Bandit Alley
GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: banditII on July 24, 2005, 08:52:10 PM
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I just installed suzuki's engine case gaurds on my 05 B12 Bandit. Does anyone know if these guards limit cornering clearance more than the foot pegs? Would the engine gaurds drag before the pegs?
Warren
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Not sure which one drags first, but keep an eye on the welds!
The OEM guards are known to crack at the welds without any impact. Part of the reason may be because they are designed for the Bandits with the lower motor mount the US versions don't have. Some people have installed shims (washers) between the guards and the lower frame holes to help make up for this.
(http://banditmotorcycles.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album16/ChrisClaysBlack1GBandit.jpg)
You can see how thick the lower motor mount is if you look at the silver triangular piece bridging the frame and motor just forward of the sidestand.
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Thanks for the info Paul. This kit came with some spacers and then flat washers that go between the guards and the frame then lock washers for the screws.
That sure is a fancy custom Bandit you have there!
Warren
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Good to know they're including spacers now, they didn't used to.
The bike above isn't mine, just a pic I stumbled across that I liked.
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The engine mushrooms that I bought from Bandit mania came with a heavy aluminum spacer for the upper mount. Makes It all fit nicely with no bending or binding.
Dj :banana:
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I may be that the latest OEM case guards are different than they used to be? I didn't have to bend anything to get them to fit, they went on perfect........thank goodness. Cause I'm a mechanical idiot. If I can install it, anybody can. Two bolts went to the vertical frame and one mounted to the lower horizantal part of the frame.
Warren
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I didn't notice any problems installing my OEM case guards either.
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The newer Suzuki brand case guards appear to be better made than earlier versions which had welds break due to vibration.
Mine were bought and installed in the spring of 2004. They've been on for about 18K miles with no welds breaking. I've tipped the bike over twice, once on each side at a standstill with nothing worse than scratched paint.
PJ-1 Fast Black Satin has covered the mistakes well.
I thought about adding foot pegs to the guards, but decided they'd stick out too far and probably get damaged first in case I tipped her over again.
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Do any of you guys have problems with grinding your caseguards into the road in hard cornering? I have done this a couple times here lately, even when hanging off. It's making me want a thinner sportier bike with higher pegs. :motorsmile:
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I don't yet know how to copy a quote from what someone else says, but what NCBandit just wrote is what scares me about the engine gaurds. I may have wasted my money on them. You definetely don't want to grind them into the pavemet which could probably cause a crash real quick. I've got a 9R sportbike for the sportier stuff but the bandit is big fun in the curves and plenty competent. I plan on carefully leaning the thing further and further and see how it goes. I may end up taking mine off and selling them to someone who doesn't care so much for the curves. It's about a wash really, the engine gaurds are a hundred bucks, an engine casing probably runs near the same? Of course the gaurds may prevent you from getting stranded and / or help prevent more damage to the fairing and such in case of tip over such as mentioned earlier.
Warren
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while not a perfect method you could hold a 4`x8` sheet of plywood up with one edge touching your tires and see what will rub l/ M
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Good idea Ivan! I'll try that tomorrow after Church.
Warren
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I tried the plywood deal and it seems that the footpegs will indeed touch first before the engine gaurds, but just barely. So it's a tuff decision whethor or not to leave them ( engine guards ) on. If you come into a turn too hot and make the pegs flex in much at all then you will hit the guards and quite possibly crash. But overall, I think the bike has enough clearance. I'll have to think this one over though.
Warren
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Well, so far I've found the pegs hit first, but VERY soon after, the casegaurds hit. Then I found out today that the midpipe hits right after that. It hasn't caused anything bad YET, as a matter of fact except for my toe sliders and peg hitting I don't even notice the case gaurds hitting till I actually see it.
Sorry guys, I would love to keep the bandit, but I think it will have to go. my riding style exceeds it's capabilities. I thought about rearsets, but that's not gonna help a thing. The casegaurds will still hit, and the exhaust. I'm sure I'll have the bandit the rest of this year, but next year I'll be showing up at the rally on an SV1k hopefully.
On a sidenote, even grinding everything you can grind, my knee is still 2-3 inches off the ground so I have no good way to tell how far over I am. Not a good feeling.
Keep the shiny side up, Josh
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I've had two sets of the OEM case guards on two different bikes and 50K total miles. No cracked welds. In fact, I've known many others who have had these guards with no issues whatsoever. I think the cracked weld thing is just a bunch of BS and nothing to worry about.
BTW...Pegs will touch before the guards.
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I went through the same thing in regards to wanting a bike with more cornering clearance. My 9R provides the extra clearance, make good top end power and ups the danger level too. One thing I've found with a sportbike is that it makes going, turning and stopping so easy, you have to push the envelope even more to feel like you are working it to get that thrill. I plan on keeping the 9R and have fun with it, but in hindsight, the bandit's level of cornering clearance is a good place to call it quits for me. But I'm a curve junkie too, I push.............and I've crashed. Never thought I could crash, I'm too good a rider.............I thought. Well, I had a guy in a car trying to kill me, but that's another story. It's like someone said in the movie "On Any Sunday". "You don't know how fast you can go till you crash". That's true, I think........can I lean it a little more, how about even more this time? Finally, the answer is NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Warren
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After having recently returned from North Carolina and Deals Gap and the Cherohala Skyway, I have to admit, riding my kaw 9R was big fun. It's got it's place as does the Bandit. Would not want the 9R as an only bike though, I would choose the Bandit over the 9 as an only bike.
Warren
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Hey, if the guards worry you or have a weld problem, just go to Metisse frame sliders instead. I wanted engine guards or a crash bar until reading some of the comments here a few months ago.\
Good luck!
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Thanks Herb! I may check out those frame sliders. I need to give my bike a good run thru the curves to test it out with the engine gaurds. If I'm not satisfied, I may go with the sliders. Thanks!
Warren