OEM case guards: Anyone scrape down?

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I just installed the OEM engine guards. They look pretty nice; I can't quite calculate if they will scrape down sooner than without them, though. Looks like they might, but one would think Honda would have thought about that.

I reinstalled the stock three-foot long (seems like it) peg feelers just to be a little on the safe side. Looks like all should be well but if anyone has these and has experienced any touching down, I'd be interested to know.

[Cormanus]

Someone once reported their engine guards touching down way too early. I forget now who it was and I don't thing they were the OEM ones. Might be worth a search.

Ah ... it was the Kijima bars— http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3172

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Someone once reported their engine guards touching down way too early. I forget now who it was and I don't thing they were the OEM ones. Might be worth a search.

Ah ... it was the Kijima bars— http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3172

Yes, that's my concern. Well, I'll go for a couple of rides and see. I don't mind adjusting my style a bit, I have the OEM peg feelers back on now. If they start to touch a little I can bump up the preload or just ease off. It's just that those bars are not going to have any "give". I'm pretty sure I have nothing to worry about but I'll take it really easy for a while. Thx for that tip.
I found this post by member Todd_K:

[url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3172&pid=45805#pid45805]For reference, the OEM OS bars have about 2.5" (6.3cm) clearance from my unscraped peg feelers. This was scientifically determined by finding taking the least warped piece of lumber in the garage and setting it level with the peg feeler.

Thanks for the heads-up, I used a broomstick with the bike up on front/rear paddock stands but it's very hard to tell just what the angle is. I got the impression it was going to be within the stock peg feeler's warning range, though.

[CB4ME_imp]

My SW Motech saved virtually everything on the bike when I had a low speed fall. Light scrapes to clutch lever and mirror and the tab on my turn signal lens broke. I was able to file and polish the bars and repaint like new. I'm sure they played a role in my big crash in protecting my leg but the bike was totaled.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

My SW Motech saved virtually everything on the bike when I had a low speed fall. Light scrapes to clutch lever and mirror and the tab on my turn signal lens broke. I was able to file and polish the bars and repaint like new. I'm sure they played a role in my big crash in protecting my leg but the bike was totaled.

Wow, that's good to hear. I had the same experience in 1983, as I mentioned I had a new Interceptor, but had the dealer install the engine guards before I picked it up. I am not really sure why I did that, I had zero experience with anything but single-cylinder dirtbikes up to that point but I am very glad I did. I threw it down the road after a week and those guards saved the bike's engine and probably my left leg to some extent. I still have some scars but we were young (my girl and I) and she just picked the gravel out, bandaged me up with some stuff from a local drugstore, we tied a bandanna around it, and took off again next morning.

When I really think about all the stupid stuff I did, how capable and nearly invincible I felt, I have NO idea how I got where I am now.

I, like many of us, always imagined what it would be like to be an old, experienced hand at this. Now I am here, I'm just trying to hold on by what is feeling more and more like a thread!
I checked the clearance again, propped a broomstick up touching the stock peg feeler, looked like Todd_K was right, there's still a couple of centimeters of clearance after the pegs would touch, it seems. Those guards WILL touch down, I'll wager, but probably about the same time the sidestand or centerstand would drag. So observing the stock peg feelers' warning, should be OK.

All the same, I bumped the preload to maximum (where it was for a long time anyway) and set damping on #2.

[Ulvetanna_imp]

I just got back from a 40-mile ride on the twisties. No problem with cornering clearance with rear shocks to max preload, I didn't even touch the stock feelers. Most importantly, the bike looks very cool with those chrome engine guards, although the best part of the package was the really nice tube-style neck scarf BikeBandit sent along with them. A bit chilly this morning, too.

[johnf514_imp]

Great to hear CB4ME, I have the SW MoTechs on my bike and while I have gotten the peg feelers down, I would prefer to keep anything inflexible off the pavement.