R&G Crash bungs??

[Bikespod]

Quick question. Are these any good or likely to trash the frame in a fall?
Are engine bars a better option. Looking at two CR’s tomorrow that have neither.
Thanks
Nick

[voodoo]

It's best not to crash. 
There you go, some free Dutch advice. 

[Bikespod]

Mmmm.....not exactly helpful.
Ok, a scenario out of your control.
A parent reversing their SUV into a parking space whilst shouting at their kids in the back, doesn’t spot your pride and joy and knocks it over.
Now the same question.
Do crash bungs risk trashing the frame on impact. Or are bars a better option.
I live in London and commute year round from one side to the other.
A bit of protection from myopic mummies in their Range Rovers would be great.

[voodoo]

Ah, you want a serious answer!
Most solid mounted bungs or bars can cause frame damage, some bungs have build-in shock absorbers. Gilles tooling for example.
But for low or no speed tip overs most bars and bungs do just fine.
I fitted bars, mainly for extra luggage bags. And I don't like the look of bungs. Or rim stripes.

Serious enough?

[Bikespod]

Yes that’s definitely more helpful.
Was wondering if anyone had experienced serious frame damage.
Bungs don’t seem to clever to me as if there is any forward momentum when it goes down, it seems like it’ll add a lot of leverage to the mounting point.
Bars surely spread the impact more, resulting in less damage. More mounting points.
Hadn’t considered luggage, but makes sense. Additional daylight riding lights easier too.

[voodoo]

I haven't heard of any framedamage, other than in a high speed crash.
But both R&G and Gilles have a good name when it comes to bungs.
I have got the Hepco bars, which are fine.

[Skids]

Bars and bungs should be pretty good at protecting against the expensive damage from a low speed or stationary off. They're not designed to protect at higher speeds as the forces imparted at impact will, as you say, damage the mounting points and frame. But then the bike is probably a write-off anyway. There's likely to be a middle ground somewhere where they cause more damage than they save so it's a judgement call whether you fit protection.

A few days after I fitted the Givi bars to my first Crossie, I lost her manoeuvring on my driveway. The only damage was scuffing on the new bars, as opposed to scuffing on all the other touch points that there would have been.

I have Thurn Motorsports crash bungs fitted to my VFR1200 (cos it would look stupid with bars) and Givi bars fitted to my 2nd Crossie. I assess my highest risk is from a low speed off, so these are part of my mitigation against the expense that would come.

YMMV.

[Bikespod]

Thanks. All helpful. It’s been a while since I owned a VFR. It was a 750F and a NC30 400 before that.
My current bike XT660X is kind of designed to fall over and has wheel spindle bungs and engine bars, it definitely doesn’t have a shiny alloy frame.
I’m looking at two CR’s today.
One all black 2 owners 24,000 miles
One black and silver 4 owners 12,000 miles

I prefer the look of the all black and 2 owners seems reasonable for the mileage.

I’m wondering how a 12,000 mile bike can have had 4 owners. What’s wrong with it?

For perspective I’ve owned the XT for 13 years 51,000 miles from new. Ride all year.

[Skids]

Re the 12k bike... Some folk just don't get the VFR. It's unlikely Honda built a duff one but you never know what happened to it early on.

There are plenty out there if you have time to be picky.

Let us know how you get on.

[voodoo]

Regarding mileage: the average Dutch biker does about 2.000km per year.
Regarding vfr/vtec: wot skids said