Question for AltRider skid plate owners

[Nimbus]

So I'm thinking I should get a skid plate, but I've heard that some of them will actually drag at high lean angles. Has anybody had problems with dragging the plate? I've dragged the pegs to the point that I've actually beveled my shift peg and touched the sidestand (not centerstand) tang. So, I don't want to reduce cornering clearance. Any thoughts?

 

[mingo]

I've not had it drag at all.

 

[tubebender]

I haven't either.

 

[greg the pole]

I had contact on mine because...
I was leaned over at about 40-50km and hit a frost heave.
Kept it up, but had to promptly pull over and change undies.
One pet peeve about this plate. The drain holes do not line up, when the bike is on the center stand. When on the side stand the bulk of the oil hits the pre-made holes.


otherwise order away.

 

[coastie]

Not here, but from your explanation, I don't make the lean angles you do. I lightly touch my pegs/edge of boot on the pavement and have never had any hard parts hit.

 

[EricV]

You're dragging a lot for this bike. Are you going that fast, or not adjusting your body position? You should be pushing the bike upright and moving your body mass to the inside of the corner.

If you're already moving your body mass, just going that fast. Geez,, have you considered maybe buying a track bike? ???

 

[snakebitten]

All of you guys are giving me a complex.
Dragging knees is exciting. I've got a bike for it. And gear to wear when doing it.
But I don't think I'm very close to it on this Beast. Especially on tarmac. I would like to blame the tires I usually have mounted, but even at Deals Gap and with EXP's I didn't throw many sparks.

Doesn't mean she isn't capable. Just means I must be unwilling.

This is my dirt bike. I think I ride it on tarmac about the same way I ride the DRZ. There's chick stripes on them knobbys.

 

[clint64]

I hear you snake. I have the Altrider plate and have not had an issue with it dragging but I could be me. ;D

 

[Nimbus]

You're dragging a lot for this bike. Are you going that fast, or not adjusting your body position? You should be pushing the bike upright and moving your body mass to the inside of the corner.

If you're already moving your body mass, just going that fast. Geez,, have you considered maybe buying a track bike? ???

I sold my CBR 600RR for the Tenere, so I realize that I've lost a bit of the performance envelope that I was used to. I am quite adept at hanging properly off the bike, but would acknowledge that when I dragged the shift lever, I was following an expert driver (with my dad in the car) on a road that I knew exceptionally well. He suddenly took off entering a corner, and I hadn't anticipated it and so hadn't set up properly to maximize clearance.

What really scared me is that after coming back from a particularly fun trip to the mountains, I realized that I had ridden off the side of the rear PR3. It had a scary looking bevel to the outer edge of the tire onto the sidewall. Anyway, that's what's great about the Tenere: it handles amazingly. Anyway, my ancient SV650 isn't feeling like the corner carver it once was (90K mi) so until I can get a proper sport bike, the Tenere has to pull a bunch of duties.

 

[EricV]

Anyway, that's what's great about the Tenere: it handles amazingly. Anyway, my ancient SV650 isn't feeling like the corner carver it once was (90K mi) so until I can get a proper sport bike, the Tenere has to pull a bunch of duties.

The right side foot peg has a dimple for a peg feeler. I would suggest you might want to pull the foot peg, drill and tap that spot and install a button head or socket cap bolt from the hardware store so you have some advance notice of how close you are on the right side. And maybe replace the left side peg feeler if it's been ground down and you're grinding the shift lever.

I take it you don't run with panniers on?

 

[roy]

I dragged mine on both sides. Replaced the rear shock with a Penske, set the sag correctly and no more dragging bike parts.

 

[Nimbus]

I dragged mine on both sides. Replaced the rear shock with a Penske, set the sag correctly and no more dragging bike parts.

I've been too lazy to set sag properly, but I weigh 145lbs and have it cranked up a decent bit from the standard position. I really should just set it right. Is it the same as with a sport bike? I kind of assumed that with all of the suspension travel, it'd be a bit different?

 

[snakebitten]

Aim for 55-60 mm of sag with you loaded to ride. At 145lbs, you just might be able to get there. Lucky fella.

 

[avc8130]

I've been too lazy to set sag properly, but I weigh 145lbs and have it cranked up a decent bit from the standard position. I really should just set it right. Is it the same as with a sport bike? I kind of assumed that with all of the suspension travel, it'd be a bit different?

"same"

Still shooting for ~30% sag...just with the longer travel the number will be bigger. Snake's got you covered with a great starting point.

ac

 

[snakebitten]

I think I got that range from you originally AC.

 

[Nimbus]

Excellent! Thanks guys.

 

[scott123007]

The right side foot peg has a dimple for a peg feeler. I would suggest you might want to pull the foot peg, drill and tap that spot and install a button head or socket cap bolt from the hardware store so you have some advance notice of how close you are on the right side. And maybe replace the left side peg feeler if it's been ground down and you're grinding the shift lever.

You don't have a feeler on the right because you don't need it. The footpeg touching is your warning. The only reason the feeler is on the left is for the stand which can touch before the peg, without a feeler on it. He didn't say anything about hitting his shift lever.

 

[EricV]

You don't have a feeler on the right because you don't need it. The footpeg touching is your warning.

If you're running an aftermarket skid plate, especially the Rumbux, there can be very little distance between the footpeg touching down and the rear of the skidplate. If you're not adjusting your position when you hit hard parts... You should re-think that. You may be over riding the road, the bike or your skill set at that point. Continuing to grind the bike into the road is a bit of folly, leaving you with a much smaller margin for additional error.

Only you can decide what's appropriate for you.

 

[Nimbus]

You don't have a feeler on the right because you don't need it. The footpeg touching is your warning. The only reason the feeler is on the left is for the stand which can touch before the peg, without a feeler on it. He didn't say anything about hitting his shift lever.

I hit the left peg feeler/shift lever/sidestand tang simultaneously. I got new boots that will require me to raise the lever a bit, but it wasn't absurdly low or anything. I hit the peg with a fast enough lean that by the time it "warned" me, I was over far enough to touch other things. My error, not the bike..."know thy bike's ground clearance" and stuff like that. It just sits so high...

 

[NoMorBills]

When I first got my Alt Rider skid and installed it. I had over 2" of space from my engine to the plate. Far too much hanging down.

I cut over an inch off of the rear bracket and rewelded it so I have about 3/4" too the engine sump. I cut off my hangdown thing that was the mount for the stock plastic guard and had the pan welded then filled the 3/4 space with High density foam then mounted the front to the Yamaha engine guard cross bracket. so it is tight and not mounted to the engine.

In stock form the Alt rider rear bracket is far too long.