Dumb owner in clipping cylinder head shocker

[rockster.ch]

I have a nice chip in the blue.
Damn....!

[fnfalman]

It happens. No big deal.

[houndog]

Chics dig scars. You just have to evan it up on both sides like I did.
Tommy

[duke]

viva head-guards, even the BMW OEM cheapo ones!!!

had mine 3 times done up - not decking, just rear bumpers of cars while filtering ... the bars go above the trunk, the heads gently catch the rear bumpers ...

mind you - the drivers were not pissed off at all (must be because of the beautiful motorcycle )

must filter more carefully!!!

no scratch, nothing! viva head-guards ....

[\\Mike_Lea//]

Are the BM' ones worth a look or are there other options ?

M

[duke]

Are the BM' ones worth a look or are there other options ?

M

Well, the BMW are not bad (times better than nothing). But the Stanton look good!

http://configurationspace.smugmug.com/g ... 2/1/551055

[\\Mike_Lea//]

Those things look pretty meaty I have to say ! Like you say, anythin' is better than nothin', think I'll opt for BM's...

M

[duke]

Stanton are made from aluminium (I think).

In order to grind them through you have to be speeding BIG TIME and then fall. But then it will not be just a slide. It will be a mighty crash, possibly the bike will flip, and even the best headguards will not save the it!

If I had to choose now I would have opted for the Stanton, but that is because I am:

- paranoid, (I would rather pay to protect the bike, instead of having to repair it once buggered)
- not experienced on a (big) bike, (so far 1100 miles on the Rockster)(4500 on a bike at all, 1 year so far on a bike)
- a bit of a chicken when it gets to cornering (see above)

Again - BMW are OK, but I think they will last one drop, or a gentle slide.

Cheers

[Illuvatar]

I have a nice chip in the blue.
Damn....!

Ahh...bummer!

Hey....now's your opportunity for a nice mod! lol

Pull the covers off both sides...sand them down...paint them with black silk paint from BMW like I did here. hehe

There are no problems in life....just opportunities!

[drevil]

bmw ones are cheap and will only last one hit. sunday i slid out on some blossoms on the road and even with the bmw guards my heads got scraped. i am now going to buy stanton's.

p.s. rear turn signal 50$! ouch!

[DKSTR]

Agree Stantons are probably the best way to go for reasonable protection and appearance. OEM guards are (IMO) protection for not much more than a tip-over. I have them and if they get trashed I will likely replace with Stantons. If I did not have them I might install the Stantons.

One issue of consideration is the extra size and weight of the Stantons. Another is the cost. And another is reduced cornering clearance. Even with the Stantons there is no guarantee damage will not occur. I am aware of an entire cylinder being torn off at the case from an impact with a curb.

[fnfalman]

The BMW ones are just a couple pieces of flimsy plastics. At $99 US, I don't think that it's cheap at all.

[drevil]

looking forward to my stantons. there may be slight weight and clearance issues, but nothing compared to 165$ head covers which i already scraped once. and the bmw covers didn't help this time as the bike pivoted over whells high and scraped the head anyway. stantons would have helped that. and at 200$ it is just slightly more than replacing the head cover once. i think while i'm at it i may sand and paint the blue off those buggers...

[DKSTR]

"Cheap" can mean poorly made, "inexpensive" I agree they are not. They are well made but apparently not very effective. But $99 the pair is too sad. In my case the OEM so-called "guards" were among the free items negotiated with the dealer. Long story, low purchase price when all was done. Had I known of Stantons then it would have been a different story. On second thought I don't see any real issue with cornering clearance.

So I guess we talked me into getting a pair. Thanks. I needed to spend $200. I guess. Spending is like having a good crap.

[riceburner]

Stantons Rock.

[chris]

Anybody know a UK supplier of Stanton guards?

[DYNAMICS]

Exactly the question I was about to ask.

[Gordium7]

Can anyone confirm that Stantons work on the two-spark model heads? Don't recall mention of that at the Stanton site nor a picture of a two-spark install.... only saw them on an older GS.

[taosports]

Can anyone confirm that Stantons work on the two-spark model heads?

Yup, they work on twin sparks. Have Stantons on my 04R.

[riceburner]

Agree Stantons are probably the best way to go for reasonable protection and appearance. OEM guards are (IMO) protection for not much more than a tip-over. I have them and if they get trashed I will likely replace with Stantons. If I did not have them I might install the Stantons.

One issue of consideration is the extra size and weight of the Stantons.

compared to the rest of the bike they're a small percentage - you'd be better of taking a cr*p before you ride if you're that worried about extra weight.

Another is the cost.

For the benefits and the longevity, they're MORE than worth the money.
(trust me)

And another is reduced cornering clearance.

No more so than the BMW OEM guards.

Even with the Stantons there is no guarantee damage will not occur. I am aware of an entire cylinder being torn off at the case from an impact with a curb.

in that sort of event - NOTHING is going to protect the cylinders completely - not even the GS style engine bars.

Can anyone confirm that Stantons work on the two-spark model heads? Don't recall mention of that at the Stanton site nor a picture of a two-spark install.... only saw them on an older GS.

Yup - I have them on mine.

You DO need to do a small mod on the plastic guard over the 2nd plug but it's an easy job. (see http://www.riceburner.co.uk and visit the Rockser Gallery for a pic of this mod).

There's no UK distributor that I know of - but the US seller is more than happy to sell to us.