SW Motech crash bars installation.

Hi All -

Has anyone installed the SW Motech crash bars? I did OK with the right side installation, but it seems to me like the left side crash bars were not specked properly for the bolt holes. I managed to muscle it on, but I was wondering if anybody else has the same problem installing the left side crash bar.

no i,ve take mine on and off quite a few times this year very quickly no issues

rob

Wheelin said:

Hi All -

Has anyone installed the SW Motech crash bars? I did OK with the right side installation, but it seems to me like the left side crash bars were not specked properly for the bolt holes. I managed to muscle it on, but I was wondering if anybody else has the same problem installing the left side crash bar.

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You should try, placing both at the same time, without making the final adjustment of the screws separately (right / left)?. Or try to place the left side first, if now the right one does not match, it is because the final adjustment of the screws, it must be done with both placed

Jlq1969 said:

You should try, placing both at the same time, without making the final adjustment of the screws separately (right / left)?. Or try to place the left side first, if now the right one does not match, it is because the final adjustment of the screws, it must be done with both placed

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I guess that approach wouldn’t hurt, although the directions stated to do the right side first. However, to your point, for the left side, even putting the screws on loosely was problematic because I couldn’t get all the holes on the crossbars to align with the mounts for the motorcycle, And therefore, I had trouble even putting the screws on loosely.

bimota said:

no i take mine on and off quite a few times a year very quickly no issues

rob

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In that case, I hope that I never have to remove mine completely and can get away with just loosening the screws. I had one hell of a time.

i had mine off this year to get powder coated red, even with the new thick powder on the holes lined up quickly strange that.

bimota said:

i had mine off this year to get powder coated red, even with the new thick powder on the holes lined up quickly strange that.

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About all I can say is the first set of SW MOTECH Tenere crash bars arrived and upon close inspection I found an incomplete weld. All welds must be 100 % for obvious reasons.
I installed my SW-Motech bars myself. A little difficult, but not too arduous. Just don't tighten any of the bolts until you get all of them started. Use of a suitable socket and extension is a help, along with a little help from a friend.
The left crash bar has a round hole and a rubber piece of the bike fits into it as I recall.
Perhaps Motech is a little sloppy on production standards, missing weld, possibly the jig they are using has become out of tolerance...or manufactured on a Friday afternoon??
Comments
SHUMBA

bimota said:

no i take mine on and off quite a few times a year very quickly no issues

rob

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How come you remove them and put them on again.
About the only reason I can think of is to change the fan (left side) The RH side allows me to remove both upper and lower panels to access the electrical area.
SHUMBA

ONLY PAINT they been off a fews times for painting but not good so the 3rd time they were shot blasted and powder coated.

they have been one of the easist set i have ever fitted, and i,ve fitted quite a few sets over the 40 yrs i,ve been riding, but SHUMBA i remember your thread about the bad welding i,ve just been very lucky.

Wheelin, here you go getting me all negative after a rare Denver Bronco win. Sorry, not your fault. I recently bought a pair and Twisted Throttle and SW Motech crash bars are both poor choices for me. Check the fit on the bike. Mine are tighter to the bike on the left side. Left was also harder to install. Quality is suspect and I don't care to start on my feelings toward Twisted Throttle.

Rant over.

A friend installed the same SW Mototech bars and reported the same trouble and he is pretty well mechanically inclined.

2talltoo said:

Wheelin, here you go getting me all negative after a rare Denver Bronco win. Sorry, not your fault. I recently bought a pair and Twisted Throttle and SW Motech crash bars are both poor choices for me. Check the fit on the bike. Mine are tighter to the bike on the left side. Left was also harder to install. Quality is suspect and I don't care to start on my feelings toward Twisted Throttle.

Rant over.

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Sorry to hear that.
I had SW Motech crash bars on my Africa Twin (dealer installed) and have them on my Super 10 which I put on myself. Other than the missing weld area in the first set, no complaints as these bars have done their job four times now. All from stopped positions by the way.
Suspect Motech is not rigid with the quality control aspect.
Nothing is perfect.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

Cycledude said:

A friend installed the same SW Mototech bars and reported the same trouble and he is pretty well mechanically inclined.

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OK, thanks for the comment
No product is perfect and there's bound to be the occasional one-off.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

Really like the colour you painted your crash bars, bimota,
You have really set me thinking now on getting mine done.
My bikes Blue, just wondering which colour would work on it ?

Tenere man said:

Really like the colour you painted your crash bars, bimota,
You have really set me thinking now on getting mine done.
My bikes Blue, just wondering which colour would work on it ?

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hi Tenere man,

THEY had been on 3 years UK weather had corrosion all over them the black was peeling off every where, so had them shot blasted and powder coated red to match the bike, only £40 alot better finish than the standard job.

looks nice to.


rob

Cycledude said:

A friend installed the same SW Mototech bars and reported the same trouble and he is pretty well mechanically inclined.

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Well, that makes me feel little bit better about myself!

SHUMBA said:

OK, thanks for the comment
No product is perfect and there's bound to be the occasional one-off.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

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Of my mother’s 3 three children, my mom refers to me as a “one off”. Hmmmmm.

bimota said:

ONLY PAINT they been off a fews times for painting but not good so the 3rd time they were shot blasted and powder coated.

they have been one of the easist set i have ever fitted, and i,ve fitted quite a few sets over the 40 yrs i,ve been riding, but SHUMBA i remember your thread about the bad welding i,ve just been very lucky.

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I did not observe any issues with the welding. I dig the new color on your bars, as well. Looks great!

SHUMBA said:

OK, thanks for the comment
No product is perfect and there's bound to be the occasional one-off.
SHUMBA

Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

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Since the welds are OK on mine, I don’t know if I wanna go to the trouble of returning the damned things, or maybe just drill a hole in the correct position.

2talltoo said:

Wheelin, here you go getting me all negative after a rare Denver Bronco win. Sorry, not your fault. I recently bought a pair and Twisted Throttle and SW Motech crash bars are both poor choices for me. Check the fit on the bike. Mine are tighter to the bike on the left side. Left was also harder to install. Quality is suspect and I don't care to start on my feelings toward Twisted Throttle.

Rant over.

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I followed the directions and installed the right side crash bars first AND tightened them, but I don’t know if that would’ve necessarily affected the fit of the left crash bar.