When your Skid plate works - And doesn't work!

[KXcam22]

I wanted to share an experience from a couple days ago.  Suprised me and could easily happen to anyone.  I was railing a single rack berm with a big rock in the middle. The front tire went outside of the rock instead of inside where I was aiming - fell on my face, no big deal. When I picked up my bike I was suprised to see coolant spewing out.  Turns out that the bike had landed on its side on a knife-shaped rock. The rock pushed the skid plate into the water pump cover and contacted the top of the 6mm coolant drain bolt, tipping it over and cracking the water pump cover.  End of Ride!  I guess I didn't really think that this was possible.  The skid plate is from flatland racing and is beefy and well made - no fault there.  I can see now that I will have to add some additional side supports and protection on both sides.  This was my first trail DNF in 30+ years.  I was in a really ugly area 12km from my truck, but luckily about 2500 ft higher in elevation.  I only ended up pushing a km, high speed coasting about 6km to a road, then a tow back to the truck - In all pretty easy.  I definitely need to add a short tow rope to that fanny pack tool kit. Cam.

[BDI]

The works connection skid plate that i have on my X-model looks twice as stout as that one but I don't think they make it for the R. That sucks hopefully nothing else got screwed up.

[KXcam22]

Thats a very nice plate.  How is the side protection? My impact was from the side almost at the crank centerline. The flatland is 3/16" aluminum but relys on the strenght of the aluminum only where I got hit.  I will either add a brace to thicken the alumunum or fabricate an additinal support that bolts to the frame to cover the pump better. Not sure yet.  I haven't disassembled it yet but I am confident that the side case is OK or only slightly nicked (and repairable).  I will price out the boysen cover and impleller. Be nice to test one out if the price is reasonable. Cam.

[ID KX500]

Sorry to see the damage,,,,imagine what it would look like with no guard at all 

[BDI]

Thats a very nice plate.  How is the side protection? My impact was from the side almost at the crank centerline. The flatland is 3/16" aluminum but relys on the strenght of the aluminum only where I got hit.  I will either add a brace to thicken the alumunum or fabricate an additinal support that bolts to the frame to cover the pump better. Not sure yet.  I haven't disassembled it yet but I am confident that the side case is OK or only slightly nicked (and repairable).  I will price out the boysen cover and impleller. Be nice to test one out if the price is reasonable. Cam.

You really need to see one in person to appreciate how formidable it is. In the picture it may look like it doesn't offer much side protetion because of the way it sticks strait out but it does a great job and you would really have to bend the hell out of it for it to make contact with the engine. I have not seen a skid plate that is as nice as the works plate but I also have not seen one that costs as much either. The one down fall with it is when you do wack it it's kinda heart breaking all on it's own.

[KXcam22]

I lucked out and only the cover is damaged. Could easily have been more since what I though was a short drain bolt was actually a long case bolt that could have easily cracked the main side case. Cam.