Need a skid plate if staying on tarmac?

[Davesax36]

I get that, and I wasn't intending to use it as such. I was just asking if the design similarities continued past the mounting points to the actual consturction.

 

[2112]

A lot of coffee shops in the UK & Europe won't allow you in unless you have a skid plate AND engine bars. Something to do with a Euro regulation about only allowing proper adventure bikers in to have a coffee or something ?

 

[Mellow]

nah, just took my altrider sp off.

 

[Don in Lodi]

A lot of coffee shops in the UK & Europe won't allow you in unless you have a skid plate AND engine bars. Something to do with a Euro regulation about only allowing proper adventure bikers in to have a coffee or something ?

::013::

 

[EricV]

Check out the mastech. It's simple and relatively inexpensive and doesn't mount to the sump.
http://www.accessoryinternational.com/merchant2/graphics/00000003/mastech-skid-plate-yamaha-super-tenere.jpg

The Mastech is a good choice for something simple and relatively easy to live with for a pavement rider. Better than the Yamaha because of the mounting points. The big failure of the Yamaha skid plate is the rear rubber mount to the sump, which can tear/break out a chunk of the sump with a front hit to the plate, that shoves the entire skid plate backwards, even if the hit isn't hard enough to damage the skid plate itself.

Risk assessment is part of all of our riding. In Europe, it's common to park motorcycles on the sidewalk, so also common to ride off the curb onto the street. More than one street bike has cracked the sump doing that when the curb was taller than the clearance the bike had. ST1300s were actually delayed in the US because of that issue and a subsequent re-design. However, that behavior isn't as common in the US where parking on the sidewalk is usually a citation offense. So assess your risks. If you haven't had issues for the previous bikes you ride and you rarely take multi-day trips, perhaps the skid plate is overkill for your needs/risks.

OTOH, if you believe this bike will tempt you to take longer trips where you might not have local knowledge or support, and like many, may discover that the Super Tenere lends itself to exploring places you haven't been... maybe the skid plate is as others have said, cheap insurance and some peace of mind when you see that gravel road and think to yourself, "I wonder where that goes?" The Super Ten lends itself well to that kind of temptation. It's a perfect tool to wander on or off pavement. Along the way you might learn some more about your world and yourself too.

 

[limey]

::026::

Jeeezz, when was the last time you saw a street bike with a skid plate?
::026::
Ok, let's get real and commute on.

 

[murdock2002]

OP here again…went ahead and ordered the Altrider skid plate in black. I figure it's piece-of-mind/insurance on the tarmac, and allows me to grow into the bike's capability and explore different type roads/trails as I come across them.

The comment about going onto sidewalks, or over other obstacles, in order to park is a very valid point - especially if the bike is loaded down with gear and pillion.

Thanks again for all the input.

 

[Use2btrix]

Use it or not, they still look sexy and it just looks smart to cover up everything that's exposed. I just ordered a skid plate today as well even though it may be a while before I'm able to make a bigger off road trip.

 

[Syntec4]

I would like one, but it's just for looks. I find that I just spend money on Tyres, fuel, and beer instead.

 

[Freebooter]

I ride nothing but highways either, an occasional short dirt road. But I still want those side crash bars and a skid plate. I think they look cool and never know when you need them.

 

[motoguy]

Does it have an additional plate on the underside like the Touratech one? I'm interested in how sturdy those mount arms are. It seems to mount exactly the same way the Touratech plate mounts, but I can't really find specs on the metal thickness and what not. Any additional info/pics/whatever is appreciated, and what year do you have? I emailed them, but haven't yet heard whether it will fit with the newer exhaust.

Here's the PDF of the Touratech install instructions for reference http://www.touratech-usa.com/media/WCiZOa/09-046-5135-0.pdf

My bike is a 12 and I feel that the Mastech skid plate is pretty much a knock off of the tourtech minus the extra plate on the bottom for less $$. The mounting is identical. I believe its 11ga aluminum. As was mentioned I would agree that it is not made for "off road" use. However it wouldn't take much modification to beef it up some.I ride a lot of gravel and forestry roads and it works well for me. You can hear the stones hitting it while riding. With the oil filter being front and center I feel that the skid plate is doing its job. There are much bigger and better skid plates out there but it depends on YOUR riding style and ability.
I still stand by the tried and true of you get what you pay for. I wold put the Mastech plate in the general use category.

 

[trainman]

Plenty of threads/insights about different skid plates available.

My question is whether it's needed/worth it to have a skid plate if the S10 doesn't leave the tarmac, or travel on unpaved roads that are merely dirt?

I do definitely plan on buying crash bars.

Thanks.

from what I can see the risk is low with the OE kit on tarmac, you could add a better one as a pure farkle but to my mind its extra weight on a heavy bike, at least panniers and bags serve a purpose for their weight, but each to his own as they say!!

 

[dietDrThunder]

You can buy Triumph part #T1210245 for $35, which is a heavy duty oil filter cover that will protect the filter. Apart from that, nothing is needed on pavement. The whole curb/sidewalk thing is just vanity justification IMO. I was a moto-courrrier for years, and as such I've probably hopped about 500 zillion more curbs than everyone else reading this combines, and I never impacted the bottom of the bike. This includes about 6 months riding a 76 H1 (yes I courriered on that thing) with custojm chambers that wrapped under the bike. That bike probably had about 5" of ground clearance max.

That said, 'need' is a strong word for all of this stuff, isn't it? I mean, we buy stuff that we don't need all the time. If you think they look cool, that's all the justification that's needed. Nothing wrong with spending your hard earned cashola on something just because you dig it.

 

[gaps]

Shirley, you must be joking...don't need a plate on a street bike. Get pilot roads and rail.