Why I Switched To Tusk Crash Bars on my 2022 KLR 650 (Upper & Lower Install / Overview)
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- čas přidán 12. 12. 2022
- After a few years I decided to switch out the crash bars on my KLR 650. I explain why, and show off the new bars!
DirtRacks Crash Bars: www.dirtracks.com/collections...
Affiliate links to new Crash Bars
Uppers: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Lowers: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Links to my other gear & parts!
(If you click these and make a purchase on the sites I earn a small commission, which goes towards more videos like this!)
- KLR 650:
ATV High Bend Bars: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Fat Bar Risers: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Lexx Pipe: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Tusk Tank Bag: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Tail Bag: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Tires: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/ti...
Barkbusters: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
KLR Shift Lever: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Drain Plug: www.rockymountainatvmc.com/pa...
Buy Me A Beer: paypal.me/SwankyCatBeerMoney
Patreon: / swankycat
T-Shirts & Sweatshirts: teespring.com/stores/swanky-c...
Stay Swanky My Friends! - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Been watching your videos these last few months and finally pulled the trigger on a 23' non-abs. Every moto vlogger has their affiliate links but i made it a point to come back and use yours when i ordered a set of these upper and lower bars today. My little way of saying thanks for the great content, I've learned a ton from watching your videos!
The first bars were nicer looking and seem to protect better
I would absolutely drive over to Wisconsin from MN to get my hands on a set of crash bars for my KLR...I actually opted to go with a base model instead of the Adventure model because I would prefer to add aftermarket crash bars and paneers instead of using the factory ones...
I really like my happy trails for my gen 3
thanks for the KLR Content. Never gets old
Glad to hear that and thanks!
Picking up my 2022 klr650 this weekend , Yes!!!!
Man that looks great brother 👊 always look forward to seeing what is happening keep up the great work
Thank you!
I just subscribed. I appreciate your work in helping KLR owners decide upon quality parts to go with. There ought to be more channels dedicated to specific bikes. Glossy reviews are useless. A channel really needs to focus on the ownership of a bike for viewers to get an idea of owning the bike.
Agreed! Thank you!
I like how there's a bar going in front of bike joining both sides. I have sw-moto bars that were on the bike when I bought it. They look more robust but they don't have the front protection. Thanks for your video. Might have to weld in a front section now I've seen this.
My Gen2 didn't have a wrap around like this and neither does my Tenere. Both seem to do just fine, but having them all joined like this must make a big difference.
The new crash bars look really good. I noticed the crash bars I had on my Gen2 weren't perfectly uniform on both sides either out of the box.
Hamms and a KLR! That's when you know this is the real deal. LOL. Thanks for the install video. Good Job explaining everything.
Ha ha thanks!
I love the design of the tusk crash bars. I've dropped my 2022 klr650 with the lower and upper bars on some huge rocks and they've held up fantastic.
Nice! Glad to hear they work well!
Are the Tusk crash bars the best for the KLR-650?
@@lucifer0001 I'm not sure if they are the best but they get the job done and get it done well. I've had many tumbles since I posted this comment and the bars have a fair share of scratches on them the lower guards even saved my right side engine cover from getting damaged at one point. I highly recommend them.
You're lucky. My bike tipped over, the bars broke and broke my fairing. Customer service went get back with me. No more tusk for me
🧢🧢🧢🧢 the stock ADV crash bars do a great job they never let my bike get messed up and even protected my engine when I got hit by a car so they work fine I replaced them with the SW MOTECH bars after the wreck because they did get destroyed by the car but they worked good up until then
Just put a pair of Tusk crash bars on my new 22. Install was super easy.
glad I watched this video through. I was wondering how I would right my KLR -- use a 2x4!
Well they look great. Hope they protect that bottom plastic!
Bars look very low profile and tuff. BTW the “1960’s called”, they like the tie-die hoody pull over. 👍🏼
Think I am staying with my Dirt Rack bars I like the idea of the lower bars but don’t believe they will work with the aftermarket skid plate from happy trails. Thanks for the update on the KLR.
The DirtRacks bars protection can't be beat! I'm interested to see how the lowers work with the new skid plate I've got coming...
.The new Tusk bars look great on the bike! I like the paint and finish they have. You can put me down on the list. I am interested in the Dirtracks, For sure! Thats cool of you to offer.
Thanks! Your in the running!
@@SwankyCatProductions awesome! enjoy these last few days of descent weather, gonna get chilly soon!
I have the tusk crash bars. I didn’t get the lowers. They look like they might interfere with an aftermarket skid plate. I also have the tusk pannier racks and pilot bags. Now I need the tusk hand guards and maybe some tusk pegs.
Yeah I'm interested to see how they fit with the plate I've got coming... I just got the pegs finally and really like them. They're much bigger than the cheap Amazon ones I had.
You were good installing them, I heard your wrist click 👍. Torqued to spec 😂
I just received my upper and lower Tusk bars last week. As I'm a pretty light-duty off roader (mostly gravel and dirt roads, TBH), I think these will be plenty.
Nice! Yep, they're definitely some added peace of mind!!!
I just installed these on my orange KLR also the rear pannier racks along with tusk pilot bags and tusk hand grip brush guards , my bike lookin gooooood now ! 🤩 only bummer is I thought the lower bars came with the kit but I misread the print so now gotta order them separately 🤪
Oh and I almost went with the Dirtracks but Tusk had free shipping and Dirtracks was $39 shipping so now I'm a Tusk fan 😜
Thanks for the video
Nice!!! I've always been a Tusk fan ever since that first set of bars and the low profile drain plug haha.
@@SwankyCatProductions next I want to order the drain plug and a good skid plate but not sure the best one that will work with the tusk lower engine bars, any recommendations ??
Thanks for the response !
😁
It looks like nobody has commented for the crashbars but I'd try them out on my Gen 3 if we could get in touch please. Thanks Swanky Cat for all of your content.
Glad you enjoy it! I've got a few others now but I'll put you in the running!
@@SwankyCatProductions having just protection in mind, which set would you use?
I’m by the dells and I’d totally take the crash bars
Ok I'll put you in the running!
mate they look much better than the old set
Very nice. I would think the design of these bars were done by computer assisted software allowing them to be pretty even across the front of the bike. Comparing left and right bars together before installing should give you visual clues as to maybe why they are high side in appearance. Reinstalling or readjustment should make it right. the tabs that tuck under the plastic black piece might prove to be the weakest point possibly bent slightly. Or use plastic washers , Nylon or better to return them to the even point. No one will ever notice.
I think it is those tabs that throw things off. When I pull the bolt out of the right side the tab drops 1/8" or more.
Ben if you still have the crash bars send them to me I just got my 2023 Klr650 last week I'm in Texas it's not like I'm in the land down under, seen all your videos liked them all keep them coming
Hamm’s the Beer Refreshing! No idea if they still use that commercial.
Just an opinion, the Dirt Racks crash bars looked more robust/provide better protection.
You can use a light coating of glue to keep those fairing grommets in place. i'D like to know if you & your audience think a KLR-650 is a bike worth buying? Isn't blue threadlocker medium strength? thanks
Loctite, if you're not sponsoring Ben, you should be. He pours the stuff in his coffee, he loves it so much. And I think he's smart for it.
He doesn’t have any more room on his wall for a Loctite banner
Just installed mine 2day, I only got the upper’s. Guess I might go ahead and get the lowers not sure.
My question is do the Tusk lower bars work with Dirt Rack upper bars? I have the Dirt Racks, and I don't want to get rid of them, but the lower does feel a little exposed.
Can I fit the Kawasaki PN339 skid plate (the heavy duty one) with these bars?
My bars tusk bars fit the same as yours. Slightly closer to the body on the same side
Is the front bar angled to the side too? Or not?
I’m curious if anyone has tried the tusk lowers on the dirt racks crash bars replaced or others?
My engine mount top bracket was misaligned a little just like yours was. I hope you took a big stick to the fool who plastered that awful looking inspection sticker onto the faring.
It's great to see the comparison of the two styles of upper crash bars as well as the lower Tusk bars. I still have only the lower Kawi OEM crash bars (slider bars) on my machine. So do you think the Dirt Rack or Tusk uppers will be compatible with the OEM lower bars? Or will I need to change them out? Also, I noticed you're still running the original OEM plastic skid plate. Do you trust it? I think it looks cool and it may be a tough enough plastic to do the job.... Thanks for a very instructive video!!
Glad to hear that! The Adventure bars might get a little close to the part that connects to the motor mount, I've never seen one in person though so it's hard to say for sure. As for the skid plate, I think it would take a decent hit, the real issue is how short it is front to back. I don't like having even my low profile drain plug exposed. I've got a prototype coming over the winter to test out instead.
@@SwankyCatProductions OK. You make some good points. I'll look for a longer metal skid plate. The T-Rex skidplate looks really nice because it is long and even covers the rear suspension linkage. I'm not sure it will be compatible with my OEM Adventure (lower) bars though. I'll have to ask T-Rex. I will order my crash bars from Rocky Mountain ATV using your link when I finally decide on what to install on my Gen3 KLR.
Do you still have them lying around?
What happened to t7
Wow! That uneven front bar would bug me mostly because I wouldn't spend the money knowing they won't line up. Hopefully your frame isn't tweaked and therefore the Tusk bars may be even. I've heard stories about frames bending from crashes.
Normally it would drive me nuts but I try to think of my bikes as belonging to my channel rather than being mine too worry about. Makes things like this much easier ha ha.
@@SwankyCatProductions If you happen to find out down the road if your frame got tweaked or if its the Tusk crash bars please let us know.
Thanks for the info.
I just got the same bars and installed them on my 2023 yesterday and they have the exact same tilt on them.
After a few months, which do you prefer?
I'd take the crashbars but I am in Canada eh!
Haha as long as you don't mind driving down!
great info but no need to bag the Adventure add ons not everyone has shit loads of cash to mod or enjoy the benefits of working for a motorcycle company... got my KLR Adventure coming in 3 weeks can't wait😊
So, I'll want to install the thermo bob Before crash bars. Noted.
Hey ! What you use to chnange your windshield angle ?
This! czcams.com/video/KugBNb3-PCc/video.html
Fit on the adventure ?
do u recommened loctite blue 242?
I've had good luck with this stuff amzn.to/3O4Simh
(That's an Affiliate link so I make a small commission on whatever you buy after clicking it)
They certainly look better than the Dirt Racks.
Hamms-was it Grampa’s beer night?
I hate the T-Rex crash bars, i know it has nothing to do with this video just want to spread some info. The Way they connect at the front lets water get in easily and quickly fills with rust, then the next time i ride and turn right all that rusty water comes out and gets all over my engine. These Tusk bars do not have openings anywhere so seem like a much better option.
did you give these away yet??
I can use them if you still have them,
Best good looking the ones you removed... And RM ATVMC pays more 🤑🤑🤑
You like the old ones better?
@@SwankyCatProductions yeap, I always tell my KLR friends here in Costa Rica, that when I got my Orange Red 2022 KLR, I will have the crash bars just like Swanky's bike...
Swankster, what tires are you running here?
D-Sports! Great off road, scary as hell on the highway haha.
@@SwankyCatProductions tyvm
Proper torquing of fasteners negates the need for loctite.
someone needs to send you a torque wrench
I've got two haha
Wow ,I thought they stopped making Hamm's years ago.
No way man!
Did you sell the T7?
Sort of, my dad's going to buy it in spring.
@@SwankyCatProductions Is your choice to keep the KLR over the T7 a financial choice or because you like the KLR more? I know the spec weight of each bike, but which one feels lighter on the trail, and which one is easier to pick up?
I've seen this now 3 times on videos that the Tusk crash bars are not even just like yours.
Really??? Huh, they must have something messed up with their jig when they weld the brackets on or something.
I don't recommend dirt racks. I have them, and they have worked. HOWEVER 3 falls, (2 minor than 1 major) they bent in to the point where I need a new set. The weak point is the upper mount on the sides. That metal flexs too much and not as rigged as I'd like it to be. So I took, just ordered tusk bars with the lower bars
I honestly think they look better than the originals, but I like my T-rex upper bars better than both options. Now I did order the rear bars because I couldn't make up my mind on any pannier racks. I honestly don't think I'll be putting side boxes on anyway so those bars should work just fine.
What rear bars did you get? The DirtRacks? I sort of wish I'd gone with there soft luggage racks but I've got the Tusk rackless luggage system that should work well when I need it.
@@SwankyCatProductions yes I went with the same rear bars that you've got in your video. I know this is going to sound silly, but I didn't go with any pannier racks that I have seen available because I don't think I will ever have side bags, and it drives me insane that they are never space even or even close to it. I understand there's exhaust on one side but the opposite side could have stuck out from the bike tremendously better. For me it's one of those things that once you see it you can never unsee it. I believe the rear bars that I have on order and that you currently have on your bike also do this but they are less noticeable. And with those rear bars I can still modify a bracket to put Roto pack fuel cans on if I choose.
This video certainly didn't make me want to get Tusk bars.
Haha yeah sometimes that's the way it goes. Thats why I make these videos!
Promo'SM
Stephen from San Antonio weather here is real nice and warm. Have a 2016 klr with tusk protection work real well. Looking to buy 2023 or 2022 klr does the adventure klr have non abs. What's your thoughts on Abs cant switch it off. Except pull fuse. SJ