Radiator guards

[TOTO]

I think that the alu. mesh bin from the warehouse sounds the biz... same stuff and dam cheap..... like someone said. Even comes with a rubber edge to finish off the ends. Then i will just relace as soon as it gets too shagged and dirty hehe

Great idea. Will be buying a bin tomorrow

[LBD]

Jest a word of caution...okay a few words.

The guard in the first pics look like SS wire mesh, though I may be wrong. Two things to watch with that,, Nice as it looks....

1) Keep it away from any aluminum because it is much harder and any vibration type movement will wear through thin aluminum quick as a flash.

2) Second concern with Stainless steel mesh. If you live near the coast or are not selective with detergents or not hosing it off properly, your SS mesh will last forever because SS is a very noble metal. Not so with your Aluminum, if your not careful you will set up a nice battery between the two, and in serious cases you can watch the aluminum fizzle away.

3) For the water cooled monster riders out there, watch out for the clearance between the radiator and the trailing lip of your $400 to $500 CF front mudguard. I broke about 4 inches of mine doing a serious stoppie...

[Renegade]

would your insurance cover this?? like a car windscreen is covered, surely if it costs $1400 for a radiator insurance would cover it.

[TOTO]

Ok I went today and bought me a bin for 10bux, cut it up to shape, and zip tied it. Quite pleased with the result

[LBD]

would your insurance cover this?? like a car windscreen is covered, surely if it costs $1400 for a radiator insurance would cover it.

Is a good question and if stone damage caused a hole then I would think so.

But I would prefer not to be parked on the side of the road with a holed radiator...at night...in the rain...out of phone coverage....50 miles from the nearest civilation

[Warr]

Ok I went today and bought me a bin for 10bux, cut it up to shape, and zip tied it. Quite pleased with the result

Top marks I say. And all within budget as well

[HenryDorsetCase]

That's a good idea.

But I think I'll just stick to oil & air cooled bikes.

you will need a guard for that big oil cooler you've got sitting out front.

I went to coulter wireworks and got a stainless mesh offcut for $5.

Suggested by AllanB on this forum and its worked a charm.

[yachtie10]

One person has commented on the size of the mesh and some of the ones I have seen pics of seem too small to me.
In my thinking the holes need to be quite big to allow decent airflow
this would depend on the bike and how it was ridden
how big could the holes be before it was too big?

I am looking for some mesh right now for my bike (I will have a look at warehouse)

[LBD]

One person has commented on the size of the mesh and some of the ones I have seen pics of seem too small to me.
In my thinking the holes need to be quite big to allow decent airflow
this would depend on the bike and how it was ridden
how big could the holes be before it was too big?

I am looking for some mesh right now for my bike (I will have a look at warehouse)

Hole size and wire or mesh size, its a ratio. However have a look at the radiator itself, most mesh will flow more air that the radiator, I should not be to concerned about the hole size...

[dipshit]

Try places like Ullrich Aluminium for some nice aluminium mesh screens. Aluminium is also much easier to cut down to the right size with a peer of side cutters.

[dipshit]

Hole size and wire or mesh size, its a ratio. However have a look at the radiator itself, most mesh will flow more air that the radiator, I should not be to concerned about the hole size...

Too small a mesh could create a boundary layer that could stop the majority of air flow through it. Mesh about the size or just slightly smaller than typical road chip would be ideal.

[LBD]

Too small a mesh could create a boundary layer that could stop the majority of air flow through it. Mesh about the size or just slightly smaller than typical road chip would be ideal.

To true, I tend to leave out that which is covered by common sense.

[dipshit]

To true, I tend to leave out that which is covered by common sense.

Then why did you say...

"most mesh will flow more air that the radiator, I should not be to concerned about the hole size"

Remember fine mesh is what is used as windbreak material.

[LBD]

Then why did you say...

"most mesh will flow more air that the radiator, I should not be to concerned about the hole size"

Remember fine mesh is what is used as windbreak material.

Cause common sense dictates you would not use wind break material for a radiator grill....or would you?Then again your name is dipshit....

[Badger8]

Ok I went today and bought me a bin for 10bux, cut it up to shape, and zip tied it. Quite pleased with the result

You never fail to impress me with your strange ideas mate

On a side note i have plenty of black mesh from repco (that racepro stuff) left over from when i did my little 250 back in the day. If anyone wants to shout me a beer they can drop by and make one for their steed