BMW R 1250 RT - Do They Work? Drop Test - Engine Protection Bars

[@pbofan]

You’re a braver man than I am to do that type of test…glad no damage was done, and thanks for taking the (potential) hit for the team.

[@oliviermissal8739]

wow so much respect for doing this!!! balls off steal !! you sold me the bars 👊🏻

[@kowalski2334]

Who stole your balls?

[@motopaulo]

Thank you for doing this so we all benefit from the awareness. Wunderlich should be grateful for you showcasing their product

[@theheroblob5036]

Nice vid. I mentioned these bars in my comment on your SW-Motech cylinder head cover video, so good to see you testing them. They are a more expensive option but are well made and designed. I have them fitted to my RT, and they worked brilliantly when some old duffer in his car rolled into me from behind (at low speed), forcing me to lay the bike down. I hasten to add, I was stationary at the time so no injuries... just some panic on my my part! No damage to bike, only minor scuffs to engine bar. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@Fernando90054]

Thank you so much for this crash bars test video. It is splendid of you to show the effectiveness of that protection of the bike. 👌

[@stevesane800]

OMG Scott! What are doing! Thanks for showing what can happen when the weight of your bike gets a little over centre! That will buff right out!

[@brucekendall52]

Rather courageous dropping your pride and joy down as a test for us viewers.Thanks.

[@Brian-tb1zs]

You are Brave ! These bars are obviously worth it 👍

[@altercaze]

With a restrained drop like this, the bags touches the ground. Imagine if it’s a real crash… But having the crash bars are still better than not having one if you want to prevent serious injuries to the bike. Nice information!

[@Marc-zf3xv]

I think the point of his video is a zero speed slow drop protection. In a crash at speed all bets are off and the best you can hope for is not being injured and being able to ride the bike home without engine damage to allow the insurance company to pay for everything else.

[@altercaze]

@@Marc-zf3xv true.

[@terrycarner621]

Love the bike reviews and especially those specific to the RT!!

[@japanforestomotomovie]

I am from Japan, also enjoy motorcycle with my S1000R and CRF250L. Your motovlog is so nice👍

[@thelastcoyote1423]

Wow. Thanks for this. Much better example than the cylinder head one. I’m tempted to get these!

[@NothingToProve]

Yea, I'm not one to "promote" anything, not even myself, but I'll keep these bars on my RT just in case I do drop it in the future, that way I know I'm protected and I feel secure. take care, Scott

[@AMPJ08]

With a recent crash at 130kmh at the highway I can tell you that the bars will drag all the way and your case might also drag too due to speed maybe one touch to the bars if it tilts (if). BUT this is to say that the friction will resist well tarmac on a hot day at 130kmh up to zero km/h. And likely that will be the only fix, case cover and bar. Many would think at those speeds your bike is totaled BUT no. :)

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you for your personal impute Andres! take care, Scott

[@fentontaylor9021]

First of all, nice haircut, secondly, your son is adorable, so please include him in more videos! Lastly, I plan on moving up from my 750 GS to an F 900 XR because I ride in the Malibu hills every week on tight twisty roads and the 900 is a beast on those roads. I plan to also move up to a 1250 RT as I get a little older and move to bigger, more comfortable bike. Keep the videos coming!

[@blinker202]

Great review. I just ordered a set of engine guards from Wunderlich America this afternoon!

[@retiredjetmechanic6219]

Ok, that hurt just to watch! I appreciate you making the sacrifice for this video. I just purchased a ‘22 RT and have been mulling over getting a set of those crash bars. I’m sold, I’ll be ordering a set soon!

[@grenphelps7455]

I bought Machineart Moto hexhead covers for my r1250rt , they have a inner rubber cushion inside the cover which adds a inner layer of extra protection.... and look great..... 👍👍

[@illiyakuryakin3092]

Nice review Scott. I visited the Wunderlich store in North Carolina and purchased my Helite vest there in April. But I feel the Ilium bars (Front and back) were a better design and installed those.

[@NothingToProve]

Yea, I like them, maybe I'll have to contact them and have them send me some bars and try them out too 😁👍

[@motorbikingaustria2439]

GREAT demonstration!👍 ... Ride safe and have fun!✌... Cheers from Austria!🍺

[@benwells2338]

Great observation making note of those foot pegs not touching! I always kind of wondered what sort of lean angle one can get with these boxer models. I imagine that’d be the sort of thing R and RS owners might want to know if they decide to take their bikes into some aggressive curves. Happy to see the Wunderlich crash bars did their job. I like the bars they offer on the GS bikes as they follow the design of the cylinder heads far better than the BMW bars, but part of me sometimes wonders if the crash bars sold out on the market are actually designed with the bikes leaned over or if it’s nothing more than psychological “false” reassurance.

[@milhousevh4445]

von diesen Tests sollte es mehr geben... sehr sinnvoll! - Bei einem Sturz werden die Koffer aber mit Sicherheit auf dem Boden aufkommen, da die Bewegungen meist ganz anders sind, und nicht einfach gerade gekippt wird ^^

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you! The most common way a bike is dropped is this way and in the owners drive way or garage. The same is true with "going down" while moving, the odds are that it will happen within 3 km of the owners house and at low speed. Yes, other damage will happen to the bike but the bars will carry the main damage that will occur. ride safe, Scott

[@BlueAlgon]

Picking up the bike looked easy - you even kept on talking...

[@johnathonme]

As an RT owner I felt like crying watching the test, every part of me was visualising the imprint of asphalt into beautiful blue pannier and fairing paintwork 🤣

[@suzyamerica4679]

I'm the new owner of an older used 1200RTP. Glad it's got those police crash bars front & rear or I would have had to replace lots of tupperware.

[@suzyamerica4679]

I've already dropped my 1200RTP twice, just getting it down from the center stand. The police crash bars did a good job. And the second drop was fortuitous because it shook out a torx socket I'd dropped on the top of the engine and hadn't found.

[@Mad-Jam]

Track guy here. The footpegs "feelers" is a good warning to the driver to not lean any more. You need to buy extended now when motorcycle has a reduced angle of lean.

[@colin9967]

What a fantastic way to clean under your bike 👍👍

[@f42un84u]

You can add sliders to engine protection bars to protect the finish. Sliders replacement easy and cheap😊

[@mfpix]

Cool video. I also have bars on my RT. Well worth having.

[@asturiancetorix2552]

I don´t like the crash bars, so I trust on the steel cilinder head´s OEM covers, they should work on fail drops. But I think I´m gonna get the rubber case protectors, you proved they can do the job. Damm, you have nothing to prove, but you did it!

[@andromedach]

Okay, I flinched. I wonder how well those bars work if the bike has the BMW LED Fog Lights mounted. do they make bars for the cases?

[@NothingToProve]

8:18 case protection bar :)

[@theheroblob5036]

@fourteenfour I have these bars fitted. I also have the BMW foglights fitted on the OEM brackets. They sit well inboard of the engine bars so do not come close to touching down if the bike is dropped.

[@rrr_land]

really useful. thx a lot

[@koromuri97]

Blimey, your a braver man than me.... 😀

[@omarmiddhatbarnes9683]

Hi, thought id share my experience… I’ve got the exact same bike as you. Few weeks back i made the silly mistake of forgetting my D Lock on the front wheel 😂 so unfortunately the bike fell. But there was literally zero damage. The pannier impact pads and the BMW Engine slider guards protected the bike completely! So i guess in theory you wouldn’t need crash bars for light falls.

[@NothingToProve]

Yep, agreed 👍

[@mofatube]

Thanks for the video. Did you happen to test a drop to the left side of the bike as well? Thanks.

[@dwgalvin]

Where did you get the "RT" decal for the front fairing? Was that stock on the 1250?

[@NothingToProve]

That's the way it came from the factory, stock. That comes with the "sport blue" color option. 👍

[@normandsimard6795]

Wow thank you for your courage , really helpful

[@stanstevenson1503]

Hey buddy did you do a video on the installation of these crash bars ? Found others but not sure if they were installed on the 21 RT and they all recommended taking all the fairing off , think i like your approach as long as Im not forcing anything and creating damage , anyway thought it worth asking if you had a video on the install. Cheers

[@NothingToProve]

No, not really, the only footage that I recorded when I installed the bars was what you see in this video. I have learned that install videos don't get views and so I'm just using the "install footage" as "B roll" in my videos. Don't know why but guys just don't watch install videos. I mean they get a few thousand views but that's about it. Sorry. take care, Scott

[@Dana2o11]

Hello, Great video and thank you for demonstrating. I will disagreed in regards to the foot pegs. You did a stationary drop and so I believe the foot pegs are designed for moving drops which would give way as your traveling forward, hence the lateral movements Vs the vertical drop. Am I missing something? Again, keep the videos coming, Great job and Thank YOu for sharing.

[@NothingToProve]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CZmJqIfJdgiKc

[@YardenT.]

Great analysis!

[@andrepham1175]

Thanks @NothingToProve for that informative video! And Wunderlich can thank you too. Maybe on the video the distance between crash bar and SW-Motech pad is deceptively short... but what if the crash bar bent in and press agains the pad? This pad would then press in your cylinder and create damage that wouldn't be there without the pad. Just my two cents. I have seen some of your videos and I like their tones :)

[@dickydesai7609]

Your side storage box did touch the ground and bounced off. You may want to check the video again and check the bottom of the box for scratches.

[@gaza1952]

Body weight toward the rear while riding at hard lean should bring footpegs to the road first I imagine.

[@mikemerrill175]

My GS drags the engine guards before the pegs touch. Luckily it does so gently.

[@shmac96]

I tried to use some of these new emoji features but they wont enter onto my comment line but Holy $h!T DUDE! Damn! Hope there is no long term damage. What would you have done if there WAS damage??? Get a new bike? lol! Thanks for sacrificing your new bike for the sake of your viewers! Glad all is ok!

[@jackiesaunders854]

Hi there, I love you videos, they’re very good and straight to the point and also very honest. I’ve just purchased a brand new RT1250 in same racing blue colour as yours. It’s my second RT1250. Can you let me know if you have extra black protection around the outside of the side panniers and if so, where did you get them. Oh…. Jays I cringed 😂when I saw you leaving the bike on the side… but I totally understand it’s for demo purposes but I’d go madddddd if it happened 😂😂😂😂😂😂🏍️🏍️🏍️ Cheers. Jackie….all the way here in Ireland 🇮🇪 .

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you! Yes, I have the BMW case protectors, or I call them "bumpers". There are 2 strips on each case, made out of a hard rubber and just stick to the side of the case. You can see in the video that is what actually touched the ground when the bike rolled onto the case. So the case never got scratched, the bumper did but you really can't see it unless you get down on one knee and really look for where it touched down. Your local BMW dealer will have them, if not they can order them. I like them because they blend right into the case and you really can't tell that they are "extra" or an add on protection unless you really look for it. take care, Scott

[@jackiesaunders854]

@@NothingToProve thanks Scott. I’ll see if I can track them down or maybe through Wunderlich or Nippy Normans in da UK. It takes sooooooo bloody long nowadays for us to get summit posted to Ireland 🇮🇪 and then with Brexit and all the custom import charges, you’d be “RAPED” with the extra costs. Sometimes Scott, import taxes are actually dearer to get sent here than what the item costs…😡 Many Tnx again.

[@jeanjacques9980]

Brave man, I would had laid carpet down and have help to let bike down gently. I think the panniers may have been scratched in the experiment. There are bar protectors available for the panniers.

[@hocimin7600]

RESPECT

[@pete7304]

Unfortunately I had a drop with the bars, at a very slow speed. fortunately the cases were not on. The bars held up, but the mirror, handle bar end cap, muffler and tail light impacted with minor cosmetic damage. I will now have the rear bag protector bars installed. Any accessory out there to protect the mirrors??

[@DukeJohnny]

Now, honestly, you did drop the bike very controllably I'd say sir. The pannier just lightly touched the ground like you said. I imagine that if the bike drop was heavier, the pannier would crush under the bike's mighty mass? I also imagine much less damage on a GSA with soft bags in such case, would I be correct to assume so? Nevertheless, a very good and informative video sir, cheers!

[@Stickyman61]

Are you in Paderborn. I notice the number plate has a PB

[@NothingToProve]

Yep

[@lasiniai1]

Hi, I have the exact same bike and the same color. I already have Wunderlich cylinder guards. They are advertised as reliable. But looking at your presentation of the Wunderlich protection bar, I ordered them from Wunderlich black. But now I was wondering if the extra lights already on my bike from the factory would interfere with the installation? I'm talking about the top bar bolts. Best wishes from Lithuania.

[@davelocitzer9603]

Did you have to remove the auxiliary lights to install the crash bars. The reviews on the website state the lights have to be removed and relocated?

[@NothingToProve]

I don't have auxiliary light on mine.

[@mauros5541]

Hello @NothingToProve. Thanks for this test. I have the same motorcycle but IS specs. You mentioned having some pads protection on your panniers. I don’t see on the catalog for the the r1250rt. Do you know if it isthe same as for the r1200 rt? Thanks in advance

[@NothingToProve]

I would ask my local dealer, mine has them in stock for the RT/K1600, I don't know about the 1200R. They just stick on like a basic sticker, made out of a kind of hardened rubber and give a little when you push on them, I can leave my finger nail impression in them but it comes back out after a while. There are two strips that go on each case and if they start to come un-stuck, which mine did after a year, they will replace them for free, under warranty. BTW I do see them in the RT catalog but I don't have the 1200R catalog downloaded on my PC. BUT what I've learned about BMW (at least at my local dealer) is that what I can't find in a catalogue I ask and they will usually accommodate whatever it is that I'm asking for, no matter how unusual. take care, Scott

[@RolfAalders]

Hi Scott, Did you ever consider the side case protection bars? You have engine guards mounted. I do have the engine guards as well, but not the rubber stickers on the cases... According to my dealer these rubber strips costs EUR 199,-.. amazing. I'm contemplating on buying the side case bars of Wunderlich EUR 300,-. Did you consider the rear (side case) protection bars?

[@NothingToProve]

Hello, yea, I did consider them but don't really feel the need for them, they are kind of an after thought for me. Plus right now, the side bars would get in the way of my son's short legs. Maybe when her grows a little then I'll consider getting the side case bars. take care, Scott

[@radiocrash]

My understanding is that even if you were on the bike mid corner the crash bars would still touch down before the footrests.

[@NothingToProve]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CZmJqIfJdgiKc

[@spikey2740]

Whew, I wouldn't try that. Noting the rubber pads on the panniers, have you tried putting any similar product on the engine guards surrounding the point of contact with the ground to avoid marring them?

[@NothingToProve]

Na, not yet. Only time this bike has been down is for videos 😁

[@That_Paul_Guy]

On my Multi, granted a different bike, the center stand will scrape before the pegs in most cases. Wonder if that is the case on the RT? Makes a difference when the bike is loaded like you mentioned in the vid.

[@ttrguy9952]

Scott Me thinks it would be impossible to ride the bike through a corner at an even greatly reduced lean angle! If you ever touched the foot peg indicators, you have already crashed. We are talking MOTO GP lean angles here! My 2023 Triumph Tiger GT Explorer is even worse. They touch when the bike is basically on it's side!!! Great video Scott! Peace and ride SAFE!!!

[@jkersh2]

Thanks for the video very helpful as well as the one on cylinder protectors. But I would like to add that I had Wunderlich bars on my 2008 RT, and had a 0 mph/kph drop in a hotel parking lot. The cylinder head was not damaged, which is the point of the bars, I guess, as they are somewhat sacrificial, but my mechanic said they were not good for another drop. I am getting bars for my new 1250RT, but wonder if it might not be better to eat the insurance deductible and forego the bars. Not getting home after a drop on the road is a big factor also. I like your point about drag in a corner lean. Do you have a feel for how over/ how fast that it would be to have a drag? Do you think even aggressive RT riders, not aggressive sport riders in general aka 'squids', would approach that limit? And if the bars don't drag will they still do the job of preventing damage.

[@NothingToProve]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CZmJqIfJdgiKc 😊👍

[@MikeHarveyPhoto]

Yes I have tested mine by dropping in drive with wife on back only damage was to powder coating and my ego

[@chuffedtwobits]

I’ve put a set of these on my new RT as well as the bag guards and very happy with them. I would have preferred the Ilium works ones but couldn’t find a Uk dealer and import/ tax duties made the ilium non viable. The bag bars are great BUT if you take a ride without the bags, the bike looks a bit weird with bar protection bars sticking out. Great video and much appreciated…would like to see same test with bag bars fitted (put rugs down first though)

[@NothingToProve]

LOL! "Put rugs down first" Got it! 👍😁

[@chuffedtwobits]

@@NothingToProve Will you have the opportunity to get a set of “bag bars”? My bike, by the way, arrived with the software update of spring this year which you mentioned a while ago. So it looks like thats still the latest. I’ve never had an issue with the navigation and find it very good, but would appreciate it connecting a bit quicker to be honest. Mike

[@Richard.Tremblay]

Very good video thanks. Question for you I have the same on my Rt 2021 . Have you some problem to installed them ? On my bike the bottom screw was not aligned with the engine hole and I add to lift the bar with a car jack to forced the alignment.

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you. Ah, no, I just put in the pair of bolts in first (main frame bolts - loosely - like in the video), then the other lower bolt towards the front of the engine, then the one at the top front of the engine (I didn't show that in the video - because it would have been boring). They provide these little zip ties to hold the bar in place temporarily until you get the bolts into place but I didn't use them. But I did not have to use anything else except for my hands and everything lined up right away. Is both sides like this for yours? Curious. Maybe one of the bars got a little bent in shipping or something like that. take care, Scott

[@Richard.Tremblay]

Just to let you know the tierap are for the fog lights

[@NothingToProve]

@@Richard.Tremblay Oh, thank you! Tells you how much time I spend reading instructions 🤦‍♂🤦‍♂

[@zoltanmolnar8391]

On my k1300gt in a curve once i slipped on an oil spot, and the footpeg pushed my leg up / way too high. In the next moment the tyres gained traction, so I managed not to crash the bike. With a similar crashbar set the outcome would have been disastrous. So even if you do not want to lean the bike that far, the bike needs to be ready for that deep lean angle.

[@portinoportisi5546]

Hello, I want to know if you sell this motorcycle and how much is its price, thanks

[@NothingToProve]

Sorry, no

[@mikeendmd]

Yikes😆..Well done sir, but now you have scratches on your protection bars.

[@johnambro7181]

Cringe worthy tested, only damage my heart! Wow for the hated high side drop no real damage!👍👍👍 Cheers, Scot.

[@rogerk2943]

Don't forget suspension is not compressed so footpegs will not touch but (speaking from experience) with these crash bars and suspension under load the footpegs will touch down first!

[@NothingToProve]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CZmJqIfJdgiKc

[@rogerk2943]

@@NothingToProve Interesting thank you!

[@yankhofreemansomanje6433]

U have more trust that I can ever muster to drop your bike like that 😁

[@UncleWally3]

Odd how priorities change with age. At 70, I’m starting to appreciate where and how simple topples occur - and the utility of reverse.

[@NothingToProve]

Exactly! I know it will happen, it's just a matter of time. And yes, I wish BMW put reverse on this bike. I'd use it all the time. take care, Scott

[@mountaintourer0713]

Oh Gold, i could never do that intentionally :-)

[@alfonsosnr]

its worth every penny, dont go for cheaper version. l had five accident on slow speed, not a scratch on the bike..just the mirror...

[@spetersonmusic]

You... are nuts. LOL. If that doesn't give you confidence... nothing will.

[@stephenchapman8344]

👍

[@garrykennedy5484]

I am in love with that bike. Can I please have it? Can't hurt to ask. I have a 2011 and LOVE it after a couple weeks so far, but that one is sexier and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! I promise to do ALL it takes for maintenance and riding it. I've NEVER laid a bike down. Riding or otherwise. I would love it and it would love me. I'll even trade mine, just don't tell her. OK? LOL Seriously,, I love that bike. Make a video of the exchange and you'll more than make up for it in clicks. Folks looking for more giveaways in future vids???? Hmmmm????

[@NothingToProve]

LOL! Sorry man, I wish I made that kind of money on a video, you are miss-informed. I just looked at how much I've made for this video = 190 euros and it's at almost 100,000 views. I love my RT too and no, I'm not just going to give it away for free. I only do this channel part time and my channel does not even pay for my time that I put into it. I'd make more money per hour working at McDonald's. Nice try though...lol take care, Scott

[@garrykennedy5484]

@@NothingToProve I hear ya. Just sharing the love of these bikes. Keep the rubber side down brother.

[@ricardo6861]

Cool I've got them

[@peterv.2033]

IRL with the weight of the rider the panniers, the pegs, will just touch, I think.

[@NothingToProve]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4CZmJqIfJdgiKc

[@johnvaleriewelbers2995]

😎🏍💨💨💨💨💨💨👍🏻🇨🇦nice bike

[@markvanlintel]

just get yourself a longer footpeg stud.. they are available anywhere :) give yourself a little warning before scraping hard parts.

[@SouthWest-jj8yu]

Good to see them tested not sure if test my bars on such an expensive bike but take a look at how SW Motec did it on the GS a few years ago kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHTCmoV5mdOmgbM

[@LEO-pc6hc]

Ilium

[@specialandroid1603]

Would not use Wunderlich or any third party bars on my XR.