R&G Crash Bungs - results of a crash

[Al_Sweetman]

Mornin 'orgers. So many threads seem to be saying "are crash bungs worth it" that I thought I'd show you the pics of mine after my little scuffle with the road (it won unfortunately - no surprises).

Coming up to a roundabout in the v heavy rain at the start of September I was too close to the car in front. It suddenly braked due to a puddle (was a 4x4 so god forbid it goes through more than 1/8" water) and I braked too - felt the front wheel begin to slide so released and re-applied but in thinking about that I missed the chance to steer/dodge round the side. With this realisation I braked again and just hoped it wouldn't let go - it did. It was entirely my own fault. I braked too sharply without letting the forks compress first, I focussed on the rear of the car rather than the escape route, and I was too close. Lesson learnt.

Speed must have been around 20/25 mph, and it was a vertical -> sideways slam down rather than the graceful low-sides people tend to show.

Only damage to bike (apart from indicator) was my fairing which was already fecked (held together with fibreglass mapping from a few years ago - not very strong and most fairing lugs broken anyway on R.H side), my brake resevoir (courtesy of the tankbag and lappie flying across the road), and a ding on my handlebar weights. Most damage was to my pride and a quick wake up call as to the relative braking performances of car vs bike when wet and tired.

The bung on the other hand has definitely seen better days - amazed at the bend angle of the bolt holding to the frame.

Pics below.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/5016780155_203b96a66f_d.jpg
Nicely graunched! Seeing the bubbling below makes me think I should really replace my water pump??! Thoughts?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5016780057_f9ef1d6906_d.jpg
The bent bar! Bit worried about how much rust appears to be on it - will have a closer inspection when I remove it!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5016780003_5ebe5b993d_d.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5017386678_18f34be7e7_d.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/5016779883_f1572e6279_d.jpg
More 'bend' angles. Amazed it didn't snap.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5017386574_10072c0a37_d.jpg
Damage to the bar end weight - virtually none!

Not too bad all things considering - ususal suspects such as engine casing, rad, footlevers etc. were absolutely fine! Exhaust is scratched, but it was like that originally so meh - going to replace it after winter and put an R&G exhaust protector on it.

HTH!

Al.

[maviczap]

Its done its job, good, I've got R&G's fitted

[AndyBrad]

That bend is nothing like mine :) and that was a similar situation. Dont wory there designed to bend and not snap.

[Al_Sweetman]

More piccies!

Managed to get the bung off - bit lopsided!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/5017470601_d20a7e2bcb_d.jpg

Looking closely, it seems to have rusted back up inside the bung! Unfortunately I can't get the bolt out without some serious metal manipulation...

Yet more piccies:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5018076960_bec303b836_d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4103/5018076858_b0928a21f4_d.jpg

[dizzyblonde]

Thats where R&Gs fail every time. Motosliders, however are mounted on a bar that goes right through the engine, so don't bend on a naff bit of bolt. They still scuff the same, but live for another day(not that you wanted to do it in the first place or again)

I have R&Gs on the Raptor, it came with them, I wouldn't have bought them for it, unfortunately they are the only ones you can get for it too and they don't fit properly on one side.. I had to chop a lump off as the water pump hose was squashed flat!

[Nick_69]

When i had an accident bit like urs but a little faster mine did the same but pritty much saved the bike from bike from a lot more damage

[muffles]

I wouldn't say that's a failure of the bung myself? Mine did exactly that on the CBR @ ~20mph and it saved the bike. Replace bung job done pretty much!

[AndyBrad]

there you go.

there supposed to do that. if they dont youll be fishing the bolt out of the casing which wont be fun.

Motosliders are just a long bit of threaded bar but they do the job.

[Al_Sweetman]

OK you win the angle competition hh

Still a bit concerned the way mine seem to have rusted inside though - under closer inspection it's only surface rust; they've been on for 4 years in all weathers!

I'm definitely an advocate of these babies after the way they protected my bike most recently.

[punyXpress]

re: Water Pump
Looks like so many of them do: paint damaged so alloy furs up.

[Al_Sweetman]

re: Water Pump
Looks like so many of them do: paint damaged so alloy furs up.

Phew - I thought there was a leak underneath the paint somewhere which was causing it to bubble - having read the Haynes this morning though I know that if it was a leak there'd be much more happening than just a little bubbling paint!

Think this could well be a call for Silver Hammerite Smooth and a wire brush.

Al.

[punyXpress]

[QUOTE=Al_Sweetman;2376428]Phew - I thought there was a leak underneath the paint somewhere which was causing it to bubble - having read the Haynes this morning though I know that if it was a leak there'd be much more happening than just a little bubbling paint!

Think this could well be a call for Silver Hammerite Smooth and a wire brush. < < < --- :winner:

[Stingo]

Thats where R&Gs fail every time. Motosliders, however are mounted on a bar that goes right through the engine, so don't bend on a naff bit of bolt. some stuff..

bit more stuff!

My R&G's have a bar that goes through all the way...maybe I'm different, just like my mum told me I was.

[Al_Sweetman]

No - not different, just special ;-)

From what I could understand, motosliders don't have the black bracket that the bung then bolts on to - I think they bolt straight onto to the upper retaining engine bar?

If it is that, and that breaks/snaps, I'd much rather have to remove a stub of bar from "our" clamps than from the engine support bar...

Al.