(nonklr) my shipping bitch!

[David Nichols]

He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... http://www.klarmor.com/products.html [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

Mine always lands on the levers, bars and mirrors at the front. That's actually OK. I've dropped it lots of times and the tank isn't dented yet. I'm sure it will be, but it's not common for me. If you wanted to protect the tank and body panels up front, why couldn't you just put a horizontal bar out from the attachment point of the skid plate and be done with it? It's going to hit the high points, so why not give it a high point to hit? At the back, it's the turn signals that get broken. Solid steel/aluminum/whatever stalks with lights a little inboard would take the heat if you wanted to. Why take all the weight of a big cage when it's the high points that get hit? I do like the idea of the plastic tank being a crash protector though. That has lots going for it, except for esthetics. I like the silver paint on mine. It matches my helmet. Let's go out and ride! Robert Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068 ===============================================

On 6/1/2012 4:34 PM, David Nichols wrote: > > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I > like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jud]

Wow, that's about what you'd pay for an aluminum skid plate and a set of PD Nerfs, and more than a skid plate and an IMS tank.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, David Nichols wrote: > > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Tim Pruitt]

I do like the looks of it though and the 1" tubing offers a lot more options (mounts etc...) that the small size tubing used on some. From: Jud To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2012 8:32 AM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integrated skid plate/crash bars. Wow, that's about what you'd pay for an aluminum skid plate and a set of PD Nerfs, and more than a skid plate and an IMS tank.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, David Nichols wrote: > > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[revmaaatin]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, David Nichols wrote:

> > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html

Well, the welder certainly went to some trouble to figure that out! Is the example chrome? gag. laugh. gag. Initially, I see that the frontal skid plate is [could be] probematic, at least in my mind, based on-- Eldon Carl, opinions registerd and found else where. He suggests the metal skid plate is unnecessary AND it signifiicantly inhibits cooling of the engine because it blocks air flow KHI never intended to have blocked. I might agree with at least part of his observations.... This klarmor appliance example, certainly [appears to] inhibit center airflow. shrug. yeah, i noticed the bike is water cooled, yet I also notice the oil sump is air cooled. Not taking sides; just reporting the observations of others as well. I have metal skid plates on my KLR's. Metal skid plates are a very nice farkle and probably not needed by the majority of KLR riders--unless they are near rocks a lot. The Dakota's prairie is full of granite baby head and baseball bolders and the black hills full of igneious rocks/bolders/shards of various shapes, sizes and affliction-ability. I will say that my metal skid plate(s) have some horrible dings in it that would have put the OEM plastic to the maximum test. additionally, A metal skid plate certainly reflects a lot of engine noise back at the rider that is not present with the OEM plastic skid plate. I suspect it reflects a lot of sump heat as well; Bill Watson probably has that info from his previously instrumented KLR that did the ThermoBob research. I report, you decide. revmaaatin.

[Jeff Khoury]

A couple of things to think about though... I don't ride a lot of rocks, but I do jump a lot of curbs. My HT skid plate has taken several solid hits; my plastic one was destroyed. To cut down on reflected noise, try this tip: before you install it, mask off the outside and spray the inside with undercoating spray. Let it dry completely before installing. -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "revmaaatin" To: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 9:23:48 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integrated skid plate/crash bars. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , David Nichols wrote: > > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html Well, the welder certainly went to some trouble to figure that out! Is the example chrome? gag. laugh. gag. Initially, I see that the frontal skid plate is [could be] probematic, at least in my mind, based on-- Eldon Carl, opinions registerd and found else where. He suggests the metal skid plate is unnecessary AND it signifiicantly inhibits cooling of the engine because it blocks air flow KHI never intended to have blocked. I might agree with at least part of his observations.... This klarmor appliance example, certainly [appears to] inhibit center airflow. shrug. yeah, i noticed the bike is water cooled, yet I also notice the oil sump is air cooled. Not taking sides; just reporting the observations of others as well. I have metal skid plates on my KLR's. Metal skid plates are a very nice farkle and probably not needed by the majority of KLR riders--unless they are near rocks a lot. The Dakota's prairie is full of granite baby head and baseball bolders and the black hills full of igneious rocks/bolders/shards of various shapes, sizes and affliction-ability. I will say that my metal skid plate(s) have some horrible dings in it that would have put the OEM plastic to the maximum test. additionally, A metal skid plate certainly reflects a lot of engine noise back at the rider that is not present with the OEM plastic skid plate. I suspect it reflects a lot of sump heat as well; Bill Watson probably has that info from his previously instrumented KLR that did the ThermoBob research. I report, you decide. revmaaatin.

[Jeff Khoury]

Also... and this just came to me... Watt-Man's justification for ThermoBob installation is that the engine runs TOO COOL at speed, so wouldn't it help? -Jeff Khoury

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Khoury" To: "revmaaatin" Cc: "DSN KLR650" DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 9:58:58 PM Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integrated skid plate/crash bars. A couple of things to think about though... I don't ride a lot of rocks, but I do jump a lot of curbs. My HT skid plate has taken several solid hits; my plastic one was destroyed. To cut down on reflected noise, try this tip: before you install it, mask off the outside and spray the inside with undercoating spray. Let it dry completely before installing. -Jeff Khoury ----- Original Message ----- From: "revmaaatin" < mjearl4@... > To: "DSN KLR650" < DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Sunday, June 3, 2012 9:23:48 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: Integrated skid plate/crash bars. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , David Nichols wrote: > > He's selling an integrated skid plate/crash bar system. I'm not sure I like the way it's made but he says he'll customize it... > > http://www.klarmor.com/products.html Well, the welder certainly went to some trouble to figure that out! Is the example chrome? gag. laugh. gag. Initially, I see that the frontal skid plate is [could be] probematic, at least in my mind, based on-- Eldon Carl, opinions registerd and found else where. He suggests the metal skid plate is unnecessary AND it signifiicantly inhibits cooling of the engine because it blocks air flow KHI never intended to have blocked. I might agree with at least part of his observations.... This klarmor appliance example, certainly [appears to] inhibit center airflow. shrug. yeah, i noticed the bike is water cooled, yet I also notice the oil sump is air cooled. Not taking sides; just reporting the observations of others as well. I have metal skid plates on my KLR's. Metal skid plates are a very nice farkle and probably not needed by the majority of KLR riders--unless they are near rocks a lot. The Dakota's prairie is full of granite baby head and baseball bolders and the black hills full of igneious rocks/bolders/shards of various shapes, sizes and affliction-ability. I will say that my metal skid plate(s) have some horrible dings in it that would have put the OEM plastic to the maximum test. additionally, A metal skid plate certainly reflects a lot of engine noise back at the rider that is not present with the OEM plastic skid plate. I suspect it reflects a lot of sump heat as well; Bill Watson probably has that info from his previously instrumented KLR that did the ThermoBob research. I report, you decide. revmaaatin.

[David Bowden]

My plastic skid plate ripped in half as my water pump was sheered off the side case. There was also a 2in whole in the case by the time the bike came to rest against a tree after if fell off an embankment with me on it. A metal plate would have saved the bike. I dont consider them farkle. Mine had just not arrived in time for that ride.

On Jun 3, 2012 9:23 PM, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > Metal skid plates are a very nice farkle and probably not needed by the majority of KLR riders--unless they are near rocks a lot. The Dakota's prairie is full of granite baby head and baseball bolders and the black hills full of igneious rocks/bolders/shards of various shapes, sizes and affliction-ability. > > I will say that my metal skid plate(s) have some horrible dings in it that would have put the OEM plastic to the maximum test. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[RobertWichert]

Yes on the metal skid plate. Curbs hit mine too. Yay for that! Robert P. Wichert P.Eng. LEED AP BD&C +1 916 966 9060 FAX +1 916 966 9068

On Jun 3, 2012, at 10:16 PM, David Bowden wrote: > My plastic skid plate ripped in half as my water pump was sheered off the > side case. There was also a 2in whole in the case by the time the bike > came to rest against a tree after if fell off an embankment with me on it. > A metal plate would have saved the bike. I dont consider them farkle. > Mine had just not arrived in time for that ride. > > On Jun 3, 2012 9:23 PM, "revmaaatin" wrote: > > > > Metal skid plates are a very nice farkle and probably not needed by the > majority of KLR riders--unless they are near rocks a lot. The Dakota's > prairie is full of granite baby head and baseball bolders and the black > hills full of igneious rocks/bolders/shards of various shapes, sizes and > affliction-ability. > > > > I will say that my metal skid plate(s) have some horrible dings in it > that would have put the OEM plastic to the maximum test. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Skypilot]

I smashed mine to bits landing on a tree I was trying to hop. The plastic skid plate is fine for street riders and people using them for trips like Prudhoe and Tierra DelFuego but for off road you must have a metal plate. As always those who say you need this or dont need that with out first asking what the bike is to be used for must be questioned. Tghey are wrong 50% of the time in every case.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, David Bowden wrote: > > My plastic skid plate ripped in half as my water pump was sheered off the > side case. There was also a 2in whole in the case by the time the bike > came to rest against a tree after if fell off an embankment with me on it. > A metal plate would have saved the bike. I dont consider them farkle. > Mine had just not arrived in time for that ride.