[jpalamaro]

Seems the Adventure riders (including myself) bling out their bikes with all kinds of 'crash stuff' to protect just about everything. Truth be told the majority, including myself, ride on improved roads and if I go offroad, I drive across my front lawn and tackle the 'curb' as a major obstacle.

Folks with RT's and GT's worry about dropping the bike and spend gobs of money, relatively speaking to protect the plastic/polymer parts along with the engine; on the boxer models those jugs do stick out.

So, here we are with a gorgeous boxer model, those protruding jugs just hanging out there, and a simple stationary drop in the driveway, hey, it happens, and no protection? What gives, not even a BMW accessory, unless you consider the headguards for the 3013 and earlier boxer models with the DOHC engine? I'm not reeally worried but seems odd not a thing mentioned . . . R12R accessories???

Have I missed a major thread?

 

[Bonkorama]

ill be posting pics of the ones i bought later today.

 

[rkevwill]

I've been discussing this for a couple months now. I've contacted Givi, SW Motech, and others. They all are waiting to get their hands on a nineT to check Fitment etc. M&M and I have discussed this too. My guess is the r1200r bars will fit, but there may be some questions with the oil cooler in a different spot. Same engine, so who knows. Mine will be stored at the dealer for 2-3 weeks after it comes in, so hopefully we will find one before I have this thing in my garage, and drop it before I even ride it!

Bonk, looking forward to your pics.

 

[rkevwill]

ill be posting pics of the ones i bought later today.

Bonk, the protective covers are certainly some protection, but I need bars so big I could just about mount training wheels!

 

[Bonkorama]

RK, your crazy hahaha.
Your not gonna drop your baby.
Its light and low and your strong as an ox anyway.

 

[penner]

Give it some time and we should start seeing people get creative with ways to protect that engine.

It does stick out quite a bit. So I'll be looking for the most aesthetically pleasing way to protect. If that is even possible.

 

[Lost Rider]

Personally, I like the looks of these MachineArtMoto X-Head guards on the 9T, I have their similar product on my 12R and they have proven to be quite useful/durable with plenty of coverage.

There's always been lots of debate about crash bars vs head guards on boxers, steel bars take away lots of clearance if you're the type of rider that likes to lean over far in the twisties and there's the potential of transferring energy in a crash through the mount points directly to the engine block, breaking something much more expensive than a valve cover. Some say they have provided good protection in a crash without issue.
For me, bars won't work as I already have issues with clearance occasionally and the "GS" look just won't work for me on the 9T.

I'm not sure about the new cam-head BMW OEM guards since I haven't used them, hopefully BMW improved on them because the BMW version for the hex head motor proved to be very inadequate in a few situations for me, breaking at 0 mph drops, or providing little protection in a crash at any speed.
The Boxer jugs sticking out are stronger than one might think, taking a beating and still not breaking, though I do carry Quick Steel when on long trips just in case something happens and I poke a hole in one... happened once and Quick Steel saved the day.

 

[mikeo]

excellent repair....reminds me of the smiley face my wife painted on the bedroom wall when she punched a dent in the sheetrock while falling off a ladder.

of course, I didn't see the dent (or the smiley face) until I moved the bookcase covering it a couple of months later.

If only the wall had been equipped with some decent crash bars!

 

[9T33]

smiley in the cover is epic

 

[jpalamaro]

Lost Rider, excellent, but still can't quite sort it out. My biggest fear, tho' fortunately unfounded, is a simple dumb s**t drop while stationary. Kind of reminds me of the patient/doc discusssion where the patient says, "It only hurts when I laugh." Doc replies, "Don't laugh." And to that I say, DON'T DROP IT! Ok, that was a bit of a stretch.

But, my WCGS guards would not only make the bike just plain fugly, but its low height would almost guarantee scraping guards with any agressive riding.

Thanks for pix.

 

[rkevwill]

**** Lost, with that lean going on, you really need MotoGP class knee pads! Mainly, I am concerned about the 0 MPH garage drops. I'm sure I will do that within the first 10 minutes I have the NineT in the garage. Either then, or the first time I am showing it off to the 23 year old gals at Bike night at the Irish Pub up the street. Perhaps the plastic BMW guards, or the M Moto guards would protect from that.

 

[rkevwill]

RK, your crazy hahaha.
Your not gonna drop your baby.
Its light and low and your strong as an ox anyway.

Bonk, you will be happy to know, I am purchasing a demo Yamaha TW200 (at a very favorable price) to get some seat miles on as a refresher. For others that may think I'm nuts, its been over 35 years since I have ridden regularly, and knew when I saw the NineT, it was time again. (that TW200 will be fun to take fishing in the back country, once I am confident again).

 

[Bonkorama]

Rk that's such a brilliant idea.
Thumbs up from me buddy.
Sounds like something I would do.

 

[penner]

Bonk, you will be happy to know, I am purchasing a demo Yamaha TW200 (at a very favorable price) to get some seat miles on as a refresher. For others that may think I'm nuts, its been over 35 years since I have ridden regularly, and knew when I saw the NineT, it was time again. (that TW200 will be fun to take fishing in the back country, once I am confident again).

its better to practice on that than the NineT!

How much you pay for the TW200 if you don't mind me asking.

 

[rkevwill]

its better to practice on that than the NineT!

How much you pay for the TW200 if you don't mind me asking.

3500, with 200 miles on it. Its a 2013. Haven't even ridden it yet. We got an additional 6 inches of snow last night. My guess is we have maybe 16 inches or more on the ground. (and icy chunky streets)

Yeah, the MSF course was great, but it was in a huge parking lot. Not out with the gabbing and texting drivers.

 

[jpalamaro]

3500, with 200 miles on it. Its a 2013. Haven't even ridden it yet. We got an additional 6 inches of snow last night. My guess is we have maybe 16 inches or more on the ground. (and icy chunky streets)

Yeah, the MSF course was great, but it was in a huge parking lot. Not out with the gabbing and texting drivers.

I chuckled cuz I got my cycle license in '03 with the MSF course. The instructor said at the end of the course, YOU ARE NOW QUALIFIED TO DRIVE IN A PARKING LOT. I practiced for a couple of weeks in a secured parking lot where I stored my motorhome before I ventured out. And heck, cell phone use and texting was pretty rare then . . . now, it's rare to see a vehicle without a cell phone in the occupant of the vehicle's ear. Plus, at least here in NE FL the driver's are often maliciously mean towards cycles, tho' some cyclists seem to work hard to drive like idiots. Good luck and wise choice.

 

[jd_cincy]

For anyone looking to confirm the exact part number for NineT compatibility, I emailed Machineart and got this response - "Yes, the X-Head DOHC fits the R nineT. We have not added it to the fitment description yet, but the same X-Head that fits the GS fits the R nineT. It's the same engine."

X-Head DOHC
X-Head DOHC - 2010~12 GS; 2010~13 RT, R, ADV for $189

I put my order in tonight, this bike is a bit taller than my old one and I;m concerned about parking lot / driveway damage.

Personally, I like the looks of these MachineArtMoto X-Head guards on the 9T, I have their similar product on my 12R and they have proven to be quite useful/durable with plenty of coverage.

There's always been lots of debate about crash bars vs head guards on boxers, steel bars take away lots of clearance if you're the type of rider that likes to lean over far in the twisties and there's the potential of transferring energy in a crash through the mount points directly to the engine block, breaking something much more expensive than a valve cover. Some say they have provided good protection in a crash without issue.
For me, bars won't work as I already have issues with clearance occasionally and the "GS" look just won't work for me on the 9T.

I'm not sure about the new cam-head BMW OEM guards since I haven't used them, hopefully BMW improved on them because the BMW version for the hex head motor proved to be very inadequate in a few situations for me, breaking at 0 mph drops, or providing little protection in a crash at any speed.
The Boxer jugs sticking out are stronger than one might think, taking a beating and still not breaking, though I do carry Quick Steel when on long trips just in case something happens and I poke a hole in one... happened once and Quick Steel saved the day.

 

[Bonkorama]

I went for these...

Cylinder Head Protectors - Plastic - 2010-13 BMW R1200GS, R1200GS Adventure, R1200RT, 2011-later R1200R, 2014-later R nineT - by BMW - - A&S BMW Motorcycle Parts and Accessories

 

[Bonkorama]

JD, after reading the description of the X-HEAD covers, I wish i had bought those. maybe ill return the ones I have already purchased. I like the idea of the insulation between the cover and the head. Nice find.

I have found that the covers i have on my R1100RT HAVE been adequate at drops. They are scratched and didn't crack the two times its been down. The thing has 115k miles on it, so its seen some action.

 

[Gogs]

Cheers for posting these options lads this is my first Beemer and these will be a must along with a hugger, I hope someone takes out a nice tail tidy that uses the original rear light and indicators BMW have made a nice job of them in my opinion.

Thanks Again