Gen 2 Radiator Guard Upgrade

[art miller]

I made a guard out of some of this stuff...and it's already black...fastened it onto the backside of the stock guard with black zip ties meebee the link will workhttps://www.staples.com/Desk+Organizer+Collections+Wire+Mesh+and+Metal/directory_Desk+Organizer+Collections%2C+Wire+Mesh+and+Metal?rpp=24&pn=2&sr=true

I too used the black mesh screen from Staples. I cut the screen to the size of the radiator face and simply slide it in behind the plastic original guard. It sets on the channel at the bottom of the radiator, no need to use any fasteners. The mesh is strong, not aluminum, works great and cost less than $10.

Which item from Staples did you use??

Go to the desk organizer section and get an upright file holder than is made of mesh screen metal. The larger one will give you enough area to cut out adequate material to cover the face of the radiator fins. You will have to bend it carefully to conform to the curvature of the radiator. This material is strong and will do the job.

 

[escapefjrtist]

this is large enough to cover the whole area twice
https://www.zerbee.com/Products/Lorell-Black-Mesh-Rectangular-Waste-Bin__LLR52771.aspx

Thanks for the link. Gonna have the bike apart this winter for major maintenance, think I'll slip one of these behind the stock plastic guard.

--G

 

[SoCalFJR1300]

Thanks for the options guys.

 

[Nanahanman]

Looks like a good idea but "just under $90" seems like a lot of money when you could get a piece of expanded metal, paint it black and tie it to the original guard.

Probably $5 worth of parts.

 

[creg-ny-baa]

"The tightest thing on (insert your brand of motorcycle here) is the nut that holds the handlebars."

I like tidy, I like quality. Precision cut, powdercoated aluminum isn't going to corrode and look like s**t in half a riding season, requiring me to tear my knuckles up a second time to remove/replace a home-grown solution that's held in by zipties that I paid $3 for 100 for at Harbor Freight.

We all makes our choices. If pennytech makes you happy, have at it. Diff'rent strokes.

 

[PhilJet09]

"The tightest thing on (insert your brand of motorcycle here) is the nut that holds the handlebars."I like tidy, I like quality. Precision cut, powdercoated aluminum isn't going to corrode and look like s**t in half a riding season, requiring me to tear my knuckles up a second time to remove/replace a home-grown solution that's held in by zipties that I paid $3 for 100 for at Harbor Freight.

We all makes our choices. If pennytech makes you happy, have at it. Diff'rent strokes.

I agree.
A lot of "you only cry once" talk around here...except when it comes to radiator guards, I guess.

 

[Nanahanman]

Looks like a good idea but "just under $90" seems like a lot of money when you could get a piece of expanded metal, paint it black and tie it to the original guard.Probably $5 worth of parts.

I missed something and didn't see the" DIY office supply parts " mod.

Very clever.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Posting a few pics of a finished guard for MCRider007. Don't have all the specifics...turned out really nice!

--G

 

[creg-ny-baa]

Pretty clever! Epoxy to the OE guard?

 

[MCRIDER007]

Pretty clever! Epoxy to the OE guard?

I used contact cement and just dabbed the cement on the plastic every couple of inches and then put clamps on for several hours. Once the guard is installed on the radiator the mesh will be held in place by the guard even if the cement were to fail for some reason.
The metal mesh came from a $9.99 round wastebasket I bought from Staples.

 

[art miller]

Posting a few pics of a finished guard for MCRider007. Don't have all the specifics...turned out really nice!

--G

Now that is the best do it yourself I have seen to date. When I get my new ES I will be doing precisely this procedure. Tks for posting.

 

[Wemi]

How many GenII owners have ever had a punctured radiator? For that matter, how many GenI owners have had that problem?Seems like a solution to a problem that doesn't really exist.

+1!!

 

[xcsp]

Nice job on the do-it-yourself radiator guard, looks good!

Only thing I would question is ease of cleaning with having the screen behind the original plastic guard, thinking it would be easier for cleaning off the screen if it was placed on the front side.

 

[CAJW]

I mean no offense to anyone selling them,or anyone who bought one...it looks like a very nicely finished product, and the fit looks great. And.. if you buy it all done..saves you a lot of effort. It just doesn't look like it should cost quite that much unless it is hand made or something.
Is is stainless steel? Heavy duty stuff.. or more like wire lath that one the would be used for stucco?

I had one on my Bandit1250...... it's not real thick actually pretty thin but stronger than the plastic I'm sure.

I wonder though in hot climates if all those small holes would difuse the wind too much and not cool as well as the stock rad guard since the stock one is more wide open? May not matter??

I've had a Cox guard on my Gen I since Jan. 2006, which was one of the first farkles I did and have ridden in Phoenix in the summer without any issue with cooling, other than the loose nut behind the bars. As far as justification for the guard, I'd had more broken windshields in AZ in the first few years I lived there than the previous 20 driving in the golden state. Paid $64.95 back then, with almost a 40% increase since I bought mine, I'm guessing screen material must have gone up!