Engine Guards

[westofone]

Soon after I purchased my 04 R1150 RT it was parked at work with a cover on, and the wind blew it over! (OK, it WAS on a slight slope on the sidestand, so the bike wasn't leaning as much as it should have been-) anyway - the right sidecase took the brunt of the impact (I intend to replace both with System City Cases some day-), but also the lovely magnesium cylinder head cover got a scratch! I found out that it can be replaced for about $140. when doing the next valve adjustment, but I started looking into ways to protect those rather vunerable appendages on the Boxer Twins. I installed a set of the plastic Engine Guards. Not bad - for only 100 bucks - then I saw a bike like mine with the carbon fiber covers. They looked pretty "trick" - but- OUCH - $500. APIECE to "protect" a $140. engine cover? Now, I've been looking at the 06 R1200GS Adventure - it has heavy-duty looking engine cover guards. Does anyone know what they are made of? - And, would it be possible to fit them on an 1150 engine? ( -And, how much $?) This is my first BMW, and I'm a definate convert. Thanks,

[RiverRat280]

I'd just stick with the plastic ones on a RT, if you drop it the guards will be ruined but it'll save you from puncture holes in the cover. GS gets dropped more often so I have staton head guards and HB bars that protect that. Problem is something is only as strong as the weakest point and when I had the stanton guards without any bars my weakest point was the head where the guards mount....yep dropped the bike and it broke the mounting hole in the head and the only fix is to buy a new head wich is much more then a valve cover. Nice thing about the plastic ones is they'll take the hit and get destroyed without doing other damage yet still saving the valve cover and a long walk home because oil is spewing out of your bike.

[glwestcott]

If you're like me, most if not all of your drops will be when stationary. I've had about five or six and most have been slipping on something with my foot when stopped or just losing balance on driveway or some other such stupid thing. For that, the plastic guards are great and protect the valve cover perfectly. Don't know what they would do with a good drop at 30 or 50 or so, but figure that there will be more to worry about than the valve covers anyway!

[Ab544927]

Did you consider looking for some crash bars by chance? Or at least some sort of extended protection. Also Toratech make some metal valve cover protectors that do a great job too for the GS. Kind of ugly in some ways although they look like they would take a lick of asphalt no problem.

[XAQUE]

I picked up a pair of used Wunderlich engine bars for my Roadster:

1) for protection and
2) for a sweet mounting place for fog lamps!

However I can't comment on how they perform in an accident...

-Xaque-

[westofone]

I'd just stick with the plastic ones on a RT, if you drop it the guards will be ruined but it'll save you from puncture holes in the cover. GS gets dropped more often so I have staton head guards and HB bars that protect that. Problem is something is only as strong as the weakest point and when I had the stanton guards without any bars my weakest point was the head where the guards mount....yep dropped the bike and it broke the mounting hole in the head and the only fix is to buy a new head wich is much more then a valve cover. Nice thing about the plastic ones is they'll take the hit and get destroyed without doing other damage yet still saving the valve cover and a long walk home because oil is spewing out of your bike.

RiverRat, Your words make good sense. Thanks so much!
John (westofone)