. Luckily I only had a hole in my forearm and side but all the rivets on my jeans were ground off. After I got my s!$% together I hit the start button and the old girl fired right up. On the ride home I tried to figure out how I was going explain the hole in my arm to my parents. The next day I could barely get out of bed. Note to self: in August asphalt can bubble and become slippery.

Ralph Nolletti

[88bmwJeff]

I'm not in favor of crash bars. I know some may differ, but I agree with what has previously been stated. You also might want to read the info on crash bars on the following site.

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/crashbars/index.htm

[carockwell]

I low sided my R80 ST without crash bars at about 45 MPH. I bent the forks a little bit, but rode the bike 160 miles home and never noticed anything. The valve cover was scraped, but still has lots of meat on it. I have to agree with Duane Ausherman that you are better off removing the crash bars from an airhead. THe crash bars supposedly make the bikes convert a low side slide into a high side face plant and/or bend the frame tubes.

[The_Veg]

+1 On no bars.

[crazydrummerdude]

+1 On no bars.

+2

[rnolletti]

Thanks Everyone,

I had not thought about the position of a crashbar mount on the R100. I can see now how it would catch and turn a lowside to a highside. Thank you all for looking out for me. What a great resource this forum is.

Ralph Nolletti