Definitely getting a radiator guard

[PlaynInPeoria]

Went on a 4900 mile trip from Peoria IL to the west and back. In Afton WY, a friend on a Multistrada took a rock to several location on his radiator and developed a couple leaks.  Believe it or not, StopLeak fixed it and he finished the trip and rode all the way home to Greenville SC.   Their radiators are much more exposed than a C14 but it's still a big deal if you puncture a radiator, we thought it might end his trip.

A guard will be ordered post haste!  I want one on before we go to Maine next month.

I lost an HID headlight on the road and was concerned about my Pirelli Angel GTs that were new when we started but they held up well and probably have a max of 1000 miles left.  My other friend with a Multistrada (yes, there were 2, 2 C14s and a BMW RT1200 also) replaced a chain on the road, then that chain died and he got another one, then got a flat he could repair and had to put the bike in a rented truck the last 500 miles.  And no, that wasn't cheap.

[VirginiaJim]

Get a front fender extender as well...

[DaddyFlip]

+1 to extender. I just pulled my plastics for a project and noticed all kinds of tar and road grime built up on the front pop rivets that join the left and right fairings together. And a little bit under the extender, but nowhere else on the bike. Also running a Cox guard. Some big horseflies piled up in there right now.

[KawaC14]

I ordered a radiator guard and a fender extender. I am in no way a mechanic but I didnt like the way the radiator guard installed. One bolt, zip ties and foam rubber. i just dont think it a solid install. there is a lot of heat down there! I kept the extender, going to go just that.

[VirginiaJim]

I don't think I've heard of one falling off.  Mine certainly hasn't.

[DaddyFlip]

Yeah; I would go back with the rad guard and not sweat the installation. That's just how it installs and it's worth it. I don't even do the zip ties at the top. At least with the Cox, once you bolt it in, the edges of the guard press in pretty tight to the edges of the rad. It's not going anywhere.

[Ron Dawg]

Yup, my PCA one has two upside down U-clips at the top and the bolt at the bottom. Pretty secure.

[KawaC14]

Took your advice and have ordered the PCA radiator guard. Looks pretty well built. Thanks.

[Ron Dawg]

 

I had to "re-curve" it a little tiny bit, but just a hair. Six months, still in place.

[rrsperry]

Just ordered a projekt D guard and fenda extenda.

[maxtog]

Just ordered a projekt D guard and fenda extenda.

Those were on my ever-long to-do list.

[Conrad]

Those were on my ever-long to-do list.

Do your brake/clutch fluid flush first.   

[maxtog]

Do your brake/clutch fluid flush first.   

UG!
Yes, I promise that will be first.  It is actually top on the list.

[VirginiaJim]

If you want to do it yourself (when it's warmer), I can ride down there and assist with it.

[maxtog]

If you want to do it yourself (when it's warmer), I can ride down there and assist with it.

That is a very kind offer!  I have a slew of things on my list, including valve check/adjust, cleaning the rotors & bobbins, some headlight wiring fixes, swapping the defective right front turn signal LED bulb, another fluids change, coolant change, lock cleaning,  header bolts check (and other bolts), and it is all piled up waiting for my mechanic friend to finish settling into his new house and get his garage up and running.   I was kinda waiting to do it all at once with him.  The time is really ticking on my tires at this point, but I think that will have to be a dealer thing, anyway, and done sooner.

[connie_rider]

I've heard of 1 guard that is really hard to install.
Whish is it, and which the easiest, and which the best?
Yea, I know there will be lots of opinions...

Ride safe, Ted

[gPink]

The Cox guard was a bit of a pain to install but since it was only one I've installed I have no comparisons. It does work as advertised.

[jimmymac]

Down in the Texas Hill Country, I've seen a rock thrown up that broke the lower fairing on an 08 Connie. We had to pull over and zip tie and tape his bike back together.

[maxtog]

Down in the Texas Hill Country, I've seen a rock thrown up that broke the lower fairing on an 08 Connie. We had to pull over and zip tie and tape his bike back together.

Was is that little part where the two meet/connect at the bottom right behind the front wheel?

[martin_14]

I've heard of 1 guard that is really hard to install.
Whish is it, and which the easiest, and which the best?
Yea, I know there will be lots of opinions...

Ride safe, Ted

radiator guards are not like oil, a user usually doesn't have the opportunity to test a few through his life, so it's tough to find somebody who ever compared 2 guards. Furthermore, most bike owners won't ever mount one, and most won't ever have an issue. It's one of those things you wish you had when something happened, which is not often. That said, I have mine from a UK company, was a bliss to install and never had a hole through the radiator. But then again, so what? Maybe I never met a rock, maybe there were trillions and none managed to get through the thing. I haven't seen any trace of big impacts on it when I washed my bike 2 years ago (don't tell Jim).
My advice: mount one, it's going to be a one time job and expense, and forget about it. It will protect your radiator better than no guard, no doubt.