The next protection I wanted to install on my Aprilia Tuono V4 Factory 1100 was a guard for the coolant and oil radiators. It often happens that small stones appear on the road and get thrown by the front wheel toward one of the radiators, potentially causing damage. In most cases, the radiator remains intact, perhaps losing a fraction of its cooling efficiency due to bent fins, but occasionally, a stone can pierce the radiator and end a trip abruptly. I wanted this protection to be made of aluminum, and after some research, I found a wide selection on the market including inexpensive options on AliExpress and well known brands like Evotech Performance . However, I discovered that the German company 2Wheels-Company offers a very similar product at a competitive price, with the added advantage of a free return option in case it didn’t fit or meet expectations.
After installing the frame sliders, it was time to choose some protection for the wheel axles, specifically for the front and rear forks of the motorcycle. I considered options from GSG, R&G, and several other manufacturers, but eventually decided on the LighTech wheel axle sliders . From the photos, they didn’t look particularly robust, yet I opted for them primarily for aesthetic reasons. Some protection is still better than none, so I was ready for that compromise.
After a little more than a year, I began seriously considering selling my Triumph Rocket 3 Storm R. Many will wonder why, since it’s a true motorcycle icon, but the simple answer is, it just wasn’t the right bike for me.
I have been familiar with the French company Top Block Racing (TBR) for several years. My first encounter with their products was when I acquired frame sliders for my BMW K1300R, a bike I rode from 2014 until the autumn of 2023. Recently, while searching for frame sliders for my new Kawasaki H2 SX SE, I discovered that TBR manufactures them for this model as well. Despite some uncertainty from a German dealer regarding compatibility with the 2023 model, I decided to place an order, knowing they fit models from 2018 to 2022. Unfortunately, the sliders did not fit my bike, possibly due to minor changes in the frame or thicker welds. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to write about these frame sliders because of their exceptional aesthetics and high quality.
Are you wondering who would ever write a blog of installation of some rubbery impact protectors for some motorcycle’s side cases? I completely understand you. 😀
So why did I write this? I recently bought K1600GT and started looking for some aftermarket parts. But I was surprised that there are actually not many information about some of the products, very often no pictures or just bad quality ones, no videos, quite strange. This specially applies BMW genuine parts. Some forums contain some information but very often without any pictures. All this makes decision to buy something or not very difficult.
