640 Enduro Radiator Guards

clintnz · 04-17-2005, 10:40 PM

Made these up the other day, I'd bent the radiators in a couple of very minor offs & thought some protection was required before the next trail ride - their main purpose is to support the side panels so they don't bend the rads inwards when the bike falls over. Made from 12mm steel tubing & 3mm thick flat with some rubber buffers to keep them from being pushed into the radiators. After some extensive testing the other weekend I can report that they work very well.

The mudguard rubs slightly, but I think I can adjust it away. I had to trim away a small portion of the plastic louvers to access the inner bolts. but otherwise it's bolt on.

Cheers
Clint

meat popsicle · 04-18-2005, 05:44 AM

Dang Clint those look great! And you actually get mud on yer bike too...

Maybe you should be an aftermarket parts designer?

creeper · 04-18-2005, 11:54 AM

I do believe Clint may have himself a "product" there... any other LC4 E/SXC/RXC etc. owners out there that would like to see Clint crank off a few for them... or are you just going to steal his design and run like hell?

dagwood · 04-18-2005, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creeper

I do believe Clint may have himself a "product" there... any other LC4 E/SXC/RXC etc. owners out there that would like to see Clint crank off a few for them... or are you just going to steal his design and run like hell?

Cue pink floyd...

I just nailed a 2x4 in place. werks fine

Cool idea clint. no I won't steal your patent. whip a few out and see what the conensus is.

I bet you could sell a few.

clintnz · 04-18-2005, 01:30 PM

You'd better RUN!...

Nah, seriously, steal away, I've barely got time to make bits for my own bike, let alone other peoples. Shipping & the fact that I'm excruciatingly slow at fabricating stuff would mean there wouldn't be much profit in it. Just buy me a beer when I make it to the States.
I have to take them off to give them another coat of paint sometime so I'll post more pics and a few dimensions then if anybody needs further clues on how to make their own. Getting the bends in just the right place was a little time consuming but there was no rocket science or expensive tooling required anywhere.

Cheers
Clint

CatBus · 04-18-2005, 07:38 PM

Those look great. The bottom of my left radiator on my 625SXC is bent almost to the frame. It isn't leaking, and I'm not overheating, and I don't have the time for down-time right now.

What a terrible design though. Why would they make the radiator a structural item is beyond me. "Hey, if the bike tips over the radiator can take the blow!" This is even worse on the SXC since the shrouds bolt directly to the radiators. At least on the 18 and 27L tanks the tank can take some of the force.

I wish I had known about this when I bought the bike. Now I need to get both radiators straightened before I can add some guards. An ounce of prevention...

If your radiators are straight, get guards now.

Does anyone have suggestions for good aftermarket guards that will not significantly affect air flow? Are there any made that can be used with the fan?

Baarrrrrrryyyyy · 02-07-2007, 02:50 PM

I have been considering these guards for the LC4 radiators, but I might have to modify a bit to fit the cooling fan, or leave off the rear support, as the SXC doesn't have a fan. I have already made a couple of supports to go completely accross the radiator (sorry no pic right now), a bit of lathe time, and they worked ok, but I'm thinking of improvement.

http://www.forceaccessories.com.au/Page/KTM4S.htm

http://www.forceaccessories.com.au/Page/KTM625.htm

Figured since this was in the thread index its a good place to tag it in.

ram1000 · 02-07-2007, 03:04 PM

Well done...

flux_capacitor · 07-23-2008, 04:08 PM

Maybe I missed it (I am a mere mortal after all!) in the bleeping thread index, but I'm on the hunt for radiator protection for an 03 625 SXC. Any leads?

Many thanks.

meat popsicle · 07-23-2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flux_capacitor

Maybe I missed it (I am a mere mortal after all!) in the bleeping thread index, but I'm on the hunt for radiator protection for an 03 625 SXC. Any leads?

Many thanks.

Hmmm, they have come up here and there, but you might be right about not having all the info organized... so as I recall one of the better options is the Bullet Proof Designs setup:

http://shop.bulletproofdesigns.com/p...9&categoryId=9

It looks like Chris Blais' company is a Bullet Proof Designs reseller:

http://blaisracingservices.com/bille.../prod_545.html

There might have been others, and folks making their own, which is indexed.

flux_capacitor · 07-24-2008, 04:02 PM

Thanks dude. I did come across the home made ones like what Clint made which BTW look really good. I wish I could weld...I might go learn as I have alot of ideas but no way to do any of them...also, wouldn't it be great to be able to machine things? My buddy got one of cjracer's clear clutch covers for his SE and that thing is a work of art.

Anyway, I'll check out the links you posted. Many thanks David.

SASR · 07-24-2008, 09:27 PM

Sweet design Clint!

theGrinch · 02-25-2011, 04:29 PM

Building mine now!

Thanks for the great idea Clint!

laramie LC4 · 02-25-2011, 04:37 PM

please remember to share. we are all ears.....

laramie

theGrinch · 02-26-2011, 01:56 PM

After buying Hard parts that don't fit I decided to make my version of Clints original idea.

Here's what I started with.

04-17-2005, 10:40 PM	#1
clintnz ^OP Trans-Global Chook Chaser Joined: May 2004 Location: Rotoiti, New Zealand Oddometer: 2,735	640 Enduro Radiator Guards Made these up the other day, I'd bent the radiators in a couple of very minor offs & thought some protection was required before the next trail ride - their main purpose is to support the side panels so they don't bend the rads inwards when the bike falls over. Made from 12mm steel tubing & 3mm thick flat with some rubber buffers to keep them from being pushed into the radiators. After some extensive testing the other weekend I can report that they work very well. The mudguard rubs slightly, but I think I can adjust it away. I had to trim away a small portion of the plastic louvers to access the inner bolts. but otherwise it's bolt on. Cheers Clint __________________ '03 KTM 640 LC4 Enduro The wilderness, the desert - why are they not crowded .................................................. .....with pilgrims?

04-18-2005, 05:44 AM	#2
meat popsicle Ignostic Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Circumlocution Office of Little Dorrit Oddometer: 13,872	Dang Clint those look great! And you actually get mud on yer bike too... Maybe you should be an aftermarket parts designer? __________________ Kronreif Trunkenpolz Mattighofen LC4 640 Its not so much staying alive; its staying human that counts.

04-18-2005, 01:30 PM	#5
clintnz ^OP Trans-Global Chook Chaser Joined: May 2004 Location: Rotoiti, New Zealand Oddometer: 2,735	Handcock Hardparts - strictly open source You'd better RUN!... Nah, seriously, steal away, I've barely got time to make bits for my own bike, let alone other peoples. Shipping & the fact that I'm excruciatingly slow at fabricating stuff would mean there wouldn't be much profit in it. Just buy me a beer when I make it to the States. I have to take them off to give them another coat of paint sometime so I'll post more pics and a few dimensions then if anybody needs further clues on how to make their own. Getting the bends in just the right place was a little time consuming but there was no rocket science or expensive tooling required anywhere. Cheers Clint __________________ '03 KTM 640 LC4 Enduro The wilderness, the desert - why are they not crowded .................................................. .....with pilgrims?

02-07-2007, 03:04 PM	#8
ram1000 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2004 Location: Northeastern Oregon Oddometer: 1,714	Well done... __________________ Chrome and noise are no reason to ride a motorcycle! :2002 KTM 640 DS :2003 Suzuki GSXR1000 :2005.5 KTM 950 :2007 VStrom 1000 :2008 DR650 :2009 Aprilia DorsoDuro :2009 KLR 650 :more to come

07-24-2008, 09:27 PM	#12
SASR Kopfjager Joined: Apr 2007 Location: Olalla, WA Oddometer: 150	Sweet design Clint! __________________ "Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter. You will meet them doing various things with resolve, but their interest rarely holds because after the other thing ordinary life is as flat as the taste of wine when the taste buds have been burned off your tongue."

04-18-2005, 11:54 AM	#3
creeper Still alive... Joined: Dec 2003 Location: Puget Sound Oddometer: 10,718	I do believe Clint may have himself a "product" there... any other LC4 E/SXC/RXC etc. owners out there that would like to see Clint crank off a few for them... or are you just going to steal his design and run like hell?

04-18-2005, 07:38 PM	#6
CatBus Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Lexington, KY Oddometer: 139	Those look great. The bottom of my left radiator on my 625SXC is bent almost to the frame. It isn't leaking, and I'm not overheating, and I don't have the time for down-time right now. What a terrible design though. Why would they make the radiator a structural item is beyond me. "Hey, if the bike tips over the radiator can take the blow!" This is even worse on the SXC since the shrouds bolt directly to the radiators. At least on the 18 and 27L tanks the tank can take some of the force. I wish I had known about this when I bought the bike. Now I need to get both radiators straightened before I can add some guards. An ounce of prevention... If your radiators are straight, get guards now. Does anyone have suggestions for good aftermarket guards that will not significantly affect air flow? Are there any made that can be used with the fan?

02-07-2007, 02:50 PM	#7
Baarrrrrrryyyyy A guy with a plan Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Oddometer: 25	I have been considering these guards for the LC4 radiators, but I might have to modify a bit to fit the cooling fan, or leave off the rear support, as the SXC doesn't have a fan. I have already made a couple of supports to go completely accross the radiator (sorry no pic right now), a bit of lathe time, and they worked ok, but I'm thinking of improvement. http://www.forceaccessories.com.au/Page/KTM4S.htm http://www.forceaccessories.com.au/Page/KTM625.htm Figured since this was in the thread index its a good place to tag it in.

07-23-2008, 04:08 PM	#9
flux_capacitor I know a shortcut! Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Dawsonville, GA Oddometer: 9,478	Maybe I missed it (I am a mere mortal after all!) in the bleeping thread index, but I'm on the hunt for radiator protection for an 03 625 SXC. Any leads? Many thanks.

07-24-2008, 04:02 PM	#11
flux_capacitor I know a shortcut! Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Dawsonville, GA Oddometer: 9,478	Thanks dude. I did come across the home made ones like what Clint made which BTW look really good. I wish I could weld...I might go learn as I have alot of ideas but no way to do any of them...also, wouldn't it be great to be able to machine things? My buddy got one of cjracer's clear clutch covers for his SE and that thing is a work of art. Anyway, I'll check out the links you posted. Many thanks David.

02-25-2011, 04:29 PM	#13
theGrinch SNF Dream Riders Joined: Jan 2011 Location: behind the Orange curtain Oddometer: 1,021	Bump Building mine now! Thanks for the great idea Clint!

02-25-2011, 04:37 PM	#14
laramie LC4 crash test dummy! Joined: Sep 2004 Location: Tucson, Az Oddometer: 2,096	please remember to share. we are all ears..... laramie __________________ DON'T TRUST CUT 7! HE IS A CROOK! ASK ME HOW I KNOW. '12 LC8 990R, '02 LC4 640, '05 WR 450f (part-out), '98 XR400R, '76 KE100, '05 525 (Step-Child)

02-26-2011, 01:56 PM	#15
theGrinch SNF Dream Riders Joined: Jan 2011 Location: behind the Orange curtain Oddometer: 1,021	The Build, Part #1 After buying Hard parts that don't fit I decided to make my version of Clints original idea. Here's what I started with. Attached Images

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