Hi
For those of us with the 2010 GTR we will know that neither the the Kawasaki or R&G crash protectors will fit :( which I found out just as a I was buying mine in Sept 2010. :-\
Since then I have been talking from time to time with R&G to find out when they were going to come up with a solution. The Aftermarket Accessory list has a link to the R&G Adventure Bars - http://www.rg-racing.com/browseBike/Kawasaki/GTR1400_Concours/2010/AB0002BK.aspx (http://www.rg-racing.com/browseBike/Kawasaki/GTR1400_Concours/2010/AB0002BK.aspx)
Back in January I had a set fitted, possibly one of the first of the production line and I have attached some images of the bars on my bike. The bars were fitted by George Whites in Swindon and it took them about 40 minutes.
The bars are well made and finished and look ok, although I don't think it is a neat a solution as the R&G Aero crash protectors but I am sure they more than adequate to do the job. It does provide a suitable platform for fitting some front running lights - others have suggested a few other items ::)
My only comment is that R&G don't or didn't include any bolt/nut plastic end caps, without them you have some bright bolts/nuts which tend to spoil the look and will attract dirt and muck etc. I have passed this back to R&G and it will be interesting to see if they take that on board. I have subsequently bought and fitted my own. I have some spare ones if anybody is interested
In terms of day to day use, well I have done about 800 ish mile since they were fitted and the only thing I have found on a few occasions my feet have touched/knocked the bars when taking my feet of the pegs onto the ground. I am sure it is just a case of getting used to them being there.
I am glad I had them fitted and others have commented that they do look good.
Kind regards
Steven
Missile launchers......can you fit them ;D
Ah, so your's is the bike that they display on their website. I'll certainly be after a pair of these when I decide to upgrade my bike.
Quote from: Norman Bates on February 28, 2011, 09:33:52 PM
Ah, so your's is the bike that they display on their website. I'll certainly be after a pair of these when I decide to upgrade my bike.
Sorry to disappoint you it's not mine.
I believe the photo of the bike on the R&G site is in Christchurch Dorset and was used by R&G to develop the Adventure Bars.
Kind regards
Steven
am asuming the reason behind the crash bars is to save the excess on the insurance claim, if the worst was to happen! well there may be another way, providing your insurance offers what mine offerd me for a few years now! they sold me a seperate policy which cost £22.00! this covers the the excess on your bike insurance. nifty idear! because you can also request a larger excess to bring the cost of your policy down and take the policy out for £22.00 and that covers your excess, not sure what the claim limit is. but have got a £400.00 excess and that is coverd! so just re-cap! if you do drop your bike it can go to the dealer and be repaired with new fairings e.t.c and it wont cost you a penny! by requesting a larger excess your policy drops more than the cost of the excess insurance so its a no brainer really!
Now that sounds like a fantastic idea. It almost sounds too good to be true, is there a catch? If there is no catch, who are you insured with if you dont mind me asking, my policy is due for renewal in just under three months?
Quote from: Lonewolf on March 08, 2011, 06:13:10 PM
Now that sounds like a fantastic idea. It almost sounds too good to be true, is there a catch? If there is no catch, who are you insured with if you dont mind me asking, my policy is due for renewal in just under three months?
am insured through swinton motorcycle insurance. theres no catch, its a relatively new idear, and as far as I know only swinton do it! but been told other insurance companys will soon need to follow suit, to stay competitive!
Ta, for that I'll make a note in my diary for when the policy is up for renewal.
I know these aren't exactly pretty but having seen the pictures of your bike they don't look as bad as I though they would so I've just ordered a set. I'll probably drop the bike before they arrive now!
Kevin
fyi
RE: OK to collect in person from Alton?
Monday, 7 March 2011, 13:59
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Hi Andy
I am afraid that we are currently out of stock of these adventure bars. They are due back in Mon/Tuesday of next week and I am sure that we could organise a collection. Just call through on Monday 01420 89007.
Kind regards
Martin Jones
Sales
R&G Racing Products
R&G seem to be taking the p!$$ with these bars. I ordered them on 28th March. The dealer has apparently been told every week that they are about to be dispatched and they never arrive. I wish there was an alternative so I could cancel the R&G order.
Kevin
...and having waited weeks for the crash bars they arrived last week :). I took the bike down this morning to have them fitted...and the dealer has just called me to tell me R&G sent them two RH crash bars, there are no more in stock but they are manufacturing some and they will be delivered next week (yeah right). R&G really are a useless bunch of *******s! >:(
I see from the accessory list that Top Block do crash protectors for the 2010 GTR but I've never heard of them. Has anyone fitted any?
Kevin
The Top block get good reviews on the US GTR forum, and look great (I think). I've been in touch and they are EU470 + EU25 for delivery, delivery takes 1 week. I'll be having a set once I've got the cash saved.
Have you factored in customs (inc handling fee), and VAT?
Quote from: Bondu on May 16, 2011, 11:47:10 AM
The Top block get good reviews on the US GTR forum, and look great (I think). I've been in touch and they are EU470 + EU25 for delivery, delivery takes 1 week. I'll be having a set once I've got the cash saved.
Ouch! That's expensive. The mythical R&G ones were £208 and I believe I paid about £250 for the Kawasaki ones for the earlier GTR.
Quote from: Norman Bates on May 16, 2011, 12:08:18 PM
Have you factored in customs (inc handling fee), and VAT?
There's no extra VAT/Customs to pay for goods from France...is there?
Edit. SWMBO just called Kawasaki UK who told her they have no plans to bring out crash protectors for the 2010 model. I seem to remember reading somewhere that someone (is that vague or what?!) had managed to fit the earlier protectors to the 2010 bike but I can't find the post anywhere now.
Kevin
Hi, I don't think there's any VAT or customs duty on stuff from France, the genuine Kawasaki ones are around £375 (for the earlier model), so £390 (ish) isn't too much more.
Hmmm, you're right. I thought we paid a lot less than that for the Kawasaki ones. Now I'm pondering... :-\
Kevin
Quote from: Bondu on May 16, 2011, 12:37:09 PM
Hi, I don't think there's any VAT or customs duty on stuff from France, the genuine Kawasaki ones are around £375 (for the earlier model), so £390 (ish) isn't too much more.
Ah, sorry. I thought they were from the US. From France there isn't any customs and if you're VAT registered you can get the VAT portion taken off the total cost
R&G ones cancelled* and we'll order the Top Block ones in the morning. I Googled looking for a review or a post from someone who had fitted them but was unsuccessful so we'll take a chance. The thing about R&G is I *know* they make good gear but there's only so much messing about I can take and, based on my experience so far, I had no confidence a set would actually be available next week.
The only issue with Top Block is they are suggesting a bank transfer which can be a PITA and expensive across borders, I'm hoping they'll take a credit card.
Kevin
Hi Kevin,
I bought and fitted a set of the Top Block crash protectors to my 57 reg GTR in 2008. I purchased these via a company called Motocomp Ltd and spoke to a gentleman called Malcolm Wotton who was very helpful and supplied them for £225.00 post free. At the time, Malcolm said he would supply an order of 10 for £200 each post free and posted directly to each individual. Unfortunately there was a lack of interest fom the other GTR site so I went it alone.
I can highly recommend these crash protectors, the quality is fantastic even though fitting was a little bit daunting, not least because the instructions came in French! I have translated a complete set of instructions should you need them and I also sent a set of English instructions back to Malcolm at Motocomp so hopefully if anyone buy via Motocomp they will get English instructions.
If you need any advise on fitting these don't hesitate to send me a PM.
Barry.
I have just re-visited the Top Block site and they now do a set of crash protectors for both the Mk1 and Mk2 GTR's, and the Mk2 version looks soooo much better than the R&G pile of scaffolding......... I know what I would fit to a new shape GTR!
Are these the ones?
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/TopBlockFrameSliders.jpg)
If so, they look good and follow the lines and design of the GTR well
But then there are these on Ebay at the moment, apparantly genuine Kawasaki protectors.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Fingers/KawasakiProtectors.jpg)
These are £360ish, how much are the other ones?
I was told when I bought mine that Top Block made these for Kawasaki, and the only difference is the lable (GTR1400 on Top Block)
The picture of the black GTR may be my one off of another site!
For price contact Motocomp as I got mine Dec 2008
http://www.top-block.com/index.php (http://www.top-block.com/index.php)
The Top Block ones do look neater and I like the design but are @ £300 and the R&G Adventure bars @ £166 +VAT
You makes your choice and pays your money.
I would have preferred the R&G Aero Crash protectors @ £150 as they looked a nice neat solutions but they don't fit and at the time the R&G Adventure bars was the only solution that was on the horizon. Would I go for the Top Block ones?? - even if I had @ £300 possibly not.
Steven
Quote from: Barry7 on May 18, 2011, 07:12:08 PM
I was told when I bought mine that Top Block made these for Kawasaki, and the only difference is the lable (GTR1400 on Top Block)
The picture of the black GTR may be my one off of another site!
For price contact Motocomp as I got mine Dec 2008
Thanks Barry. I't good to know someone has fitted them and is happy.
SWMBO tried calling Moto Comp earlier today but there was no reply so she left a message. Top Block don't take credit cards and we're waiting for a response from them re. PayPal. If Moto Comp take either that will obviously be a preferable solution to a bank transfer to a French bank.
On a related note, I know the Kawasaki ones on the previous model work - I think they made the difference between a write-off and an expensive repair. I hope we don't get to try the Top Block ones!
Kevin
The Top Block kit for the Mk1 1400GTR
Top Block for Mk2 1400GTR