Skid plates for R1200GS and GSA water cooled bikes

I haven't heard a lot about skid plates in the other farkles threads, so...

Here's a list of the skid plates currently available for the water cooled R1200GS and GSA.

Altrider
Black Dog
BMW
Happy Trails
OEM (stock) you don't need a link.
SW-Motech
Touratech
Wunderlich
Other?

In addition to the poll, what are your thoughts and opinions about the skid plates?

It would also be great info what fender extender worked with each skid plate.
Smitty

BMW - the big one. No issues in Maroco.

Fender Wunderlich: ok with the GS LC but not ok with my new GSA LC.

Altrider for 2014 GSA. I think it has the best design and mounting. I also like I can change the oil without pulling the plate or doing surgery like I would have needed to on the other plates.

AltRider for sure.

Posted my thoughts (and pics) in this thread.

As stated above, the mounting points and design are well thought out.

Not sure if the front fender-extender would work with this plate though. The OEM front fender looks like it overhangs the front of the plate, so I don't know if there'd be any room for an extender...

Using the OEM for now, might consider another option later if I feel I need enhanced protection.

I got AltRider's skid plate and crash bars for my 2013, and wrote it up here: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=958437

Big thumbs up to those guys and the quality of their products.

BMW skid plate + MachineArt fender extender + Cymarc R1200GS LC/LC Adventure Crud Catcher. All fits ok.




pd: my first post, from Spain

I have an AltRider plate and a Machineart Moto Fender Extender. It's close but there are no clearance issues.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Two things surprise me about the results so far:

1. The number of people that run the OEM plate.
2. The low number for the TouraTech plate... isn't there some unwritten law about buying TouraTech for your BMW?

So, I have a confession. I bought the Altrider plate awhile back and was unhappy with the product. The edges on mine were really sharp. I was concerned about cutting myself while installing it and changing the oil. I think it's reasonable to expect that on a part this expensive, and otherwise of very high quality, that the edges be rounded. I sent it back and got a refund, so no harm no foul, but now I'm without a good off-road skid plate.

I'm not really happy with the other options.

• The Black Dog provides good coverage, but if you're fitting it to an Adventure, you have to cut the front fender 1" to avoid interference with the rubber bumpers. Also, the rear of the skid plate is fastened to the frame with hose clamps. Maybe the hose clamp is sufficient, but something about that idea doesn't ring true.
• TouraTech seems to have done a decent job with their skid plate in terms of protection, but there's a crazy number of bolts to unfasten for an oil change, and I'm not sure about those poly sliders. It seems like they might get buggered-up and become difficult to remove.
• The BMW and SW-Motech seem ok, but the bolts are somewhat exposed.

At the moment, I'm not sure which of these options is the lesser evil. Thanks again for the votes and opinions.

Happy hunting Vector!

Interesting. I did not notice that when I installed mine, and naturally I had to handle it a lot when doing so. Will have to go out to the garage and have a feel. It may be worth mentioning that one does not need to remove or otherwise handle or remove the AltRider skid plate when changing the oil on the water cooled boxer, so it is unclear to me how this would be an issue.

While you don't have to remove the skid plate to do an oil change, you will have to stick you fingers through the access hole on the bottom of the plate to get at the oil drain plug. I thought the edges were too sharp to safely do this on the plate I received.

I've talked to a few people with the Altrider skid plate, and some report sharp edges while others report smooth edges. Overall, I think the Altrider is the best design. Perhaps I should give it another try and ask them to make sure the edges are smooth before they ship it to me.

To those of you that have the larger after market BMW skid plate:



It looks like the rear of the skid plate mounts to the frame on a cross member that is above the catalytic converter.

Is that true?
How easy is it to mount?
Is it thicker than the stock plate?
Are you happy with it?

Thanks for your time.

I just installed a happy trails skid plate on my camhead and it's a HUGE improvement over stock. Cheaper than most of the competition as well. It also attaches to the frame rather than the engine which is very important to me.

Ummmmm buy another Altrider but ask Altrider to attend to the sharp edges????

Anyone out there try the Twalcom skid plate??

Has anyone tried a Ricochet on a LC GSA? I'm in the market for a skid plate also, but the prices are all over the board, and not a ton of reviews / pictures that I'm finding out there for the less well known brands.

Just order another Altrider and be careful when installing it. Once its on, you shouldn't have to fool with it.

Just curious, Why does your poll have the comment by blackdog that multiple votes are allowed?
While I'm sure it' not true, it might make one think this somehow a thinly veiled trolling expedition for your buddies in Sandpoint... but i guess that would be just paranoid,

My blackdog required a little fussing to put on my 08 adv,, I saw your commnets about fendor mods and hose clamps, what model gs adv do you have?

I like my BDCW skid plate, and its the bomb!