Skid Plate Experience?

[terrysig]

As a days old new owner of an S10 I really liked the thread that started if you had to do it again. That was helpful.

I'd like to ask the same thing about specifically skid plates. I think with the target audience of the S10, if there is absolutely one change it would be the skid plate from the pitiful Yami plastic plate (although engine guards are a close second!).

There is many options, SW-Motech, alt-rider, the yami version, the one jaxon has developed, etc.

given your experiences; riding, maintenance and anything else, which one would you choose if you got a "do over"?

cheers!

 

[3putt]

I would look them over in person, but so far have not seen one better than my Hepco & Becker. It adds 11 lbs, and has a slight oil drumming sound, but you get used to it. Very easy to remove for oil changes. It has taken some very big hits from rocks being kicked up in Colorada.

 

[terrysig]

11 pounds seems to be on par with plates with beefed up bracketry. I look good also.

thanks for the tip on the drumming sound...knowing something like that ahead of time doesn't prevent you from buying but sure prevents a WTF moment when out on the first ride after install.

 

[Jap_STi_3]

I went down the AltRider route and am very happy with the bash plate. looks the dog's too ::012::

 

[Old Git Ray]

Here is the SW-Motech offering having been seriously tested and dented. 3 days of Pyreneean mountain roads and several "bottom outs" on big rocks. It saved the bike big time. I took it off, forced it to make freinds with a big hammer and put it back on. No probs and I would buy it again.

This is it compared to the laughable Yamaha offering.

One thing that needs to be bourne in mind is that you cannot just stop 380 kg of bike and rider in free fall. Something has to give so a solid skid plate is not always the best thing.

 

[RED CAT]

380kg??? Wow. :-[

 

[Tremor38]

380kg??? Wow. :-[

That's rider and gear included, bro!

 

[Yamaguy55]

I have the factory plate, it was mounted when I took delivery. It is marginal even as a stone guard, as I now have a slight dent in my Right Side header from a rock tossed up by the front wheel. It isn't so much the plate is wimpy, but the mounting system. I believe that all of the current ones mount primarily to the engine, and none that I'm aware of reach up to the frame mount brackets for the engine.

Keep in mind, as stated above, that since there is no engine cradle/frame underneath, no currently offered plate will protect from a really big hit. Some are better than others. The Yamaha is the weakest, the Altrider seems to be the most robust of the three readily available offerings. (Altrider, SW Motech, Yamaha)

If you really expect to go rock bashing, I'd consider looking for something that actually mounts to the engine mount brackets on the frame, not bolts to the engine itself. Or modify whichever one you want to beef it up. I'm considering adding two struts from my Yamaha plate up to the frame and seeing how that does. It is on the list, but I have a very long list.

Many consider the Super Tenere to be an overgrown dirt bike. I have used mine as a dirt bike, and find the weight to be prohibitive, at least in my case. Now I consider it to be an all-road bike, vs an off-road bike. It will handle everything I throw at it, but it really isn't ideal for rock gardens and really technical stuff. I have decided I'm beat up enough without having to get out from under a 600 pound motorcycle. Assuming I could, by myself.

That's just my take on this.

 

[terrysig]

the coverage and bracketry definitely rule out the yami if any sort of serious off road is to be considered.

 

[terrysig]

WRT yamaguy55...I see what you mean for the mounting and I guess that why all the rubber buttons. Andactually I guess I'd want the bracketry to have some give for a really hard hit.

Agree with the overgrown dirtbike. I ride "real" offroad every weekend so know the difference. But do admit that it will be used in some serious DP riding so want the protection.

Although looks are one thing protection and ease of maintenance are higher on the list.

Right now with no chance to see in person all above the Yami seem pretty similar. Jaxon's product is the only one that stantds out as providing more coverage. But that is probably over kill for my needs.

although this thread is certainly helping for a decision.

 

[Tremor38]

I have the factory plate, it was mounted when I took delivery. It is marginal even as a stone guard, as I now have a slight dent in my Right Side header from a rock tossed up by the front wheel. It isn't so much the plate is wimpy, but the mounting system. I believe that all of the current ones mount primarily to the engine, and none that I'm aware of reach up to the frame mount brackets for the engine.

Keep in mind, as stated above, that since there is no engine cradle/frame underneath, no currently offered plate will protect from a really big hit. Some are better than others. The Yamaha is the weakest, the Altrider seems to be the most robust of the three readily available offerings. (Altrider, SW Motech, Yamaha)

If you really expect to go rock bashing, I'd consider looking for something that actually mounts to the engine mount brackets on the frame, not bolts to the engine itself. Or modify whichever one you want to beef it up. I'm considering adding two struts from my Yamaha plate up to the frame and seeing how that does. It is on the list, but I have a very long list.

Many consider the Super Tenere to be an overgrown dirt bike. I have used mine as a dirt bike, and find the weight to be prohibitive, at least in my case. Now I consider it to be an all-road bike, vs an off-road bike. It will handle everything I throw at it, but it really isn't ideal for rock gardens and really technical stuff. I have decided I'm beat up enough without having to get out from under a 600 pound motorcycle. Assuming I could, by myself.

That's just my take on this.

Check with Tabasco if you want a frame attached plate. He makes one (rideonadv.com) built like a tank for a reasonable price. Also there is a intergrated crash bar/skid plate from Rollbend that Eric V can get for a great deal.

As far as the other brands go, I think most any of them distibute the load between the mounts better than the OEM, with the exception of the el cheapo Ebay knockoffs. +1 on the Alt Rider being best of that group, but it pales in comparision to the one Tabasco makes. 8)

 

[Big Blu]

Anyone here have experience with the Hebco-Becker skid plate?
I seem to recall someone mentioning that it was attached to the frame....
Regards, Paul

 

[Bigbore4]

I plan to be using this bike as more of an all road bike as well. I put on some miles so the decision maker for me was the fastener arrangement. I did not look at HB, Alt Rider has a really nice look and protection, but it is installed with non captive nuts. Looked like a bugger every time you have to remove it. The SW Motech is not quite as robust from a coverage perspective, but still good and the nuts the fasteners screw into are captive. Or so I surmised from the installation n instructions. Not a huge deal, but one less thibng to mess with at oil change time, and or if you had to remove it trail side. Less parts to loose.

Mine will be here today or tomorrow and I can confirm. Or someone that has one can.

 

[sail2xxs]

I went with Jaxon's plate, and am very happy with it. Oil changes are quicker than with the stock plastic "decoration", and knowing that the plate is not mounted to the oil pan in any way makes me feel a lot more comfortable with riding the bike offroad. I had a Metal Mule bash plate on my 800 GS, and learned the hard way that oil pans and bash plates do not mix - brackets, bolts, etc. anything connecting the plate to some part of the engine or oil pan will bend, crack, break, or shear off if you get into conditions that perhaps you shouldn't be in with a bike this size.

Since I can only afford one bike, I armored up the S10 as well as possible. Jaxon's plate will set you back a bit, but figure that it's like getting free oil pan, and being able to skip the long walk home!

Chris

 

[dcstrom]

Anyone here have experience with the Hebco-Becker skid plate?
I seem to recall someone mentioning that it was attached to the frame....
Regards, Paul

Here you go

http://supertenere1200.com/2011/08/05/i-just-fitted-my-hb-skidplate-it-only-took-a-minute/

easy to fit, solid mounts (and not to the engine), great coverage (over the O2 sensor and all the way back over the CAT) and with a smooth bottom (we like those) for sliding over things...

Check here for instructions to get a 5% discount;
http://supertenere1200.com/2012/01/27/hepco-becker-price-increase-soon/

Trevor

 

[terrysig]

For the H&B what is the drill for oil changes?

Also if you off-road much how does the header fair at the cutout?

Thanks...like it in black for the raven s10 ;D

 

[dcstrom]

For the H&B what is the drill for oil changes?

5 bolts, all the same size. 3 mins off, 5 mins on.

Also if you off-road much how does the header fair at the cutout?

You'd have to be unlucky to do much damage. As always, it's a compromise... if the pipes were covered, things would run hotter, and the plat would have to be further forward. I think they went the right way with it.

 

[sail2xxs]

Here you go

http://supertenere1200.com/2011/08/05/i-just-fitted-my-hb-skidplate-it-only-took-a-minute/

easy to fit, solid mounts (and not to the engine), great coverage (over the O2 sensor and all the way back over the CAT) and with a smooth bottom (we like those) for sliding over things...

Check here for instructions to get a 5% discount;
http://supertenere1200.com/2012/01/27/hepco-becker-price-increase-soon/

Trevor

Trevor,

I was seriously considering the HB plate like you have, but the directions seemed to suggest that the forward mount is on a bracket attached to the engine. From past experience, I was kind of nervous about that.

Link to install instructions is here: http://neu.hepco-becker.de/Montageanleitungen/8104531.pdf


Chris

 

[dcstrom]

Trevor,

I was seriously considering the HB plate like you have, but the directions seemed to suggest that the forward mount is on a bracket attached to the engine. From past experience, I was kind of nervous about that.

Link to install instructions is here: http://neu.hepco-becker.de/Montageanleitungen/8104531.pdf


Chris

Ah yes, you're right - I should have said "not attached to the BOTTOM of the engine". That "free boring" (as they call it in the instructions) are very solid looking lugs at the front of the engine. Take a look, you'll see them. I judged that a lot of other parts would bend or break before they do, so it didn't worry me. I think the Altrider skidplate uses the same mount point (but don't quote me).

The SW-Motech bolts onto the bottom of the engine, seems somewhat riskier to me.

http://supertenere1200.com/2011/10/01/sw-motech-skidplate-fitment/

 

[Old Git Ray]

................ I believe that all of the current ones mount primarily to the engine, and none that I'm aware of reach up to the frame mount brackets for the engine............................

I do not want to appear rude or flippant but you could not be more wrong about this. I do not know of one system (aside from the Yamaha one) that does mount to the engine. The problem of the sump attachment was identified a long time ago and I do not believe that anyone else uses it.

If you look at the picture below that I posted earlier, you will see at the right hand edge the long C shaped bracket that loops completely under the rear of the engine without touching it. It fixes to the side stand on one side and the footpeg stand on the other. There is no center mounting to match the Yamaha one at top left which is the offending sump fixing.

Here is a better pic of the bracket. The plate shown is the Yam one, it clearly shows the crap rear sump mounting. (the rubber mount with the hole in it). I had to straighten the other two supports (the ones without holes) several times having bellied on rocks.