So glad to hear it! Ya, its not always obvious, but a good understanding of manufacturing or basic physics can be really important when deciding what to purchase. We pride ourselves on thoughtful design and glad to hear you appreciate it!
Very good explanation. However, we have been seeing here in Brazil a failure in many Africa Twin crashbars that don’t include a holding point onto the frame of the bike. When you fall on let’s say on a 20 km/h speed off road , you hit the front bar. As a consequence , the force moves the crashbar from the front towards the Back of the bike. The crashbars (Givi etc) don’t protect the fairing properly. Eventhough SW-MOTECH’s crash bar uses a flatbar, it’s the only one that included a mounting point onto the frame of the bike. The Africa twin riders here have been looking for this particular engineering.
I'm no expert but I've dropped my 2017 CRF1000L several times on both sides from speeds ranging from 5-20mph and once around 35mph+ with SW Motech lower crash bars and they held up just fine.
Excellent video and explanation. I’m very happy with and fascinated by my AltRider gear including the full crash bar set, skid plate, and radiator guards. I’ve also had excellent customer service from AltRider. I’m very happy to be using AltRider products. My Africa Twin sees heavy action and spends a fair amount of time on its side and I can say these bars do their job extremely well. I’m interested to see in this video some of the thought that goes into engineering them.
Neat video and I agree with the principle for sure, if nothing else its logical. However 2 quick things of note: I have the Outback Mototek bars (full set) and went down on pavement trying to slide the ass end loose like a fool. So at least mid RPM in 2nd with a full boot of throttle and low sided for a bit. End result? No damage to the bike, and while the bars were scratched and the uppers in about a half an inch, now after a paint its not noticeable. Point being: Full slide on pavement at speed didnt compromise the bars. the 2nd being access. Your kit seems to leave much more access to work on the bike when/if needed and the SW does not. However it also appears to provide more protection? Either way I have Alt-Rider gear all over as well as SW (and Touratech) but love to represent a great PNW company so keep it up!!!
Thanks for the complements! We pride ourselves on having thoughtful design… We’re certainly not suggesting that the other brands don’t offer any protection. It’s great that your bars protected your bike in the low side crash! It’s possible they may not the next time. Our goal is to educate our community about design and manufacturing principles that may not be immediately obvious. The more educated our audience is, the more informed their choices will be. Thanks for your support!
@@AltRiderLLC I appreciate your response! I want to clarify that I didn't perceive you as dismissing other manufacturers' work. Your explanation actually helped me realize that even products with less meticulous engineering can still work in certain situations. While it may not be the ideal or correct solution, it worked for me at that moment. I understand that your goal is to educate the community about design and manufacturing principles that may not be immediately obvious. I think it is both fascinating and a great way to share knowledge that otherwise wouldn't be available!
Kinda wish you guys also made a rear pannier rack. Not many companies use stainless. E.g. if I go touratech for rear panier and you guys at the front the color of the stainless is all different. I know I know its just cosmetic. Still, would have loved it all being from you guys where I can just order all my bike protection from one company and the design language all match
@@AltRiderLLC Yeah added a few things to my cart.Just waiting for stock on one item. Why don't you guys just do sandblasted stainless rather than painted?
All of our colored crash bars (everything other than silver) are powder coated. Powder coat is much, much more durable than paint. And we always offer a silver bead blasted stainless with all our crash bars
With the lower crash bar only, will it protect/support the bike from laying down in its side when stationary (ie. Accidentally dropping when parking for example)?
Yes, if you lay down the bike with just the lowers crash bars installed the bike will rest on the lower bars and the handle bars and keep the engine and plastics of the ground. Obviously as you start to add speed to that equation the lowers by itself can't protect everything. But the lowers offer the most critical protection and can be "enough" for many riders who don't need the most rugged protection
Yes - the 1100 crash bars fit 2020 - current models (both standard and Adventure Sports). We don't have pictures of the shifter, but they fit great with plenty of room for the shifter. Our old revision was a little tight by the shifter, but that was resolved quite a while ago. Here is the product page: www.altrider.com/altrider-crash-bars-for-the-honda-crf1100l-africa-twin/pid/3300/cid/1
That's a great suggestion, we've discussed ways to try and simulate a real world crash safely, but the fact is there ar countless variables that go into the countless ways you can crash Pushing the bike and letting it fall over really doesn't simulate a real crash. First, it's a pretty easy crash to protect against (forces against the bars will be relatively low) and second, you'll probably never see a "real" crash that looks like that
@@AltRiderLLC I totally agree and that's why I havnt bought a set of crash bars for my bike yet because all the reviews I watch and these crash tests aren't really life situation I mean how are these crash bars to protect my bikes engine when for a rock going through the gap in between the bars ?m
Another good question, the simple fact is you can't protect it from everything and still have a maneuverable bike - the scenario you mentioned is unlikely, but still possible. We put a lot of thought into what provides great protection for the widest range of possibilities that might be considered "normal" crashes. One of our main motivations in creating videos like this is to educate our customers about design and manufacturing choices and what the consequences might be of said choices.
@@AltRiderLLC that's very true it's education that will help all types of riders I commend you for this !! How ever it may be the ADHD in me but I have the BMW r1200gs and have the cylinder head covers for obvious reasons and I am looking at one set of crash bars because of this very reason now I was offered a trade for an Africa twin crf 1100 so that's why I started looking for the crash protection because as new to this scene and inexperienced as I am I'm still pushing it to go off road we did about 60 miles out of a 162 off road just last Sunday and also another 35 on Wednesday it's why I've become so interested in this whole scene it's so muc fun but I believe in giving my bike the best chance of survival incase the worst happens i do quite enjoy going off road and find myself looking for it more and more but I see exactly what you are saying about the stress points on some crash bars and I taught to myself that's not Gona hold up I've seen many crashes over the past 18 years of riding and the one thing I do now is that cheaper sort cuts is not the way to go !! You make the covers/ skid plate to stop rocks might hit the engine on the BMW that bolt on to your lower crash bars !! Do you make versions of this for other ranges of bikes or is it just not necessary ??
The BMW Boxer engine is quite a unique design in the moto world. And because it hangs out and is so exposed we made cylinder head guards. But the Africa Twin (and most bikes) don't have their engine hanging out in such a unique way, so we feel crash bars provide optimal protection and we haven't felt the need for something similar on the AT
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us and we appreciate your engagement in our community. We understand that pricing can be a sensitive topic, so we’d like to shed some light on why our premium parts sometimes come with a higher price tag. Quality and Craftsmanship: Our commitment to excellence drives us to create parts that exceed industry standards. From intelligent designs to meticulous manufacturing, we invest in quality materials and precision engineering. Each part undergoes rigorous testing to ensure safety, durability, and performance. We believe in delivering products that riders can trust, even in the most demanding conditions. Research and Development: Innovation doesn’t happen overnight. Our team invests significant time and resources in research, development, and continuous improvement. Customer Support and Education: We’re not just selling parts; we’re building relationships. Our commitment extends beyond the transaction and where possible we try to offer tool tips and other helpful insights that can make installation easier, or improve your riding experience Long-Term Value: While the initial investment might be higher, consider the long-term value. Our parts are designed to last, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Quality pays off over time, both in terms of performance and peace of mind. In the end, we respect every rider’s budget and choices. We’re here to serve our community, and we appreciate your feedback. Ride safe! 🏍️✨
@@AltRiderLLC Well, only now do I understand completely the point of quality engineered crash protection. Ironic how just days after looking at your equipment and scoffing at the price have I had my first real ejection from a motorcycle. The stock crash bars bent, skid plate didn't save the case and my bars are bent. The Africa Twin is far more capable than I, time to save up for adequate protection before attempting anything close to today's ride. Quality equipment saves expensive repairs that far outweigh an upfront investment. Now I understand.
Oh no! It sounds like you're okay... Ya quality protection is worth the price. And definitely don't skimp on proper riding gear and protection for yourself! We should all assume that it''s not IF we'll go down, but WHEN we'll go down. Hopefully you and your Africa Twin have many more adventures together! Are you active in any online ADV communities? Do you have any photos you can share - if you do we'd love to hear more of your story. You could email us!
