Blackbird crashbars

Kiriath · 01-01-2007, 6:02 PM

Hey there guys,

As some of you might have read ive already crashed my bird once, and even though it wasnt that serious, theres annoying scratches and stuff that im sure will cost a small fortune to fix.

So, im wondering if its possibly to fix som crashbars of sorts to the bird, since im sure ill crash it again sooner or later. Ive seen the small thingies you can screw into the sides of the bird, but I feel like its a little too flimsy a solution, so im not really interestet in that.

Something like the motec bars on my twin would be nice?

Ive tryed googling for blackbird crashbars, blackbird engine guards, and stuff like that, but havent found anything...

Warchild · 01-01-2007, 6:52 PM

IMO the best protection you can get for the Blackbird (which still guarantees nothing, quite frankly) are the R&G Sliders.

A bit spendy, and an ass-pain because you need to drill holes in your plastic to fit them, but still, if it's max protection you are after, this is it.

http://www.rg-racing.com//showproduc...rotectors.aspx

Kiriath · 01-01-2007, 8:19 PM

Thanks Warchild!

Ive seen those already though, and I still think they look flimsy. Reason being that when my bike hit the dirt, it got scratches on the front of the fairing, not much on the sides, and it would seem to me that if I had those fittet, it would just put even more preassure on the front, thus doing even more damage ?!

Ive found this set though:

BikeJohnny - motorcycle specialist accessory store

Wich I will definately buy and fit on her, since it seems like ive actually broken the left metal panel thats visible on the engine on the 3rd of your pictures. (its leaking oil from there... ) And that just cant be healthy in the long run... ( and yea, im also getting a replacement for that metal thingie )

What im really after is something like this:

SW-MOTECH Motorradtechnik - Spezialkonstruktionen - Motorradzubehör

Preferable even larger than that! The bigger the better!

That picture is actually EXCATLY what my afrika twin look like, same color, same bars, and same topbox, but no sideboxes.

Ive tryed looking even more, and I havent found even a picture with a blackbird wearing crashbars. Havent anybody made any ???!!!

shovelstrokeed · 01-01-2007, 10:07 PM

I doubt you will find a set. Crash bars are more of a cruiser or dual purpose thing than a sport or sport touring bike thing. You could always fashion a set or adapt from an existing set but, I can't imagine anything that would come close to protecting the plastics would be anything but ugly.

That metal thing you are referring to is the stator cover for your charging system. Not uncommon to lose it in a left side down slide. The frame sliders actually do a very good job of protecting the plastics. Not 100% of course but they are, if properly engineered and installed, no where near flimsy. Be aware, there is some crap out there so do a little research.

Warchild · 01-01-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiriath

Ive tryed looking even more, and I havent found even a picture with a blackbird wearing crashbars. Havent anybody made any ???!!!

No, for reasons shovelstrokeed already mentioned... they would look beyond fugly on the XX. No one wants to make the bike look like ass 100% of the time for a situation that rarely occurs.

Re: the R&G Sliders: these are not flimsy are all. They are very, very tough, and actually do a good job. But their main task it to prevent frame damage during a laydown (which would total the bike as far as insurance is concerned). Also, they are sacrificial: they get "ground down" instead of your stator cover, etc (click on the photo of the blue XX to see what I mean). If you grind a hole in your stator cover, you are walking home. The R&G sliders or the carbon fiber covers from BikeJohnny would prevent that.

But if you're looking for them to prevent fairing scratches, that's not their primary mission.

The only way to truly prevent fairing scratches is to not drop the bike to begin with....

Kiriath · 01-02-2007, 4:40 PM

Thanks for the replys guys!

Guess ill have to just get those two mushrooms then. Combined with the covers ive already linked to they seem to be about the best I can do .

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warchild

No, for reasons shovelstrokeed already mentioned... they would look beyond fugly on the XX. No one wants to make the bike look like ass 100% of the time for a situation that rarely occurs.

Hehe, seems like you two are pretty set on the "fact" that the bird would look ugly with crashbars, I guess im just of a different oppinion. I think it would add up quite well.

But ok, ill get the plastic covers for the metal parts, and then some frame sliders, im looking forward to getting to work!

shovelstrokeed · 01-02-2007, 7:22 PM

Sorry but, opinions are a matter of personal taste and by my lights, a CBRXX, which is a pretty slippery and sporty looking motorcycle, would look not only ugly but plain silly with a set of crash bars on it. To each his own of course. But to quote SJ Perelman, "de gustibus ain't what de used to be". I'd explain but that one is obscure enough to have some fun with.