Xb12Ss Crash Cage Advice

[jordank]

Alright so as spring rolls around the corner (and I wait for 20inches of snow to melt), I am thinking I want to get a crash cage for my bike. I don't plan on "stunting" but I mean, I have seen some crash photos, and people really screw up their frame in the slightest laydown. I don't like the idea of the pucks you bolt to the engine, due to the fact that you could possibly cause damage to the part of the bike you are trying to protect... I came across this guy
http://www.xtreembikeworks.com/Buell-XB12-Crash-Cage_p_164.html

On several stunting forums, they suggest this cage. Wondering if you guys have any experience with an actual cage on these and what cage works and fits the best?

Cheers!

 

[brock]

Well I'm not a fan of the way it looks, I can see that working for a low speed lay down but I can't see it helping if you go down hard. I can just see a bolt shearing off and then damaging the frame anyway.

 

[Cooter]

Seems like a lot of expense and nuisance to me.

If you wreck hard enough to damage the engine using sliders, me thinks you'll be worried about more than scratches.

I say insure it, ATGATT, and ride the crap out of it.

 

[anrkizm95]

looks like a great cage for stunting.i wouldnt use it because i wouldnt want to get tangled up in it if i went down.

 

[go cytocis]

i wouldnt use it because i wouldnt want to get tangled up in it if i went down.

That's a good point; most stunt riding is done at low speeds, but if I'm coming off the bike at road speeds, I don't want anything keeping me anywhere near it.

The weak spot on the XB chassis is the subframe & I don't see how this would protect it. If you're not stunting, I question the utility; it just adds weight & looks ugly.
Reminds me of that protective plastic some people leave on their couches!

 

[gtp3800]

At road speeds your bike is most likely going to slide, sliders will do their job. My bike went down at 50 mph in a construction zone and my sliders took majority of the damage. a bent handlebar, and busted mirror were the only other parts damaged. Case sliders, axle sliders, and frame pucks are all you need endless your actually getting hit or hitting a wall... and at the point a roll cage won't protect your bike either.

 

[turboraven]

I agree. With stunting you will see more blunt impacts but at very low speed. At normal riding speeds you usually have less blunt impact and more sliding type action which is where delrin case and axle sliders will do their job. In the case your bike catches an edge and starts flipping, neither sliders or a cage will help much at all

In other words, Crashing is a risk we all take every time we swing a leg over. Basic preventative care usually goes a long way (delrin bar/axle/case sliders at most). No point in getting overly anal about all the bars you can add to potentially minimize damage..