• Welcome to the BMW R18 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

about ´guards´

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1789222567#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Petrus
  • Start date Start date
P

Petrus

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 18, 2025
Messages
1,378
Location
Vva. del Rosario - Málaga - España
Visit site
Bike
R18 sidecar, Nimbus Type C sidecar, Vespas
The after market guard of all and sundry are a popular, dare I say fashionable, modification.

Each his own obviously but please be aware that the protection is relative.
Let me explain:

First there is the Peltzman effect and a guard should NOT make you less cautious.

Then there is the question whether they actually protect. Only the exceptions to the rule have sturdy enough mountings to take a bump by a 350-450 kg motorbike dropping on them.

Lastly and most worrying is the potentially more serious damage they can cáuse: Think tow hitch. You take a not even too serious bump into the rear of your car on the hitch and you can end up with damage to the chassis. Same thing crash bars.

Bottom line is that crash bars are very much a double edged sword.
Again, to each his own and NO criticism, just food for thought.

Enjoy.
 
 
LBV said:
I get that, but how does that relate to crash bars as per the original post?
Click to expand...

Better to prevent than to trust in the bars. Be just as careful wíth the bars as without. It is quite elementary to mé.

To add insult to injury, I have seen many a crash bar do more damage by bending than the drop/fall would have cause to the bike.

But, as I observed TWICE; do as you feel you need to.
 
Crash bars are NOT safety items . Aesthetic or useful for possibly preventing slow speed damage to cylinder heads at best . Peltzman E only applies to MANDATED ( officially required / law ) safety features. Ipso facto ; not P.E.
 
Last edited:
This guy understands the Peltzman effect 🤣

This guy gets it.jpg

PSA for those googling "riding motorcycle naked".....I don't recommend searching these photos while at work! :p

Mike
 
Do not want to seem "i told you so " but i think anyone who puts guards on a 350 kilo motorcycle is fully aware that they are for , in no way do you expect them to protect you in a major accident , the main purpose is to protect the machine from superficial damage if it catches you off balance ie from riding on gravel etc .
 
  • Like
Reactions: LBV
Hammo said:
Do not want to seem "i told you so " but i think anyone who puts guards on a 350 kilo motorcycle is fully aware that they are for , in no way do you expect them to protect you in a major accident , the main purpose is to protect the machine from superficial damage if it catches you off balance ie from riding on gravel etc .
Click to expand...

Quite.
And the damage protection ríding on gravel is very relative. These R18s are héavy and even for simply toppling over the guard needs be sturdy.
Lastly the guards are not cheap either.

I read an owner observing that mounting the guards meant not needing to be so @n@l about dropping the bike when moving it in the workshop. Pure Peltzman imo 🤪

Ah and lastly, sorry but there is an extra aspect, the bike may topple into something else. I lost balance while reversing, ´falling´ against my cabrio parked next to the exit 🫣 A guard would have made a nastier crease/dent than the combo cyl. head and leg did.
 
  • Like
Reactions: R2K
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top