Hardware for motocross bikes comes in separate pieces as opposed to a fully encasing combination skid plate for enduro bikes.
If nothing else, four years of college taught me one very important lesson - always, I mean always, use protection. Twelve years of marriage has blurred this cardinal rule but a few months ago I was told I would be racing the Las Vegas Maxxis EnduroCross and the word "protection" once again entered my mind. Not because I was heading off to Sin City, but because I would have to ride my personal bike on the gnarliest and most unforgiving stadium track in American racing.
My CRF450R engine would be as vulnerable as a drunken sorority chick at her first post-Rush frat party, so I immediately started searching for some armor to protect my engine cases from the jagged rocks of EnduroX. I hunted around and found the best option to be a skid plate and a set of engine guards from
Works Connection.
The Scoop
For my CRF450R the skid plate and engine guards are sold as two separate items. For enduro models the two items are integrated into one piece and offer a little more protection than my unit, although there is an increase in weight and bulkiness. The skid plate is made of heavy gauge aluminum and clamps to the underside of the frame with four aluminum brackets. It offers oil drain access which eliminates removal during oil changes. I did find that not all of the oil tends to make it out of the hole and you are left with a little clean up but nothing a shop rag can't handle. Included with the skid plate is a foam insert that sits between the skid plate and the engine to eliminate any build up of mud and debris. I found it necessary to remove the foam before washing the bike to ensure that any mud which did find its way in there gets cleaned out.
Installing the WC components was as simple as we could have hoped for. Six bolts and we were ready to rock.
The engine guards are also made of aluminum and TIG-welded to wrap around the front of the engine. They offer some extra coverage area compared to the stock plastic units, yet still mount easily with the factory bolts - one bolt per side. Installation proved to be extremely simple. The skid plate mounts with a total of four bolts, two on the bottom and two in the front. The bottom mounts use a tapered Phillips-head bolt that is flush-mounted to prevent the bolts from snagging on obstacles or your bike stand. The two front bolts are standard 8mm hex-heads. The fit was perfect and the shape of the skid plate exactly matches the bike's frame. Like the skid plate, the engine guards matched the curves of the frame for a perfect fit.
It only took a few laps around the EnduroX course to experience the value in both the skid plate and engine guards. The skid plate not only protected the frame while hopping over logs, but also gave much needed protection to the bottom of the engine through the treacherous rock piles. It was the engine guards though, that took the brunt of abuse. Both sides had been hit hard by rocks which would have surely cracked an engine case cover if left unprotected. The guards were bent and dinged, but did their job and did it well. This is where the separate construction is nice because if they are damaged further I can simply purchase new engine guards instead of the whole piece.
Our bike and rider each took some heavy abuse in the EnduroX event, but the Works Connection skid plate and engine guards did their job and will keep on protecting our engine long after Brian's knee gets healed up.
I knew going into the race that these two items would be an important addition to my bike. It wasn't until after the race when I realized the full battering the WC units sustained and how important these products are. Not only did they save my engine cases, but also the Works Connection pieces are lightweight, fit well and are a breeze to install. These products will stay on my bike until I sell it, and I will definitely purchase a new set for its replacement. Even if you ride in conditions far less punishing than the EnduroX, engine cases are expensive and I recommend saving them with this simple bolt-on accessory.
The only problem I had during evaluation had nothing to do with the product, but was the dismal result of my EnduroCross experience which has spurred the need for another product review. Check back in three to six months when I talk about the importance of knee braces.
Product: Works Connection Skid Plate & Engine Guards
Color Option: Aluminum
Sizes: Most Makes and Models
MSRP: $69.95 (Skidplate) $109.95 (Engine Guards)
Buy It Now: Works Connection Frame Guards
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