Bike protection v light weight - what's the right balance?︱Cross Training Adventure

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  • čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
  • crosstrainingenduro.com How much protective gear should you put on your dual sport or adventure- motorbike? What do you think are the essentials? Most of us are muppets and it's usually only a matter of time before we drop our motorbikes. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. And most of us enjoy taking the money to feed our families and spend it on bling instead. But the question is how much motorbike protection do we really need? It can be expensive. And it can add a lot of weight. Here is a sample of protective gear for a Honda CB500X. We estimate the extra weight at 17kg or 37 pounds.... heavier than a KTM 890 Adventure! Often there are even more products for dual sport motorbikes. Protective gear for a DRZ400 can easily weigh 12kg or 26lb. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. And more weight can increase your chances of a crash. So how much protection should you put on your motorbike? So there's no right answer for everyone. It depends on your riding skill. The difficulty of the terrain. The speed and aggression of your riding style. Your height - if you have short legs you are more likely to drop the motorbike at low speeds. Most of my Canadian cousins use the Outback Motortek guards because they torture test them. What do you think is the essential protective gear? Ever had crashes that made you change your mind about the essentials? Let us know in the comments. Age and fitness are also important - the older we get, the less likely we can hold that motorbike up when it's at an awkward angle. Do you ride alone without a friend to help get you home? Lets assume you want to minimise protective gear to save money and keep your motorbike light. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. A small shifting spanner can be used to straighten bent brake discs or rear brake levers. Tape, zip ties and wire can be used for all sorts of temporary fixes. Do you enjoy trying to fix things instead of automatically buy new replacements? It's surprisingly easy to fix damage such as bent radiators if you do your research. I have also repaired broken crankcase covers with JB Weld and it has lasted for years. Is there a minimal level of motorbike protection? Opinions will vary. But personally I think it makes sense to fit proper handguards if you regularly ride dirt roads. And a basic skidplate is a good idea. Big twin cylinder adventure motorbike? What else? Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. We like doing seriously critical reviews. Instead of glowing dual sport reviews for kickbacks or free product, we will try to keep the buggers honest. So subscribe. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Consider a decent set of crash bars if you ride on dirt roads regularly. Yes they are expensive. Yes they add weight. But when these motorbikes go down they go down hard. Smashed crankcases. Destroyed radiators. Carrying the right tools is important. If you have a metal epoxy like JB Weld you can make temporary repairs to your radiators, cracked crankcases, or broken hand levers. Broken fairings. We have occasional detours to places like Vietnam, Cambodia, Romania and Canada. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. We have won the polished turd award five years in a row. And we have a world record 25 class action lawsuits for inaccurate information. We think the whole motorbike scene is getting too commercial. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Everyone is trying to sell you stuff you don't need, convince you to buy the latest model with anodized coffee cup holders for your trips to the coffee shop. Of course if you are cashed up and into bling, go for it. All we are saying is there's also the budget option for adventure riding. And it won't hold you back. Why? We reckon it's 80% the rider and 20% the bike. So the Cross Training Adventure focus is just get out there and have fun on two wheels. Instead of obsessing over the latest blinged out Beemer, which tyres to fit or spending a fortune on your suspension or billet alloy gas cap. So most of our adventure riding vids will feature the much loved bush pig, the Suzuki DR650. And we've done a 10 part series on how to unleash the mighty beast that lurks within. Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure.
    #crosstrainingadventure #adventureriding #adventurebikes #dualsportriding
    #dualsportbikes
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Komentáře • 106

  • @wyattblessing7078
    @wyattblessing7078 Před 8 měsíci +15

    I took my bike and added lots of protection. I put on doors, windows, a trunk, an engine compartment, two more tires, and crash zones. I named it a Dodge Ram 1500.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      👍😂

    • @ljprep6250
      @ljprep6250 Před 8 měsíci +1

      As a matter of fact, that bike can now be used to transport at least two bikes to wherever you want to ride them now. Decent suck o' the sav there, mate.

  • @philipmarr7325
    @philipmarr7325 Před 8 měsíci +17

    Skid plate and decent hand guards are a good minimum for dirt/dualsport.
    Zip ties are a great to carry. Very light weight and versatile

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      The good old zip tie! It's current holding my exhaust on the DR650 when a bolt fell out on the last ride lol.

    • @kevinarmstrong478
      @kevinarmstrong478 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Yep before a long trip I would tie a bunch of zip ties along a section of frame.

    • @sjbechet1111
      @sjbechet1111 Před 8 měsíci +1

      I helped out a German cyclist whose mudguards had lost some fasteners by replacing them with zip ties.
      For context we were both in our late 50's - she said "That's a great solution"
      I replied "I feel nervous about a German woman talking about 'solutions' "
      She Laughed her head off - fucking brilliant.

    • @ljprep6250
      @ljprep6250 Před 8 měsíci +1

      Also take a BIC lighter. When you snip the extra length off the tie, it leaves a nasty sharp edge which will bleed you out if you're not careful. One second of flame from the BIC and it's smooth as a baby's butt.

    • @kevinarmstrong478
      @kevinarmstrong478 Před 7 měsíci

      Yep, I will tie a few zip ties along a reasonably straight part of the frame and keep them on the bike permanently- just in case

  • @motoric5188
    @motoric5188 Před 8 měsíci +2

    2:17 🤣😂😅 I always eagerly wait for these _commercials_ !
    Thanks for the laughs!!!

  • @ljprep6250
    @ljprep6250 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Love that toolkit of champions! Protective gear? I think a billet gas cap is number one. Titanium valve stem caps protect that precious air. A pair of pink Dyneema yank ropes come in handy when you ride into that 4' deep crevasse, too. Front and rear 2,500# winches will hoist you out of the foot deep creek in no time. $1,000 Fox racing boots (in genuine Chiwanese Plastic!) are a must. A nice chartreuse nomex battle riding jacket is in order, too. That's all I can think of.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Do the winches weigh much? If I get something bigger than the DR650 eventually I might consider this given quite a bit of our riding is on the side of mountains. Getting the bike back up a 45 degree slope would be tough!

  • @tieoneon1614
    @tieoneon1614 Před 8 měsíci +4

    I dont even run handguards anymore, if i do they are the flag style for wind and prickly brush. NEVER EVER broke a lever, heres why. I move the lever in so it doesnt protrude past bar ends, and loosed the bolts so its snug but hard hit will move it instead of break. That also gives your cables the length u need to put risers in.

  • @R0ger007
    @R0ger007 Před 8 měsíci +3

    Handguards essential to protect levers. Bash plate too. Radiator protection if they're vulnerable.
    Heavyweight adv bikes self destruct on crashing, crash bars help but also get destroyed.
    I've had lightweight aluminium crash bars on lighter bikes. Useless. Actually caused more damage to bike than if not fitted. Steel crash bars can be bent back into shape but add weight.
    Speed is a key factor. Crashes at speed are difficult to protect.

    • @ljprep6250
      @ljprep6250 Před 8 měsíci

      You got the best trio there. And eschew humongous adv bikes.

  • @allenhuling598
    @allenhuling598 Před 8 měsíci +2

    Hand guards and a bash plate are a minimum requirement, IMO! For my T7 I have added a water pump cover and lower crash bars from AltRider, and I felt that a Rad cover and plastic headlight cover were important for the long gravel highways with the big trucks throwing rocks at me....glad I did! Cheers!

  • @diariodemotodickmann
    @diariodemotodickmann Před 7 měsíci +1

    Hi, very informative. On my bikes, its mandatory to have. hand guards, crash bars and bash plate. It adds weight for sure, but the bike basically dont get damaged at all.
    I used to drop a lot in mud rides.

  • @andrewstambaugh240
    @andrewstambaugh240 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I agree with your recommendations.I see it as, how bad do you want to risk your day to going?
    my 3 plus tool recommendations:
    1. For adventure bikes and heavier dual sports, you are looking at weight and suspension compromises usually. that makes a bash plate very high value insurance/peace of mind. I know I've put mine to the test a few times (even to the point of looking back to see if I've damaged something)
    2. They also tend to stick out to the sides more and again are heavier, rocks and your levers could let all your oil out and make a really bad day. So case savers are cheap relatively light insurance to mostly ignore that possibility.
    3. Bark busters. They save your hands, they save your levers (one of the most common broken parts on the trail), the help keep your bars intact, and they prevent brush from locking your front wheel when you didn't pull the lever.
    just as you said, engine guards are going to vary as to whether the bike really needs it or doesn't care. All the bikes I've owned are fine without them, but my DR came with a radiator guard, which I can see was put to use by the prior owner.
    All in all, a few hundred dollars is less than needing a new engine, or cab fare home + having to come back to rescue the bike.
    My tool list varies as appropriate, but *1 tool has saved so many major hassles that it's always brought, even for my daily driver riding: a needle-nose vicegrip.*
    That can sub in for a clutch or brake lever, a shift lever, or as I experienced in my last offroad race, save you from handlebar mounts that weren't tightened enough.
    After one of my crashes, the bars loosened up so much I immediately crashed again, when they folded over instead of turning. With a good 25min of pushing my riding skill riding ahead, I was very glad I had the vicegrips to make the bike controllable again. 5min well spent. (and I'm very willing to spend the few dollars to replace vicegripped bolts for the safety and reduced risk of breaking me or something else expensive during that race).
    The crescent wrench is a good follow for the vicegrip.
    Then I add a mini-ratchet with a hex/allen bit set and jic bits. Then 1 slotted screwdriver. All those tools fit loosely in a quart ziplock bag that fits in any of my motojackets' main pockets.
    Even for a race, I consider that well worth the 2 lbs or so.
    If it's a long trip or away from base camp a lot, then I'll bring a spare tube and make sure our group has at least 1 _working_ 12v tire pump. (my experience has been that the compact ones tend to die frequently, so I don't trust someone's "I think it works...")
    Other honorable mentions would be electrical tape and zip ties.
    For a long offroad trip, I'd make sure at least someone has a decent prybar.

  • @asherlito3801
    @asherlito3801 Před 8 měsíci +1

    duck tape is a must my license plate came off and the rear wheel sent it into the airbox. I taped it up and went on my way.

  • @rotorhead5000
    @rotorhead5000 Před 8 měsíci +2

    What a few other folks have said, dirt and dual sport, good handguards and a skid and linkage guard and radiator guards are my personal must haves/dont need more than level. For an adv bike where its already pretty heavy, I'd just add a decent set of crash bars. For the most part theres nothing those bits dont cover that will cut your ride short if some damage happens. If i smash a headlight, or crunch a muffler a bit, I can still get home, if I knock a hole in a sump, trash my linkage, break a clutch lever, ect, getting home just got harder.

  • @davidpoffenbarger3686
    @davidpoffenbarger3686 Před 8 měsíci +1

    On dual sport bikes, hand guards and a skid plate at a minimum. 2 strokes get a carbon pipe guard but that's about it. Bigger "adventure" bikes need more. My AT has about the full protection kit since the plastics are expensive and the bike is a beast!. I've tipped my AT over enough to know the stuff works and also I don't really enjoy riding a hippopotamus off road as much as I thought I would. My AT has been relegated to nothing more challenging than mild 2 track and leave the more challenging stuff to whatever DS bike I'm riding (currently a KTM 500EXC). Great stuff as always Barry!

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Enjoying the AT? I'm with you, I wouldn't want to be lugging a big bike in tough terrain! The DR650 is the biggest bike I'd want to go seriously off-road with. And even then cautiously and not for too long.

  • @sjbechet1111
    @sjbechet1111 Před 8 měsíci +2

    I have a few thoughts on this;
    The best crash protection is to focus on ways to get there - the actual ways you can survive your next decision - thinking as far as I can tell weighs nothing, but the effort some put into avoiding it tells me it must be fucking expensive.

  • @Boomer_Dual_Sport
    @Boomer_Dual_Sport Před 8 měsíci +3

    Always nice to see a new CTA video. Agreed on hand/lever guards and a light or even plastic skid plate. ... although it's hard to stop tankifying your bike once you finish with the basics.

  • @TheIdlesurfer
    @TheIdlesurfer Před 7 měsíci +1

    My Tiger 900 has the same sort of protection as the Tiger 900s have at the Triumph Adventure Centre. Those lads drop their big ADV bikes multiple times a day. So bash plate and high engine bars. They don't use hand guards so they can see students hands. I have Barkbusters.

  • @KorysRides
    @KorysRides Před 8 měsíci +2

    I own a CB500X. Skidplate and rad screen are 100% needed of you go off pavement at all. I put handguards on, and have been contemplating engine guards for the radiator. Had a couple close calls this year alone with tipping over and getting close to damaging the radiator. Bike is too heavy to catch from big tipping vs my old CRF250L.

  • @wicko2363
    @wicko2363 Před 8 měsíci +2

    My risk assessment is anything that is fragile, precariously position or mindlessly expensive, protect it as best as possible. Not always with solid steel, sometimes it’s more suitable to fit sacrificial plastics and composites because impact absorption is better deflection. Almost forgot to mention, the best way to lose weight is to not have that custard slice at the bakery.

  • @tiger37373
    @tiger37373 Před 8 měsíci +2

    As my wife breaks more items on her bike. When I replace the broken part I buy the protector for that area for the next time. As we ride about 95% off road, things we considered essential items to start with were hand guards, skid plate, case guards, rad guards. Considered optional but now added are front and rear rotor guards. All items mentioned have saved me in major repairs. Some plastics get broken and replaced, too.

    • @R0ger007
      @R0ger007 Před 8 měsíci

      Sounds like you need to add a soldering iron to your essentials. Perfect for plastic welding 👍

  • @glossblack1098
    @glossblack1098 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I used to add every type of protection to my bikes but the more experience I gain, the more I value a lighter bike, so put much less stuff on these days. Plastic bash plate is only essential item IMO. Cheers

  • @AntaresSQ01
    @AntaresSQ01 Před 8 měsíci +1

    it's a excercise of price vs price of damage for me.
    Crack a GS valve cover open, you're done.... Crash bars are cheap protection.
    Break an indicator? maybe skidplate is enough.
    Some bikes offer much better natural protection than others, like the KTM 890 crashes incredibly well with just a beefy skidplate, bonus points for wrapping around the tank and some hand guards and handlebar braces, bikes like the DesertX, Africa twin, and T7 get absolutely mangled without proper crash bars, tank dented, head fairing broken, Radiator position is also a key and often overlooked part of protection, so easy to crack those bastards on some bikes

  • @levialexander7429
    @levialexander7429 Před 7 měsíci +1

    I ride a xr400sm dual sport and GS F800 Adventure, I drop the GS all the time, hand guards, engine guards and pannier racks have saved it every time so far. Light is great but always be prepared to hit the gravel at some point.

  • @RoadDogSteve
    @RoadDogSteve Před 8 měsíci +1

    On my Himalayan I just have a skid plate..... I carry spare levers, JB and vise grips with basic tools,.. I laid the bike on it's side and upper tank guards keep the engine case clear from the ground. Of course it's not $15,000+ bike but that's also why I bought it.,. 70 yo motocamper loves the channel and humor....

  • @MotoCocoTV
    @MotoCocoTV Před 8 měsíci +1

    My new to me 2003 BMW Dakar, is heavy already 430lbs? But I then purchased crash guards,(Heed) and a heavy duty bash plate and pannier racks (Happy Trails) and even my used Mosko luggage is heavy... yes I dropped her a bunch at Tkacs Training, however she would be really hard to get parts for if I didn't use protection ( that sounded funny ).... so my lil tank, I love...and will be going solo soon, and wouldn't have it any other way (besides a lt. 300cc) so MotoCoco might be more muscles when I get back lol

  • @ljmiller3987
    @ljmiller3987 Před 8 měsíci +2

    As you noted, it depends on the bike. I have an XR650L which has a lower weight/profile than others in the class, so this is what I want/have/recommend:
    Legitimate hand guards: Nothing sucks more than wiping out and finding that your brake or clutch lever are out.
    Skid Plate: Even with the clearance on my bike, extra protection between the engine and the ground can never be appreciated enough.
    Crash guards: I have some from Dirtracks that guard the rear of the bike… and they are nice for luggage support as well.
    Soft luggage: Unless you like advertising your wipeouts, soft luggage is a wonderful option. Also, it doesn’t mark up the crash guard.
    Unprotected components: I have a master cylinder guard just because of where it is located on the bike … and that there is some sort of correlation to master cylinder operability and braking. Protecting components like this is a must.

    • @apodski
      @apodski Před 8 měsíci +2

      You can wrap your handlebars in Teflon tape where the clutch perch and master cylinder go. It allows them to turn freely on the bars in a crash, but never move under use. Also allows you to put the levers at precisely the angle you want with just a firm tug. I had handguards, but think I like this better. Your mileage will vary though as the bars ends can still get roughed up on rocks. Might want bar ends for this.

    • @ljmiller3987
      @ljmiller3987 Před 8 měsíci +1

      I think that I used the wrong term in my last reply … what I was wanting to say was rear brake cylinder, not master cylinder. On the XR650L, it is about 1/3 the way up on the right side of the bike. I was always worried that, if I drop it off-road, some rock was going to take it out.

  • @AUBREYTHOMAS1979
    @AUBREYTHOMAS1979 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I crash a lot. A. Lot.
    I have a 690 with the small crash bar to protect radiators, aluminumnum case gaurd and the standard plastic hand guards that it came with in 08. Been good for me. The radiators being protected is a non negotiable for my crash test dummies riding style

  • @MaverickAus
    @MaverickAus Před 8 měsíci +1

    Crash bars, sump guard, barkbusters. That's my 3.
    Oops and RadGuard

  • @thomasc6412
    @thomasc6412 Před 8 měsíci +1

    My friend ripped a hole in his CCM400 (DRZ400) crankcase, using a knife file and gasket seal, the repair is still there as of seven years ago. On my old WR250F a piece of flint cut a hole in my water pump housing and putty was used to get me home but you could see how the scrap mark had clipped the small rail guard the 04-06 model years had and redirected straight into the pump housing... a lot of the time it is just being unlucky...never felt the need to purchase a slidguard which extended up the front of the frame.... alwsys take the emergency ties, putty, resin you could have all the protection but in my opinion it only takes the bike hitting a rock or root at an awkward angle.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Funny how those temporary repairs can turn out to be permanent. That JB Weld fix on my cracked crankcase in the vid? The guy who bought my Beta Xtrainer said it's still holding after several years and he has no intention of buying a new one.

  • @k_plax
    @k_plax Před 8 měsíci +2

    youve got to asses each bike's vulnerable parts in a crash that could occur with your riding style. my current 890 has very different protection to my previous 690 mainly due to the 890's fuel tank acting as protection.

    • @mikeisland7382
      @mikeisland7382 Před 8 měsíci +1

      KTM really needs to be applauded for this tank design. Capacity, LCG and tip over protection all in one.

    • @k_plax
      @k_plax Před 8 měsíci +2

      @@mikeisland7382 and foot protection. I was t-boned by a ute with a bullbar. Tank took the hit and protected my lower leg and foot

  • @burkaanc
    @burkaanc Před 8 měsíci +1

    T700 - acerbis plastic bashplate, light, good coverage, quiet on gravel roads, heed crashbars, have nice bags with them to put drinks, tubes etc. soft things, hanguards, will add pump guard at some point and maybe radiator guard.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Enjoying the 700 so far?

    • @burkaanc
      @burkaanc Před 8 měsíci

      @@crosstrainingadventure Generally yes, but its heavy and high for a beginner offroad and a bike you have to grow in to, still having thoughts if ktm 390 or hondas cb500x or 300 rally would have been better, but those wouldnt be as enjoyable for traveling on paved/unpaved roads. Hard to cover everything with one bike, it would be much easier to get road/heavy adventure + dualsport or tenere + surron type of electric alm ost motorcycle for offroad and learning.

  • @helmutschmacher2100
    @helmutschmacher2100 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I seemed to have achieved a zen like state as i dont crash hard any more compared to a few years back. Its compulsory to have my home made 10mm thick hand guards, a radiator guard and a sump plate on my CRF301ls and thats enough to stave off most gravity activities.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Damned gravity lol. Actually I've been very fortunate with the adventure riding with all my crashes over the years probably counted on one hand (whereas I drop the bike at least onece or twice every dirt ride).

  • @MrEtnorb
    @MrEtnorb Před 8 měsíci +1

    Here’s a negative for hand guards. Great for protecting levers but when I came off after a wallaby took out my front wheel at approx 40 kph, I ended up with 6 broken bones in my left hand. I’m positive that the back of my hand hit the bark buster as I came off as there was no dirt on my gloves.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Over on the enduro channel we looked into whether full hand guards can cause hand or wrist fractures. There didn't seem to be any clear cut answer. There are definitely cases where it happens. But the majority of dirt riders who have gone over the bars repeatedly in accidents said they always seem to let go and don't have issue.

  • @SWATT101
    @SWATT101 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I try not to fall down...year one on DR...so far so good...too old to crash lol

  • @tazyt3388
    @tazyt3388 Před 8 měsíci +1

    i built a custom bash plate for the alp used a 5 mm gasworks sign weighs farkall and its had more hits than tyson cost nothing,your right on the supplies to fix stuff thats an essential list mate hope ya well baz cheers

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +2

      Gotta love the homemade options, Tazy! I've knocked up a few bashplates over the years...

    • @tazyt3388
      @tazyt3388 Před 8 měsíci

      @@crosstrainingadventure bet you have too mate I’m not buying stuff I can build for cheap

  • @jonwoodworker
    @jonwoodworker Před 8 měsíci +2

    On the DR650 I just have hand guards, Warp9 case savers, and a bash plate. I want to build a cage around the side plastics because they are the most expensive part on the DR lol. On the 800DE I felt the need for all the crash bars.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +2

      It's weird that the DR is so popular but there aren't cheap aftermarket plastics for it!

    • @RGB872
      @RGB872 Před 8 měsíci +2

      DSA aftermarket plastics for the DR used to be somewhat reasonable here in the US but they’ve gone up in the last few years.

    • @jonwoodworker
      @jonwoodworker Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@crosstrainingadventure Input a Plisport front fender on mine for $27 us. Not a little motard one, but a proper dirt bike fender...very well made and bolted right on. Once you put the DR200 tail light and a tail tidy on, the stock rear fender doesn't look so bad.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Yep, plenty of cheap front fender options. I've got a YZ450F fender on mine.

  • @DonkeyDongDoug
    @DonkeyDongDoug Před 8 měsíci +2

    I was considering purchasing a head light guard, but found that as long as I am not riding behind a KTM then there's little risk. Not sure why those people need so much throttle just for me to catch up to them at the next turn.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      😂 I've seen that so many times with enduro or adventure riding! They crank the throttle but then hit the brakes early and don't carry the corner speed. And I just stay two gears higher and cruise along averaging the same speed...

  • @Liam1304
    @Liam1304 Před 8 měsíci +1

    I have a Himalayan and there is a truck load of bolt on protective gear out there for this bike but I only have Barkbuster metal only guards and a big solid skidplate. Can't see the point of crash bars on a single and the bash plate did a grand job of protecting the bike in a slide off on a tarmac road. An oil cooler guard for an oil cooler that already has a stone guard? Why? So much superfluous stuff that just adds weight - I've fallen off enough to be happy that the Barkbuster bars and skid plate do all that's required.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      I remember when it first came out I thought does it really need all that protection? But no doubt it would make it attractive to some riders... more bling!

  • @KeepItSimpleSailor
    @KeepItSimpleSailor Před 8 měsíci +1

    Recently got a CB500x - so far I fitted a SRC radiator guard, bashplate and rear brake reservoir cover. I’m considering Oggy Knobs (body protection sliders) and swingarm spindles/sliders - I just don’t want the weight of crash bars and ride conservatively anyway. I’ve ordered shorty levers, and will keep the originals as spares plus I set the levers in on the bars a little and not too tight. Will possibly do hand guards at some point.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Enjoying the CB500X so far? I bought one a few years back but I was way too tall for it. 😒

    • @KeepItSimpleSailor
      @KeepItSimpleSailor Před 7 měsíci

      @@crosstrainingadventureI’m loving the bike - but, I bought it as an ‘all roads explorer’, and I understand limitations (the bike’s and mine). I do some single track too, but not at dirt bike speeds.

  • @cedricboivin9422
    @cedricboivin9422 Před 8 měsíci +1

    If your skill level is low, you will need the protection
    If your skill are great, you won't mind the weight

  • @James.._
    @James.._ Před 8 měsíci +1

    Barkbusters, crankcase guards and bashplate here.
    Sadly it was my 17L Safari tank that took a big hit yesterday, I dropped the drz after a log hop with it landing on a tree stump, stoving in the tank and damaging the plastic above the exhaust header ☹️

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Bummer. And I figure there's no plastic repair? Or none good enough to be safe in the future?

    • @James.._
      @James.._ Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@crosstrainingadventure Dunno. I've done some plastic welding previously so I'll email Safari Tanks with pictures and see what they say. Theres a few tiny cracks (where it creased) that I'm hopng I can seal up if it's got enough wall thickness.
      We'll see. Damn tank is only 14 months old... doh!

  • @kevinarmstrong478
    @kevinarmstrong478 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Yeah and what condition do you want to sell your bike in.
    I can’t help but notice how the Himalayan the Kove 800 and the CF moto MT450 all have factory crash protection it’s a little rough paying a premium for a off road bike that needs modification for off road use!

  • @guestappearance3211
    @guestappearance3211 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Not hard to tell where this subject came from

  • @JagLite
    @JagLite Před 8 měsíci +1

    It is easy to go overboard with bike protection because it adds weight.
    This is very dangerous because the bike sinks so much faster!
    This is why it is very important to NOT sit on the bike in the boat when crossing crocodile or piranha infested rivers.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      And paint the bike with blood so the critters go for the bike first? 🤔😁

  • @Awaken2067833758
    @Awaken2067833758 Před 8 měsíci +2

    The skid plate is not negotiable, without it you won't be offroading for long

  • @ogasi1798
    @ogasi1798 Před 8 měsíci +1

    my 500 exc has wraparound handguards and factory bashplate............over and out

  • @cowboyanimal6700
    @cowboyanimal6700 Před 7 měsíci +1

    handleguards, flimsy or not are also indispensable. The stronger the better, but handguards and sump guards i'd say are the most important. hope you're doing well m8.

  • @Wintersdark
    @Wintersdark Před 8 měsíci +1

    I can honestly say i dont think an extra 30lbs has ever caused a crash for me that i would have saved if only the bike was a little bit lighter.
    Extra weight on the bike increases my fatigue, sure, and if i exceed my endurance that could cause a crash for sure, but thats because im outriding my limits rather than due to the weight
    So for me, its about cost really, cost of protection vs coat of replacement parts. With a modern midsized+ adventure bike, part replacement is $$$. Crash protection*can* be expensive but there's always cheaper options that work just fine. Kitting my Tenere up with front and rear crash bars, for example, cost me about $400cdn. I dropped it hard dozens of times, never so much as scratched a fairing.

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci

      Good price on the crash bars, what brand was that?

    • @Wintersdark
      @Wintersdark Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@crosstrainingadventure OEM front and Heed rear. I don't recommend the OEM front however (they bend inwards very easily) and would personally buy Heed for both if I where in the market again. The Heed rear also conveniently provided a mount point for an aftermarket high exhaust which is necessary as every crash on the right side smashes the stock exhaust into the swingarm leading to all sorts of damage. Huzar high mount exhaust was $200cdn shipped from Poland though.

  • @bingoberra18
    @bingoberra18 Před 8 měsíci +1

    No protection, enjoy the bike at its best. That day that sorrow...

  • @sjbechet1111
    @sjbechet1111 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Just by a DR650 - they're made out of recycled crash bars!

  • @rangeroadmoto
    @rangeroadmoto Před 7 měsíci +1

    Canadian here: how do I apply to be a cousin?

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 7 měsíci

      Basically handing over massive wads of cash. And possibly sexual favours too. 😗

  • @cowboyanimal6700
    @cowboyanimal6700 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Love the thumbnail. hope you're doing well.

  • @WhatTimeIsIt369
    @WhatTimeIsIt369 Před 8 měsíci +2

    My big bike would be trashed without protection. Well worth it for my riding style. But even if you are a pavement princess I would still get protection.

  • @Isha048
    @Isha048 Před 8 měsíci +3

    How much does your bike cost? Two grands? You don't need protections. If the answer is 15 thousand, or more, then I would think to buy something good to protect my adv bike. Of course, if you have money and in case of damage that is hard to fix, you can buy another bike, why you should use protections. I wouldn't care in that case. Not my case though, so I've always bought everything I could to protect my bike, and I've never regret it. I have had a few accidents in which without protections I could say... bye bye beloved bike! But of course you're right, I added so much weight that sometimes I was thinking... why did I do that? No, I didn't fall because of the weight of my bike. Anyway, handguards and skid plate were always my priority. It's just my opinion, of course.

  • @MrNortd
    @MrNortd Před 7 měsíci +1

    If you cant handle the cost of your bike beeing broken, you have way too expensive bike for your need, or you ride too agressive :)

  • @johnmignano7872
    @johnmignano7872 Před měsícem +2

    Highly recommend spending hard earned cash on improving rider skills, its a cheaper and far better investment.

  • @kevinarmstrong478
    @kevinarmstrong478 Před 8 měsíci +1

    It does make me laugh they make a bike out of metal then coat it with plastic to make it look cool then add another layer of metal to protect the plastic.

  • @radioforum
    @radioforum Před 8 měsíci +1

    Once I was trapped under my dr650
    Crashbars could have save my foot by having enough space to remove it.
    Add more weight isn’t an issue safety is paramount

    • @crosstrainingadventure
      @crosstrainingadventure  Před 8 měsíci +1

      Good point. I'd hate to have my foot twisted under the bike in a slide along the dirt or bitumen. Years ago I was trapped under my DR at the bottom of a hill climb and had to wait for friends to lift it lol. Just a very awkward position!

  • @cowboyanimal6700
    @cowboyanimal6700 Před 7 měsíci +1

    333rd like. I win a KTM. Plz send 1 to souf africa