Honda Africa Twin - Crash Bar install - Ep. 1 Installing the Mounts

[@rosarioroberto5823]

Greetings Great video 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸 Would you provide the crash bars link to order? Thanks, keep producing more videos.

[@GreatEgret]

Here's the engine guard: shop.powersports.honda.com/p/engine-guard-1 Here's the mount required to attach the engine guard: shop.powersports.honda.com/p/engine-guard-attachment Here is the upper crash bar: shop.powersports.honda.com/p/light-bar-3

[@jasonphd97]

I just got my new AT and my crash bars just came in, your video is probably the best DIY I've seen on youtube. Thank you!

[@GreatEgret]

You’re welcome, Jason! It’s not a particularly easy job, so I’m glad the video helped out.

[@GreatEgret]

Also, congrats on the new bike! It’s one of the best bikes on the market!

[@drklynoonrides6674]

Man that is a pretty bike. Wow you went super in depth. Good idea. Most folks just gloss over an install and provide few details. Thank you sir!

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! It was a challenging install for sure made more challenging with the camera in the way. 😅 I’m glad I could help out others that want to install these.

[@ms6801]

Gorgeous bike. Congrats man. Look forward to the adventures! I’m exhausted from watching this. Lol. Have always admired your wrenching skills. Very detailed install.

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man! I just watched this video again and I’m doubly exhausted. 😅

[@junixsk8]

She's looking better and safer!

[@BulldogBadger]

And so it begins! 🤘😎

[@CRAZYLEGSONABIKE]

It’s kinda ironic I have the iron then bought the Africa twin. Not sure if you have both like me but love the vlogs buddy. Not really rode the AT much but have dropped it and found the OEM crash bars were not very good so bought a more robust version. Stay safe buddy I’m based in 🇬🇧

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks man! I’ve heard good and bad about the OEM bars on the AT forum. I think most of the complaints are about scratches on the fairings or minor damage to the bars after a drop. Way better to have damaged bars than a damaged bike. It’s cool that we both made the jump to the AT. Great bike 👊

[@eyesonly4451]

I've noticed that Honda refers to the upper bar as an _accessory bar_ not a _crash bar._ Lots of videos showing upper _crash bars_ bent into the broken plastics anyway. The "crash bar" may, on occasion, protect the plastics, but at the cost of transmitting the drop force into other parts of the frame not likely designed for such.

[@e45twp]

Hi there from 🇬🇧 great set of videos on these bars sp thank you. Jist one question, is there/do you have a torque setting for the exhaust flange nuts please?

[@noelpogiako1]

Awesome Bro.👌 Well explained and detailed 👏

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, man!

[@billmcmeekin7909]

Great video, in awesome detail, and very well spoken. Nice! If you ever decide to put lights on these new bars please share. I have same setup but no lights yet. Just an FYI, Honda has given us Android auto now. Downloaded my update off Honda website and Into AT yesterday. Works wonderfully! Cheers Great Egret 🇨🇦

[@GreatEgret]

Thanks, Bill! I’ll put lights on the bar for sure. I just need to do a bit of research to determine which ones. I got my usb stick all set up. Now it just needs to get above freezing in my garage.

[@TonysGarage]

Man, install is pretty involved👊

[@kupalisky3553]

what is a good alternative to holding the exhaust if i dont have a pickup truck jack or motorcycle jack or a buddy to hold it?

[@GreatEgret]

You can use bungee cords or even rope to hold it up. For extra piece of mind you could put something underneath after bungee cording. Tool box, bricks, or even books. I will say that an investment in a jack or two makes this much easier. Especially when you reinstall the exhaust and you can raise and lower it to exactly where you need it to put the bolts back in. Good luck!

[@kupalisky3553]

@@GreatEgret Thanks, you’re right that it might be a good investment to investment to buy the jacks. I have an SUV, do those use the same jack as pickups (sorry not that experienced working on vehicles)

[@GreatEgret]

You’d be able to get by with a 1 ton jack. $40 at Harbor freight. They have the motorcycle “scissors” jack I use at Amazon for around $90.

[@kupalisky3553]

@@GreatEgret Awesome! Thanks for the recommendations!

[@AT2021Rocker]

I was told by a Honda parts guy that the Honda light bar is exactly that, a bar to mount lights, it’s not a true crash bar.

[@GreatEgret]

There are definitely more robust upper crash guards available in the after market and I bet a lot of riders have better experience with those. I dropped my Africa Twin while riding off-road a lot and the light bar did a good job of protecting my bike. Other riders I know have had a similar experience as me. I'm not saying your Honda parts guy is wrong and I think there are stronger, heavier, and more expensive options out there to protect the upper part of the bike. But if it was only a light bar, it wouldn't make sense to me for Honda to spend the extra money building just a light bar with protection around the upper fairings. They would just build a light bar.

[@Rhoso7]

Can you install the mounts and then reinstall the exhaust before installing the engine guard? What about the crash bars, can you install the crash bars after reinstalling the exhaust?

[@GreatEgret]

This is video one in this series. Your question will be answered in the next two videos. But, leave the exhaust down until after everything is installed.

[@Rhoso7]

@@GreatEgret Thank you so much for the reply. I quickly ran through the other two videos but must have missed where that step occurred. I ask because I'm having my guards powder coated. I'll be patient and lower the exhaust after I get my guards back then. Lucky me to have this quality video to reference, thank you so much for making this series.

[@GreatEgret]

@Rhoso7 I’m glad it it helped out, man! Powder coating the guards is a great idea and makes your bike stand out from all the others.

[@danielbesco1722]

What are the torque specs to put the header back onto the engine. The capped nuts to press help the seal?

[@GreatEgret]

Those four exhaust pipe joint nuts should be torqued to 20 Nm, which is around 15 ft/lb. Don’t tighten and torque one at a time, evenly tighten and torque the two nuts on each side so the pipe moves in and the washer gets crushed evenly. Hope this helps!

[@danielbesco1722]

@@GreatEgret yes, greatly. I couldn't seem to find the values.

[@GreatEgret]

@danielbesco1722 luckily I have the service manual. It’s been a few years since I’ve done this and I had to look them up myself. Glad I could help!

[@danielbesco1722]

@@GreatEgret ya. I figured it would be easy to find online. I found lots of other specs. Just not those. Maybe I wasn't searching correctly.

[@GreatEgret]

Nah, you were probably searching right. Just not one of those things that’s done all that often outside of a Honda service or shop.

[@jasonshortphd]

That is a lot of work. I am sure the dealer would have charger a pretty penny for that install. What is the total weight that they add to the bike? My Tiger already had them on when I bought it, and I always wonder about the weight.

[@GreatEgret]

It was a TON of work and this is just to install the mounts. I feel like this should be something Honda should include on all sold bikes rather than have them installed later. I don’t have an official weight on these, but just guessing it adds an additional 3lbs. Maybe less. I’ll just eat one less donut before heading out on a ride 😂

[@jasonshortphd]

@@GreatEgret Wow that is a LOT less than I expected. That is nothing. And yes, I agree they should come preinstalled. That is the big difference in Tiger lines - XC comes with them preinstalled (and wire wheels, and some other stuff). But the preinstalled guards was a big deal for me.

[@buckaroo_AK]

@@GreatEgret I did some weighing to add my 2 cents to your already priceless video.. the entire set of below items weigh 7.5 kgs / 16.53 pounds 1) engine guard L+R 2) light bar L+R+C 3) light bar center stay 4) guard attachment L+R 5) all new bolt and gasket supplies in pouches

[@GreatEgret]

That’s super helpful! Thank you!

[@user-ie5dm4sp1p]

!!! WHY low engine bars is so required for upper bars installation!? (You said). Do you mistaked? Do you mean black mount guard attachment? Please please answer to me immediately!

[@GreatEgret]

The upper bars won’t fasten properly without the engine guard attached. Look at Honda’s powersports website. It specifically states on the upper bar page that the engine guard is required. Honestly, I don’t know why you’d want to install one and not the other.

[@robertlumsden942]

wow it is wild how much you have to remove and all lol. harley much easier huh. definitely you want it though.

[@GreatEgret]

It’s crazy how much needs to be removed. I feel like this is something Honda made stock. I’m glad I installed it. I’ll be dropping this bike a lot!

[@chrigdichein]

ah the 2020 up comes without guards? Because all ATs 2016-19 so far came with crash bars, just stupidly weak ones. So all vids online are about upgrading to after markets. Yours is the first for installing Honda genuine ones. Are they and good compared to after market is the question now...

[@GreatEgret]

My personal experience is that they do what they need to do: Protect the engine and the fairings when you drop the bike. They aren’t as robust as aftermarket guards, but honestly, unless you’re dropping your bike in rock gardens, they don’t need to be as robust as most.

[@jeffreylavergne3090]

Hey do you still have the sporty ? Or you sold her?

[@GreatEgret]

I sold her and I regret it. Not because of the new AT, but because that Sporty was so fun to ride.

[@jeffreylavergne3090]

@@GreatEgret I was thinking of getting another bike aswell but I think I'll keep my sporty .. Sweet honda though !! Must be comfy to ride !!

[@GreatEgret]

@@jeffreylavergne3090 the best part about this bike is I can set it up for any riding environment or any type of riding. If I want a comfy plush ride. No problem. If I want to stiffen up the suspension for some fast and fun twisty riding, it can do that to!