First Accessory to Purchase - Crash Bars

[Funbobby]

Hi All,

New guy to the VFR1200X forum. After thousands of miles riding touring bikes (BMW K1200LT and K1600GT), I’m taking my riding in a new direction with the purchase of a new 2017 VFR 1200X DCT. My intention is to ride the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route (MABDR) in June 2020. I have limited off-road riding experience and plan to use the winter months to accessorize the VFR and increase off-road riding experience.

The first accessory I intend to purchase is crash bars. Performing a search on the forum, I found references to SW Mototech, Givi, Tourateh, Hepco & Becker, and R & G crash bars installed on forum members’ VFRs. I’m hoping the wisdom of the list has a preference for a crash bar manufacturer. Suggestions?

Rob,
Navarre, FL
IBA# 606

[Sureshot]

Hey
I’m located over in Crawfordville near Tallahassee. I have the Touratech bars on my Crosstourers... however they have been discontinued by Touratech. If you are interested, I have a new set of the Hepco and Becker bars, black powder coated. Never been installed. New cost is $274. I’ll let them go for $150.
Roger

[Red Boll]

I also want to invest in some "crashbars". I think I will go for the SW Motech ones, not decided yet.
Main purpose will be, i hope, the tougher looks and a mounting platform for action cams. 

But should your first off-road upgrade not be some off-road capable tires? 

[Funbobby]

Originally Posted by Red Boll

But should your first off-road upgrade not be some off-road capable tires? 

#Red Boll, good point, but I don’t consider off-road tires an optional accessory. They are a requirement.

Rob,
Navarre, FL
IBA# 606

[Funbobby]

Originally Posted by Sureshot

Hey
I’m located over in Crawfordville near Tallahassee. I have the Touratech bars on my Crosstourers... however they have been discontinued by Touratech. If you are interested, I have a new set of the Hepco and Becker bars, black powder coated. Never been installed. New cost is $274. I’ll let them go for $150.
Roger

I’ve ridden through Crawfordville a couple of times.

Is there a reason you mounted the Touratech bars versus the Hepco & Becker bars? Will the H&B bars install on the VFR without modifications to the bars or VFR? Also, can a skid plate be installed with the H&B crash bars?

I know, lots of questions.

Thanks,

Rob,
Navarre, FL
IBA# 606

[Sureshot]

I had ordered the Touratech bars to match the side case racks. None were available so I decided on the Hepco and Becker and ordered them. The Hepco bars arrived and couple of days later, Touratech located one of the last sets of their bars in the world so I ordered them.
I decided to go with the Touratech mainly because I had been using their stuff on my other VFRXs as well as on past BMWs. The Hepco bars appear to be of the same quality as the TT.
No modification to the motorbike needed. Skid plate should bolt up with no problem.
Roger

[Funbobby]

PM sent.

Rob,
Navarre, FL
IBA# 606

[Rex]

I'm pretty sure that the best crash bars available on the market for VFR1200X are Mmoto units: http://www.mmotoracks.com/product/engine-guard-crash-bars-for-dct-for-honda-vfr1200x-crosstourer

I've heard only good things about this crashbars from users on their VFR1200Xs. BTW, you can buy this bars almost 2 times cheaper on the Ukrainian version of their website: http://mmoto.com.ua/product/engine-guards-crash-bar-for-dct-for-honda-vfr1200x-crosstourer