Protect Your Rads

[M5-]

I guess it was only a matter of time. The Emperor Racing rad braces are awesome BUT, the strong ones don't have a front protection panel and use the stock plastic louvres. They make another model which has a grate but isn't nearly as beefy as the rad braces. So after lancing my rad I decided to protect the front as well. My buddy has the same rad braces and he smoked a tree straight on, tore all the plastic right off but the rad was fine thanks to the brace. Bottom line you need both if you spend any time in the trees. Those old burnt out forests are the worst.

M5

 

[coryf89]

I agree!!

this happened 2000 miles from home, almost broke my knee in the process. this is one of those cheap, $79 a pair ebay chinese rads... held up just fine and I rode for 2 more days like that.





now both bikes got rad guards! bulletproof on the snowbike and devol on the dirtbike. devol are way cheaper, a bit thinner... but would hold up to anything just as fine.

 

[summitboy]

Those look sweet Pauly ! Nice

 

[chumbilly1]

SRT is a BPD knockoff, but work the same and cost less. And IMHO the best design for radiator protection.

 

[needpowder]

Nice m5!

I really like my Enduro Engineering guards. They’re kind of spendy but they came on the bike when I bought it. They have a little space in between the radiators and guard where my plastic slides in and out perfectly. With the handle on the plastic I can adjust it while I’m riding. Sometimes on climbs i’ll pull it up halfway and then push it back down for downhill.

 

[Snowbikenewbie]

I bought the uni biker guards, very impressed so far and plastic shields slip behind as well.

 

[coryf89]

why do you guys run the plastic? no thermobob?

my rads are literally solid blocks of ice, especially between the rad guard and the rad itself. not sure how well the plastic would work for me.

 

[Snowbikenewbie]

Even with the thermostat I get lower temps without the plastic guards. I put them in before the whole thing iced up and they seem to work pretty well. I have cut a few different sizes depending on if I’m riding trails, off trail, powder, etc... it also matters how cold the ambient temps are. I’ve been fine tuning to get pretty consistent temps of 160 or so. Hoping to minimize the over fueling issue when cold. I usually only have problems in the deep powder days. When diving off trail the temps always drop a bit.

 

[SnowSkull]

Running Unabiker. Amazing product for the great value. Proven to save my rads, including on the race track. Have broken my plastics around the rad guards with zero damage to the rads (both sides too). $99 & made in the USA.

 

[needpowder]

Try it

why do you guys run the plastic? no thermobob?

my rads are literally solid blocks of ice, especially between the rad guard and the rad itself. not sure how well the plastic would work for me.

You will be surprised. I was. They make a huge difference. Sometimes I run one, sometimes both, or sometimes none. They are another tool for controlling your temperature. On cold blower pow days i usually run both along with my Engine jacket, thermo Bob, and foam around my engine.

 

[coryf89]

What’s the big deal if the bike runs a little cold during the day? I understand that some will overfuel a little. But is that really the end of the world if it drops below normal summer operating temps for a little while?? Don’t we all change our oil every ride anyways due to the overfueling?

I got a thermobob and that’s it. No engine cover. No rad covers. Have ridden in -28 with no problems so far with 40 engine hours

 

[Revv Up]

What’s the big deal if the bike runs a little cold during the day? I understand that some will overfuel a little. But is that really the end of the world if it drops below normal summer operating temps for a little while?? Don’t we all change our oil every ride anyways due to the overfueling?

I got a thermobob and that’s it. No engine cover. No rad covers. Have ridden in -28 with no problems so far with 40 engine hours

It becomes a problem when it overfuels enough to go past the rings and contaminate the oil, followed by seized pistons, rods coming through the block.....

Running low temperatures is a gamble, I have done it and gotten away with it but have started stacking the odds in my favour.

 

[coryf89]

It’ll really overfuel that quick. In one day? How about with aftermarket tuning and fuel controller?

I got nothing for warmth retention. I wonder if I sent my oil in what it would read. The level sure doesn’t raise significantly that’s for sure

 

[powdermuncher]

An other vote for Unabiker as well, Rad guard and front cover are one unit and the fit is better than any other guards that I have tried. They also seem to shed the ice very easy. Aluminium warms up and ice falls out. Less issues overheating on the trail.