S.W. Motech CRASH BARS on 1st Generation KLR 650.

bembe · 01-25-2013, 09:14 AM

Inquiry of the day :

Comments on using a S.W. Motech set of CRASH BARS on a 1st Generation
Kawasaki KLR 650.

I hear that they VIBRATE excessively. I hear they CRACK over time.

I just replaced a set of Happy Trails crash bars for a set of S.W. Motech. I hope
a did the right thing. S.W. Motech bars seem to be so much STRONGER.

Any comments ? Thank you.

PM or Reloportland@aol.com

Worroll · 01-25-2013, 09:40 AM

my '08 had sw motech bars when i got it. I took them off one day and found the bike had way less vibration. The big loops on the top that protect the plastics act like giant tuning forks. When i reinstalled them I put pipe insulation around them so there was a cushion between the bars and the plastics, and that took care of most of the vibes. I eventually just cut the loops off entirely tho, I realized the 'crash bars' cost more than the plastic they were protecting...
Not sure if any of that rambling applies to you 1st gen tho.

k12lts · 01-25-2013, 10:27 AM

I had them on my 05 and loved them. Didn't notice any vibration after I put them on, no cracks and the protected the side of the bike in a spill.

My favorite bar for the KLR.

ThumperFly · 01-25-2013, 02:35 PM

The bars are cheaper than a new radiator if it gets slammed on the left side.

GreatWhiteNorth · 01-25-2013, 03:46 PM

Yeah, ding the LH side and that gets real expensive quick! A new OEM rad is around $300, and the fan about the same. I bought used spares in case I needed 'em, and I do/did. Pays to keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on a few critical spare parts. Heck, I've got a spare head (complete) as a back-up!

Worroll · 01-28-2013, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThumperFly

The bars are cheaper than a new radiator if it gets slammed on the left side.

I should have mentioned I made a separate radiator guard.

01-25-2013, 09:14 AM	#1
bembe ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2010 Oddometer: 71	S.W. Motech CRASH BARS on 1st Generation KLR 650. Inquiry of the day : Comments on using a S.W. Motech set of CRASH BARS on a 1st Generation Kawasaki KLR 650. I hear that they VIBRATE excessively. I hear they CRACK over time. I just replaced a set of Happy Trails crash bars for a set of S.W. Motech. I hope a did the right thing. S.W. Motech bars seem to be so much STRONGER. Any comments ? Thank you. PM or Reloportland@aol.com

01-25-2013, 09:40 AM	#2
Worroll Studly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Southern CT Oddometer: 624	my '08 had sw motech bars when i got it. I took them off one day and found the bike had way less vibration. The big loops on the top that protect the plastics act like giant tuning forks. When i reinstalled them I put pipe insulation around them so there was a cushion between the bars and the plastics, and that took care of most of the vibes. I eventually just cut the loops off entirely tho, I realized the 'crash bars' cost more than the plastic they were protecting... Not sure if any of that rambling applies to you 1st gen tho. __________________ 2011 Sprint GT, 2008 Kawasaki KLR650, 1981 Honda CB750F, 1957 BSA Bantam D3 restoration project, Past bikes -1986 Honda Shadow VT1100C, 1998 Honda Shadow Aero VT1100C3, 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 2006 Kawasaki ZX-14,1980 Yamaha XT500

01-25-2013, 10:27 AM	#3
k12lts Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Indiana Oddometer: 233	I had them on my 05 and loved them. Didn't notice any vibration after I put them on, no cracks and the protected the side of the bike in a spill. My favorite bar for the KLR. __________________ Andy 2009 BMW R1200RT 1981 BMW R100RS 2006 KLR 650

01-25-2013, 03:46 PM	#5
GreatWhiteNorth Studly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Winterpeg - site of flatness beyond belief Oddometer: 662	... and the fan! Yeah, ding the LH side and that gets real expensive quick! A new OEM rad is around $300, and the fan about the same. I bought used spares in case I needed 'em, and I do/did. Pays to keep your eyes peeled for a good deal on a few critical spare parts. Heck, I've got a spare head (complete) as a back-up! __________________ Spending my daughter's inheritance one motorcycle at a time. Bikes currently owned: - '91 Honda GL1500 Goldwing with CSC Friendship sidecar (highway pig), - '92 Kawasaki KLR650 with DMC Enduro sidecar (country cruiser).

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01-25-2013, 02:35 PM	#4
ThumperFly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Middle TN Oddometer: 11	The bars are cheaper than a new radiator if it gets slammed on the left side.