I'll be installing the SWMotech bash guard on my Hypermotard as I'll be making the poor life choice of taking ot offroad (on street tires!) this coming weekend. I was reviewing their instructions yesterday and it looks like I should set aside a few hours as they suggest removing the exhaust and rear brake lever. I know a few on this forum have installed this guard, so, any pointers to make this as pain free as possible?
Bash Guard Install
- Thread starter N4teTheGreat
- Start date
It's pretty easy to install but I found that the big footpeg bolts were totally rusted out. They gave me a bit of trouble.
Good to know, my bikes been through a few wet rides, so I suspect I'll have some fun corrosion to deal with as well. Did you bother removing the exhaust as they suggest?
I don't recall having to take the exhaust off. Maybe just the silencer if anything, which is only 2 bolts.
The only tricky part is that rear brake pedal. Use an allen wrench or something similar to leverage the spring up onto the perch it sits on. Other than that it's a very straightforward install.
The only tricky part is that rear brake pedal. Use an allen wrench or something similar to leverage the spring up onto the perch it sits on. Other than that it's a very straightforward install.
Ah yeah, should have been clearer, the silencer is the part the instructions suggest removing along with the rear brake. That spring did look a little tricky based on the instructions, I guess this means I'll most likely be leaving it on as opposed to only installing it when I'm planning to be adventurous.
Joined Apr 2017
244 Posts | 1+
California
This bike is NOT GREAT off road. Be careful with embedded rocks and nasty pot holes. For me the bar and seating position are simply awful for off road riding.
Standing is nearly impossible.
Do yourself a favor if doing any distance off road ... lower tire pressures. HUGE
difference for the better. I went down to 20 psi front and rear. Better control, bump absorption ... and ride. Good luck!
Noted, I'm not expecting it to perform like a dual sport. This weekend is just a clinic at a local OHV park, I'll ride my own ride and skip any bits that seem too tricky. I've ridden on hard pack and loose gravel / rocks / washboard without too much trouble, though I wasn't setting any speed records. I'm mostly curious to get some more time on dirt and to see what parts of the instruction I can apply. I don't expect to be power sliding or doing anything very aggressive. Could still be a terrible decision, we'll see
Well unfortunately the guard did not fit my bike. Even though the 2014 and 2015 both have the same chassis and motor the mount points for the rear bracket are in a slightly different location, or the crank case got deeper) so it's not possible to fit the bracket. Oh well, all the riding we did was dirt and gravel, no big rocks at all so there was no risk of damage. Now to decide if I try to return the guard, make a custom bracket, or just sell it.
Joined Sep 2017
595 Posts | 121+
Lansing Mi
Can you post a few pics of how it mounts in relation to how your mounting locations are? Maby the community can help with possible solutions. I
Joined Mar 2013
3K Posts | 161+
Naples, IT
Disagree. I stand from 1-45 mph routinely; shifting as well. I don't go into the ruff stuff but I ride gravel and speed humps standing. Much easier to walk in crawling traffic up on the pegs. Little bit of a reach to the controls but you could add a spacer and it would be GS-like.
