engine crash bars

[slo coach]

Anybody know who can supply a decent set of engine crash bars for a k3 1200,the emphasis being on a well built set.The local suzuki agent tells me he can get some but they arenot a good design or quality..cheers  slo coach

[TK421]

The three that seem most popular here are Renntec, Givi and Holeshot.  If you search the forum for "engine guards" or "crash bars" you'll find tons of info.  The Suzuki OEM bars look nice but seemed flimsy to me.

[fossil]

I just installed the Suzuki case guards on the weekend.  Installation was super easy and I was impressed with the quality and appearance.  They are definately not flimsy.  Got them here :
https://www.oneidasuzuki.com/store/parts-accessories/engine-case-guards-gsf1200.html

[Sven]

I've got the OEM guards too, and they don't look flimsy to me.  I've "sort of" used them once, and they did what they needed to do.  (Nah, just don't want to go into it right now.)  Also, I've had several folks, including people who ride a popular brand of American-made motorcycle say they really like the simplcity of the design of the OEM guards.

[Vlad]

There's nothing wrong with OEM Suzuki bars, especially if you can find them cheap :). They are quite thick walled and attach at three points. They do the job well and look OK to me, especially having in mind that fitting highway pegs on them is easy (I dare to say probably easier than on those "diagonal" ones).

[Red01]

"vlad" sez
There's nothing wrong with OEM Suzuki bars

  Nothing wrong with them?

These guards that have a history of cracking welds when they've never contacted anything.
These same guards have bent in parking lot spills and broke open the very engine covers they're supposed to protect.

Sure, some folks have had fair service from them, but too many have not.

[Vlad]

"vlad" sez
There's nothing wrong with OEM Suzuki bars

  Nothing wrong with them?

These guards that have a history of cracking welds when they've never contacted anything.
These same guards have bent in parking lot spills and broke open the very engine covers they're supposed to protect.

Sure, some folks have had fair service from them, but too many have not.

I have had parking lot spills with them and they didn't even scratch properly. The guy I bought them from shaved about 2mm off one of them and did not manage to bend them. There is not a single crack anywhere. That said, they were a little awkward to install and required some extra spacers at the bottom mount. I can only speculate that the cracked/bent ones you are talking about were a result of improper mounting, or very hard crashing that would crack/bend any other type. I really can't see those Holeshot ones protecting any better, solid rod or not.

[Red01]

Like I said, some have had good luck with them. Maybe Suzuki  improved them later on, but when I first signed up on this and other Bandit sources five years ago, it was a rampant problem for them to crack at the welds after some miles have passed under them. Our own board owner's guard broke the cover in a parking lot tip over a year or two ago - and that's not the only case like that I've heard of.

I don't think it matters too much anymore anyway though. AFAIK, Suzuki discontinued them, so someone finding a new set now isn't too likely.

[gearset01]

i just bought a set from Oneida for 80.00. I looked at the welds, "I was a welder in a past life" and they look good especially considering these are a production piece not a custom job. I looked at various other models and they were more money some alot more. Ive read about one case where they bent in hard enough to break a case cover. I would be willing to bet that there are cases out there where the more expensive models have produced the same results on motorcycles. There is really only one way not to have a problem with no matter what you use and thats not to crash. That means leaving it on the showroom floor. Ive seen welds crack on just about everything you can imagine, I wouldnt let that stop me from buying these particular items. Then again I do a pretty decent job of inspecting my bike on a regular basis. Should it come to pass that I see a broken weld I will remove repair and re-install. I think the gaurds are in line for the model bike.
PIN

[davehenricks]

I ordered the OEM Suzuki crash bars from several places and they always came back and say that Suzuki does not make them anymore.  I got a pair from Oneida Suzuki also and I like them very much.  Easy to put on and not in the road.  A nice addition to the bike.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I have a set of those small engine Suzuki crash bars as well but I cant help feeling that the big problem will be the fairing which will crunch like an egg shell even if the bike gets knocked over accidentally. We all know what the big old fashioned cruiser bike bars look like, and would be gasp ugly on a sport bike. I wish I had the equipment and skill to fabricate a special design crash bar that would protect the faring as well. Something out of triangle titanium stock that would follow the contour of the fairing, tank and frame, very techno looking. Imagine your bike falling over or going down at speed and all that happened was your mirrors were moved out of adjustment but the fairing in not even scratched.

[Red01]

The moto-schools in France had crash bars on their Kawi EX500's - even on the exhaust cans... not exactly a fashion statement though.





(Yes, I'd rather have the little Aprilia than either one of those Kwackers.)

[CWO4GUNNER]

As a school I would imagine that fashion would be way behind  protecting training equipment. I suppose I should start on Photoshop and try and come up with something I can make out of pipe stock as a prototype. But what I have in mined would be fashion acceptable.

The moto-schools in France had crash bars on their Kawi EX500's - even on the exhaust cans... not exactly a fashion statement though.

[gearset01]

Those are SWEET, I would get those red and white tassels to decorate them as well !!!!
  PIN

[Samurai]

I also just got the OEM guards from Oneida after seeing them on Dave Henricks bike.  (Gee, I wonder how many Oneida has left or not after the recent flurry of activity I've been reading.)  Anyhow, they look solid and good to me and very easy to put on.  The only thing is I guess no belly pans now since they use the same bracket holels.  Anyone know if there is one that works with these gurads?