DK Designs Crash Bar Installation

I found 38mm mounts from Amazon for light attachment to the crash bars that look are good quality and cheap at $13, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M09UBGL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I think the ones I will use are from Super Bright LED's, a bit more expensive but I have used them before.
I swear by Kuryakyn® products - pricey but proper. Amazon has become a Chinese Dump Site of late. I know we said the same about Japanese products when we grew up, but I cannot fathom Chinese quality even remotely approach Japanese (or even Korean) finesse, ever. I have worked with engineers, and their deliverables, from all three nationalities, while employed by a German company. Japan reinvented 'innovate' while China perfected 'blind copy'. The latter in inferior materials to boot.
 
I decided to take the plunge and invest in any means necessary to get Mrs. Todkavonic on the R18. Towards this end, the ridiculously overpriced, albeit extremely well-done, Wunderlich passenger back rest/sissy bar co-opted my saddle bag perch real estate for now. Order to arrival was 2 days. I went with chrome and used the black bolts. It works with the over-the-top, holy chrome-mountain, chrometacular thing I have going on.

Speaking of chrome, I also added engine guards. I picked the DK (tie-in to this thread) over others due to their girth. Them's thick bars, right there. Assembly was easy, crap "instructions" notwithstanding.


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We'll do this until the bobber options materialize and then maybe, probably, ok likely, change gears.

/I have become that which I had forsaken.
 
the thicker and harder the crash bars, the more damage they can do to the motorcycle frame - these are the laws of physics. Crash bars must be weaker than the frame in order not to damage it. They are supposed to absorb the impact energy and not pass it on ;)
 
I decided to take the plunge and invest in any means necessary to get Mrs. Todkavonic on the R18. Towards this end, the ridiculously overpriced, albeit extremely well-done, Wunderlich passenger back rest/sissy bar co-opted my saddle bag perch real estate for now. Order to arrival was 2 days. I went with chrome and used the black bolts. It works with the over-the-top, holy chrome-mountain, chrometacular thing I have going on.

Speaking of chrome, I also added engine guards. I picked the DK (tie-in to this thread) over others due to their girth. Them's thick bars, right there. Assembly was easy, crap "instructions" notwithstanding.


View attachment 1555
View attachment 1556
View attachment 1557
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View attachment 1559

We'll do this until the bobber options materialize and then maybe, probably, ok likely, change gears.

/I have become that which I had forsaken.
Very nice. I trust that you have another seat on order since your better half might well protest, having to sit on that baguette (-: You and HerrFarber are my first adopters of choice. I have also received my DKdesign front fender and engine guards, amongst others - that after vehemently opposing purchasing anything from them originally.

My wife is not impressed with the aspect of riding pillion on the R18. She says it will be no different than my Breakout, her least favourite passenger experience. She has been riding pillion with me for 45 out of my nearly 50 years riding motorcycles. So I am still mulling any two-up deviations from the originally intended bobber, which I thought I would have purchased pre-configured thus;

OEM Bobber.png

Notice the 16" front wheel and that the side bag, over the right-hand side-cover, is better suited to the bobbers higher, more forward seating location - than to the lower alternative.
 
the thicker and harder the crash bars, the more damage they can do to the motorcycle frame - these are the laws of physics. Crash bars must be weaker than the frame in order not to damage it. They are supposed to absorb the impact energy and not pass it on ;)
It's 100% for looks Holan. Any crash=new R18.

/haven't ever put one down
//almost 30 years
///gonna stop giving the devil ideas.
 
It's 100% for looks Holan. Any crash=new R18.

/haven't ever put one down
//almost 30 years
///gonna stop giving the devil ideas.
I haven't received my crash bar, and I dropped down mine yesterday...
Crossing a concrete gutter .
Fell very gently on the right side.
The result is a small scratch on the right cylinder cover.
😡
Nothing else.

20210508_115314.jpg
 
I haven't received my crash bar, and I dropped down mine yesterday...
Crossing a concrete gutter .
Fell very gently on the right side.
The result is a small scratch on the right cylinder cover.
😡
Nothing else.

View attachment 1571
Sh1t happens all the time. We do what we can to avoid it, but such is life. Console yourself with the fact that the crash bar would have been damaged instead had it been fitted. And one needs to replace the entire crash bar - potentially more costly than only one cylinder head cover in this instance.
 
Ordered the DK design bars in black last Friday, they arrived the following Wed, less than a week! From what I can tell, out of the box these are legit, look very well made.

Like some others commented, the included bolts look high quality, but don’t match the bike theme in my opinion.

Most likey be replacing these with black hex cap bolts so they blend. Other than that, can’t wait to install this set up!F1614B0D-3B37-4ED5-9FE1-60D3E7ECDC63.jpeg
 
if it helps anyone else for their bikes, bought these 12 point automotive bolts for my DK engine bars project. Many other types, various sizes and lengths from BelMetric.com. Great service too.
 

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yessir, next just need the project time 😀
DK engine guards, Here’s some pictures as it went together… this is the upper mount bracket, keep all bolts fitted loose until the other brackets are lining up
 

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these are the lower bracket components, use a floor jack to ease the weight off the engine bolt, advise doing one side at a time, so there’s always one bolt connected,
 

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great time to replace the tiny sounding stock horn since it has to be removed anyway
 

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lower mounts, left and right installed, the big guard tubes will fit in snug and will settle in place with all loose until they’re lined up,,, used blue lock tight on bolts,
 

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if you go with 12pt metric bolts, these 10 and 12mm ratchet end wrenches are needed, once all bars are in place time to snug down tight.
 

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using factory wire clip, new horn fits in perfect,
 

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added the black bottom plate at this time too
 

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