PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

Posted on by admin

Table of contents

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
Henniges

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

7th pictures

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
Wiessmann

1/7
Picture gallery, technology: Are crash pads in
makes sense in each case?

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
Katrin Sdun

2/7
These crash pads are not attached directly to the frame, but to adapter plates that can bend in the event of an impact.

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
Rolf Henniges

3/7
It is not advisable to use such directly screwed pads with high leverage.

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
SW-Motech

4/7
Crash pads as an axle extension protect the fork base or swing arm from expensive damage.

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
www.factstudio.de

5/7
Carbon shells protect the frame and swing arm from “gravel blasting”.

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
Carbonadi.de

6/7
The motor protectors (here carbonadi.de) are tattered, but the housing is tight.

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads
www.factstudio.de

7/7
PS technology expert and motorcycle whisperer Werner “Mini” Koch is constantly tinkering and tinkering himself in his own workshop, and no technology topic is too confused for him. And if he doesn’t really know what to do, he knows exactly where to ask.

accesories

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

PS reader question about motorcycle technology
Fall pads make sense in any case?

Content of

Johannes Hanfland would like to know from the PS team whether crash pads are always useful? Or can these make the consequences of a fall even worse? Does the fairing alone protect the frame and engine even better? PS technology understanding Werner “Mini” Koch provides the answers.

Werner Koch

07/12/2016

Hello PS team, are crash pads always useful? Or can these make the consequences of a fall even worse? Does the fairing alone protect the frame and engine even better? Johannes Hanfland

Buy complete article

PS reader question about motorcycle technology crash pads

PS reader question about motorcycle technology
Fall pads make sense in any case?

2 pages) as PDF

€ 2.00

Buy now

PS answer:

In fact, fall protectors can cause massive damage if they are screwed too rigidly to the frame or engine. It is not uncommon for such constructions to irreparably destroy the frame and the motor housing. The protectors made of solid plastic round material, which were often self-made in the past, were screwed to the engine bolts and protruded far beyond the silhouette of the motorcycle. As long as it slid along the asphalt, such protectors also did little damage. However, if the plastic cylinder got stuck in the curbs or water drainage channels, the long lever arm cracked the frame-fixed screw connection together with the motor housing behind it.

Therefore, protectors should always be mounted as close as possible to the motor housing or frame. Basically, it is not advisable to use accessory components that protrude directly from the engine stud with long metal sleeves and plastic caps that protrude over the fairing. What at first glance looks as if this sweeping construction actually protects the side panels of the fairing can cause expensive damage if you just casually fall over.

Shock absorbers made of elastic plastic

These defective constructions have mostly been replaced today by protectors that are screwed onto an intermediate adapter or a flexible base plate. There is a possibility that these intermediate plates will bend under the force of the impact and destroy the energy introduced.

Some manufacturers install a kind of shock absorber made of soft, elastic plastic between the screw connection and the plastic protector, which can dampen the impact. However, the trend is currently towards elegant, but not always sensible, rectangular protectors with pronounced edges. If the motorcycle slides straight ahead at the intended angle, this design works. However, if the motorcycle turns at right angles to the flight path – which is not entirely unlikely in practice – the edges can hook in and damage the engine or frame via the screwing points. That is why round, edgeless and mushroom-shaped protective caps are the more sensible solution, even if they are not optically more elegant.

Round, edgeless and mushroom-shaped protective caps are useful

In order to actually protect the cladding from contact with the ground in the event of a fall, at least three contact points must protrude beyond the cladding surface. In most cases, one of them is a handlebar end that absorbs the impact with elastically inserted steel or plastic plugs and creates a sufficient distance from the asphalt.

On the swing arm and fork, the protectors screwed to the extension of the axles protect against ugly grinding marks or irreparable damage to the chassis suspension. Due to the short lever and the relatively large contact surface, such components do not cause any damage even if they get caught in the road surface.

Protect the swing arm from dents and quirks

Due to the wide bridge frame of most four-cylinder motorcycles, you cannot avoid the frame guards made of carbon or a Kevlar / carbon mix for regular and serious use on the racetrack. Although this coating does not protect the frame from any force in the event of an impact, the sensitive surface of the aluminum frame is spared from gravel blasting and small dents when riding horizontally through the gravel bed. In the case of road-legal machines, that’s a total write-off.

You should also protect the swingarm from ugly dents and quirks by attaching small protectors made of carbon, fiberglass or aluminum at the level of the footrests. Glued on with a layer of silicone, it prevents the footrest plate, which is bent inwards when falling, from damaging the swing arm. Above all, the beautiful, drawn aluminum sheet constructions should be protected from damage and thus loss of value with such covers.

Active fall prevention is to lay all overflow hoses for water, oil (from the air filter box) and tank in such a way that the liquids do not get onto the rear wheel in the event of an accident. Unfortunately, many motorcycles are delivered in such a way that a whole bundle of hoses ends in the middle behind the engine. Especially when the tank is overfull, it can quickly happen that fuel expands due to the heating and tries to find its way into the open via the overflow. A surge of gasoline robs the tire of any liability and can lead to a fall even when accelerating straight ahead.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *