R&G rad guard, piece of p to fit on a 2012, temps not a prob stationary in traffic as Slick says - that's what the fans are for! I also have the lower guard to 'finish off the look' but not fitted yet as while the sun shines I'm out enjoying it
Fitted a Beowulf to an ABS today, 2 hooks ontop of guard hook over rad, so no tie wraps, and attaches to bolt at bottom, easy fit.
Cheers Slick but my bikes got ABS and I've read some reports about the fact that the ABS pumps being mounted very close to the headers is suspected cause of 'front valve/power unit' failure. There must be someone on this forum that has worked on an ABS bike and can say if there's any truth in this. The thing is, you can get a very hot situation around the headers on a hot day minutes before the actual coolant temp rises enough to trip in the cooling fans. This may be the reason why whilst it's possible, (as I have done), to fit a 'rad' guard the mfgs say they're "Not suitable for ABS equipped machines". So on a hot day, at a standstill, engine running; turn it off I say. Better safe than sorry eh?
Good point well presented el-nicko, but... surely turning the bike off and not letting the fans run would just let the heat build up get worse? I must admit I've not tried to find out how much air from the fans actually gets through the rad and if it cools the unit? But if the ABS unit is between the block and headers surely the fans couldn't help much? Like you say someone on here must know and have worked on these bikes? As for manufacturers saying there not suitable for ABS surely the big H wouldn't admit a heat build up problem to after market suppliers? its got to be some other reason...
I had the evotech one on my Speed Triple, it did look cool with the initials EP raised out of the guard View attachment 10880 Damn you i've now looked at my Speed pics and want another one!
Oh I see where your coming from! Mine is an ABS and not this sort of problem (yet). I commute into London and get stuck in traffic for ages, though the last week has been much warmer I not noticed any issues. There is a bit of ABS pipework near the rad which makes the guard a bit of a tight fit so maybe that why they say its unsuitable? I'd stick my head out and say the blade probably runs maybe 2-3 hotter in traffic, hopefully not hot enough to introduce ant new issues?.
I based my heat build up theory on 'heat soak' from a heat source, which is why Worcester Bosch wouldn't recommend plastic pipe ( Speedfit or Hep20 ) within 1m of the oil boiler tappings...so copper tube should be used for heat dissipation, different thread I know but its the principal of the heat soak that could cause issues?
Guys, IMO and its only that, complete non issue relating to a rad guard and increased temps on the ABS modulator, the fans are cutting in during the coldst winter weather in traffic, so its always hot in that area, there is enough holes in a rad guard, air gets drawn through by the fans and any slight rise in temp is so minimal in the overall temp, it will have no effect on the mod, its so hot there already. The main issue I suggest they state non ABS, is the pipework on the top left of the rad and clearance issues.
Well, (in answer to Mr.h) I don't want to labour the point 'cos there's every chance I don't know WTF I'm on about but if the cooling system is anything like that on my car, on a hot day, just after stopping, the fans will start up and run for a minute or so even if the ignition is 'off'. The other point is that the fans are controlled by the temperature of the coolant and not by the localized heat that rises very quickly around the headers when at a standstill on a hot day with the motor running. Think about it; if you were daft enough to grab hold of an exhaust pipe just after you started the engine I guarantee you'd get a nasty burn even tho the engine block was so cold it wasn't registering on the dashboard temp gauge. Like I say if we ever get a hot day I'll be turning mine off if I'm trapped amongst the cages.
Yep, I see where your coming el-nicko from the cold block and hot pipes etc, my fans stop when i turn the ignition off on the blade unlike my car which can stay on.But reading some comments about the ABS unit still making noises after ignition off I'm guessing there's still a permanent live there somewhere? I agree with kentblade its probably about the pipework in the way but its only a bit of jiggling to fit a guard, and if it is this causing an issue what a daft place to put a modulator! who knows but my R&G is doing its job! cheaper than a new rad bring on the sun!
The brake pipe marshaling block etc is still 15mm in fron of the Rad so there is enough room to slide a Evotech Rad guard in there no bother. Had mine in there for 1500 miles now with no ill effects.
No need to loosen the fairings, you might need to pry a little initially to slide it in. As said before, loosen the rad bolt first, when you come to retighten it may not ’ grab’ unless totally aligned. The zips ties can be a PIA, work from the top of the bike as well as from below. Hope this helps!
That was my problem and I ended up grinding a point on the bolt. That's why I say, with this screen; get your cable-ties in but don't pull 'em up 'till that bottom bolt is 'started'. Once fitted tho you'll feel a lot happier when you run into a stretch of fresh gravel chippings. These screens must be flying out of the virtual 'door' this time of year.
Just got an r&g one for my 2010 blade, do the cable ties mount to the top section holding the rad in place?
I just fitted the smoto one which I think is the same as the R&G and the cable ties went around the brackets at the top of the radiator. Fun and games getting the cable ties around the brackets too.
Just got it fitted, man those cable ties are fiddly little things! Good job as plenty of surface dressing going on around here!
I have noticed that my bike runs a fair bit hotter since I fitted the S-moto rad guard, even on a cool day. The mesh on mine has quite small holes, I estimate that it could reduce the airflow by perhaps up to half, which could present problems in an Australian summer. I think I will take it off tomorrow and see if it is possible to replace the mesh with a more open type.
