Radiator guard - yea / nay

[trickywoo]

Anyone have any views on radiator guards?

I had one on my previous bike and the rad looked pretty spotless after 35k miles just wondering if its worth putting one on my new bike (Street triple)?

I'd most likely go for a R&G one but I have heard they (not necessarily R&G) can end up rubbing and create more problems than they solve.

[Prof Prolapse]

I don't know why you wouldn't have a guard on your radiator to be honest... I used Evotech stuff on my GSXR, tail tidy etc. very happy with it.

https://evotech-performance.com/

I'm not a big fan of R&G as a brand so try and avoid, no real reason for the grievance, just I feel they're quite pricey for what you sometimes get.

[trickywoo]

Prof Prolapse said:

I used Evotech stuff
https://evotech-performance.com/

Thanks for that. Seems to be the same price as the R&G one without VAT so 20% cheaper and the fitment doesn't require the removal of the top mount screws which the R&G does so easier also.

Whats your though on spindle bobbins? I'm not going for frame crash bobbins but these may save a fork or swingarm.

Edited by trickywoo on Friday 12th January 15:46

[Prof Prolapse]

The trackday chaps are better informed than me, I'm sure if you posted in that thread they'd have something more meaningful to add.

I have (budget) cotton reels on the swing arm so I can get the paddock stand under it more easily, beyond that I've always struggled to see how the "spindles" would touch the ground before any other significant architecture so I have never bothered with them. That's just my lay opinion though.

[Shadow R1]

I have one on the xsr.
On previous bike, it had stopped a good sized stone.

[anonymous-user]

Used Evotech guards and other bits on my last two bikes. The quality of their products is excellent and their customer service is spot on.

[Biker's Nemesis]

I would say they're a damn good idea.

I have R&G guards on my R1 and MT 10 and not had any problems.

[Birky_41]

100% yes

[podman]

I used a Bewoulf item in the past, some guards use cable ties for a couple of fixing points, the Bewoulf item I had fitted at all the OE mounting points.

http://www.beowulfuk.com/proddetail.asp?prod=S021A...

I have heard people claim(think?) the bike runs hotter with a guard fitted but ive personally never experienced that, even at 40+ degrees in the SoF.

[BobSaunders]

Does it decrease cooling? Been thinking about one also - just to save the hassle of having to swap a rad out in the event of a stone.

[TommyBuoy]

BobSaunders said:

Does it decrease cooling? Been thinking about one also - just to save the hassle of having to swap a rad out in the event of a stone.

I can see how it might - less clear air flow.

In practice, unless the entire radiator surface area is actually required then I can't imagine it would make a noticeable difference.

[gland]

I voted no. And then ordered one

[Zarco]

TommyBuoy said:

BobSaunders said:

Does it decrease cooling? Been thinking about one also - just to save the hassle of having to swap a rad out in the event of a stone.

I can see how it might - less clear air flow.

In practice, unless the entire radiator surface area is actually required then I can't imagine it would make a noticeable difference.

It must do to an extent. Not enough to matter one would presume.

[graeme4130]

I always use radiator guards after having a stone go through my rad and causing me an expensive repair
Look up racing radiator guards on Facebook as they do some nice custom painted ones with any design you care for
I think I paid about £25 for my last one on my ZX10R with my number painted on it
https://www.facebook.com/RacingRadiatorGuards/

[Biker's Nemesis]

At Almeria 4 years back a lad gets a stone through the rad on the first of a 4 day event.

Seen at least 4 bikes get stones through the rad on the roads up here in the last half or dozen years.

[3DP]

It's funny, other than for my ZZR1400 and enduro bikes, I've never bothered with them. Have had several big dings in rads from hits, but having had around 35 bikes, I've just gambled and got away with it.

I would say if doing a long tour, or especially group riding at speed with other fast boys -where stones are kicked up at big speeds, they are worth it. BUT - For the money I have saved not buying them, I could probably afford 3 OEM rad replacements!

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Well here's a vaguely interesting story....

"Back in the day" to quote an oft-dull cliche, (and referencing the late 90's / early 2000's in this case) I used to race the nationals. I'd normally buy a brand-new road-going bike from a local dealer in the winter, who did me a nice price, run it in on the road for 6 or 700 miles, then strip it and race-prep it for the upcoming new season.

In winter 2000, they delivered my box-fresh R1 to my house. I immediately pulled on my leathers, and headed out in the company of a mate on a ZX9-R. We got out of my estate, and onto the first nice bit of A-road. We'd barely got up to about 50mph when I saw a large stone flick up from my friend's back tyre in front of me.

Within 10 seconds I couldn't see for clouds of coolant! The stone had punctured the rad, on my bike which wasn't even showing double-figure mileage on the dash. Not happy! So in that instance, yes, a rad guard would have prevented it. That said - in nearly 30 years of riding, this is the first and only incident of a rad puncture I have ever had, or heard of happening to anyone else. Hence - the odds are pretty small I think! Probably more chance of winning the lottery maybe.

Incidentally, as what I thought would be a temporary repair, to just keep the thing on the road whilst I ran it in, I repaired the hole with a huge blob of chemical metal, which I painted with a bit of heat-proof black paint. This held so well that I shamefully never got round to replacing the radiator at all in the end, and the repaired unit went on to do 4 seasons of superbike racing all over the country. Chemical metal rules!!

[Speed addicted]

I've seen radiators holed by stones three times in the last 18 years or so, always in group riding.
Once it was a minor inconvenience, but the other twice were major hassles while miles away from home.

So it's a yes for me, one of the first things I get when i get a new bike.

[ccr32]

First bike I have got them (oil and rad guard) for is the current Speed Triple. Never really felt the need for a guard in the past and didn't experience any holes as a result of stones etc., however did see how manky and pitted the radiator was on my former Fireblade when I pulled it off as part of a winter overhaul and decided it was worth it for the new bike.

Also bought Evotech and can't fault them so far. Only thing I will say is the little rubber/polystyrene strips it comes with that you stick to the back of the guard to stop it rubbing against your rad has lost its stick and come loose. Other than that, all good.

[RemaL]

No brainer from me.

Always one of the first thing i add along with paint protection. I have the evotech a it was the only one at the time for my bike

Having had a few mates who have had a stone or bolt go through the rad it's a cheaper alternative to replacing the rad