[joedirt1970]

How about a side shot of the whole bike.

 

[dubstep]

looks totally mighty!!



how about a hole for oil changes?

 

[mtkd]

That looks fantastic

 

[Dubster]

Awesome job. Hands down the best engine guard I have seen yet.I just might have to do something similar.Thanks for the inspiration.



Do you know how much it weighs?

 

[Toyanvil]

The weight is the one thing I don't like, 6 lbs. If I built another I would use Sq tubing for the cross-bars a size smaller then the main frame and make a one piece plate. I would install nut inserts in the cross-bars to mount the center plate to. The flat bar to bolt the plating to added weight fast as it is about 5 feet worth

this could bring it under 4 lbs. I hope this helps anyone who might want to build one. For now I will run this one to see what else it needs.

 

[ronnydog]

Toyanvil, I like your style!!! I've been savin up for a TCI skidplate because I'm not much of an aluminum fabricator... DUH!!! Make one out of tubing!!! Why didn't I think of that?? Great work, I hope you are like me and take plagiarism as the ultimate form of flattery!

Mrbracket, what do you think about making some side protection for the Ricochet skid plate? Like the TCI but something we could add to our Ricochet. I'm in for one.



Ronntdog

 

[mrbracket]

Mrbracket, what do you think about making some side protection for the Ricochet skid plate? Like the TCI but something we could add to our Ricochet. I'm in for one.



Ronntdog

That's a great idea Ronnydog, I'm sure a lot of Tdub owners would like something like that.... First I want to make something similar to what Toyanvil has created. I will try to run the bracing the other way. In other words, not cross bracing, bracing that is in line with movement (front to back). I really like the tubular look and shape of what Toyanvil has made! Great job!

 

[Toyanvil]

Mrbracket I am looking forward to seeing yours. I am still playing with this one, the plan was to build it strong enough to add a type of center stand. What I would like to do is add two sq vertical receivers to the guard that you could slide two sq tubes into to hold the bike up for working on it and could be romoved and kept on the bike maybe pinned to the rear rack. I think the trick would be to find the spot that will work for the front or back wheel, so the bike will sit on the back wheel or front. My BMW 1150gs will do this, once on the center stand you just rock it to the front or back and then you can work on the wheel that is in the air. I hope this makes sense.

Here are some pictues of the whole bike.

 

[joeband]

I am still playing with this one, the plan was to build it strong enough to add a type of center stand. What I would like to do is add two sq vertical receivers to the guard that you could slide two sq tubes into to hold the bike up for working on it and could be romoved and kept on the bike maybe pinned to the rear rack. I think the trick would be to find the spot that will work for the front or back wheel, so the bike will sit on the back wheel or front. My BMW 1150gs will do this, once on the center stand you just rock it to the front or back and then you can work on the wheel that is in the air. I hope this makes sense.

this guy makes/made a center stand for the xt225. (he's who i bought my xt tank from)



http://www.cigarmikes.com/2010/07/xt225-center-stand-16900-shipping.html

 

[frog13]

Mrbracket I am looking forward to seeing yours. I am still playing with this one, the plan was to build it strong enough to add a type of center stand. What I would like to do is add two sq vertical receivers to the guard that you could slide two sq tubes into to hold the bike up for working on it and could be romoved and kept on the bike maybe pinned to the rear rack. I think the trick would be to find the spot that will work for the front or back wheel, so the bike will sit on the back wheel or front. My BMW 1150gs will do this, once on the center stand you just rock it to the front or back and then you can work on the wheel that is in the air. I hope this makes sense.

Here are some pictues of the whole bike.

Man o man you do good work!....and that wagon to match your truck,fantastic.Seriously,if your going to make these for the other TW folks,please post this....the polyethelene(spelling) plates sounds real interesting.....as you already know,it would cut down on the weight.

 

[biglefti]

What is the wall thickness on the tubing you are using? BTW, it looks great!

 

[biglefti]

.



The aluminum diamond plate looks great, but will "grab" onto whatever you come into contact with or permanently deform. I'm not trying to rain on your idea, but I used to do a lot of off road SCCA Pro Rallying and what you want is some teflon or cheaper UHMW plate that will just "slide" over rocks and not "grab" or permanently deform. The UHMW is very durable and comes in many different colors, easy to cut and not too expensive. You could probably get remnants in say 1/4" or 3/8" that wouldn't cost too much at a local plastic distributor.



.

That is an excellant point!

 

[mrbracket]

Toyanvil, it looks great! I do also like your idea of integrating a center stand into it, that would be great for trail fixes! Nice thinking...



I'm not going to start on my copy of your skidplate just yet... I've gotta get to work on collecting carburetor data and putting together a TM28 kit for the Tdub first... I may get shot buy a few folks if I keep putting of the carb work...LOL...



But, I will build a skidplate similar to yours, thank you so much for sharing!

 

[Toyanvil]

Toyanvil, it looks great! I do also like your idea of integrating a center stand into it, that would be great for trail fixes! Nice thinking...



I'm not going to start on my copy of your skidplate just yet... I've gotta get to work on collecting carburetor data and putting together a TM28 kit for the Tdub first... I may get shot buy a few folks if I keep putting of the carb work...LOL...



But, I will build a skidplate similar to yours, thank you so much for sharing!

I may try to make another one using sq tubing for the main loop and no or maybe one cross bar, that would give me a flat surface to mount a 3/16 aluminum skid plate to and should work as cross bars and I can bend the plate with my roller. I will still add the loops. It will look the same, but should be a lot lighter.

 

[Uwdlk2no2]

How much for the prototype



Uwdlk2no

 

[Toyanvil]

Vari kuel dewd.

FYYFF?

Did you add the front disc or the kick start?

Your bash plate is nearly invisible.

Would you put some dust or something on your bike. You're making us all look bad. You too Bracket.

It is an 09 I added the kick start, ggod eye.

 

[Toyanvil]

Vari kuel dewd.

FYYFF?

Did you add the front disc or the kick start?

Your bash plate is nearly invisible.

Would you put some dust or something on your bike. You're making us all look bad. You too Bracket.

It is an 09 I added the kick start, good eye.

 

[DonBenito]

Toyanvil, I think you've put together the slickest, most integrated looking skidplate for the TW I've seen yet.



Still there have been a few good points raised on this thread



1) Slick vs. Diamond plate - the less resistance the better!



Diamond plate always adds a touch of Mad Max Mystique, but when you hit that rock you're gonna want to slide. The whole purpose of the "diamonds" on diamond plate is to provide traction, so maybe not the most practical choice for a skid (skid = opposite of traction) plate



2) Longitudinal vs. Horizontal bracing - see above. Physics.





I'll add a couple of notes from my own musings as well...



3) The TCI engine guards extend several inches back over the side covers. I've seen custom engine guards with the same design. Hoops might deflect most obstacles, but imagine sliding past a rock in the trail with that hoop only to have the bike lurch back into it, shearing a hole in your engine. Not gonna happen too often, but these scenarios come to mind when you live in an area where scattered boulders are a regular feature of paved roads! (thanks county commissioners!)



4) When you add material (i.e. tubing) between the frame and the ground you reduce the bike's clearance, which only increases the number of opportunities to test your skidplate. Tougher is better, but less is more.



5) The TCI engine guards also tie into the frame for extra support and stability. It looks like your plate ties in more securely than the one hole of the stock plate, but no tangential crossmember can beat a 90 degree tie rod that runs through the frame to both engine guards. The TCI doesn't have a one-piece tie rod, but it's a snug 2-piecer!



I only wish that I had your talent for metal fabrication, and by no means do I think that I could do any better myself, I'm just throwing out ideas for a more-perfect TW skid plate.



Seriously, good work!

 

[joedirt1970]

I think I speak for the masses when I correct you and say...WHEN you build another...





The weight is the one thing I don't like, 6 lbs. If....(WHEN) I built another I would use Sq tubing for the cross-bars a size smaller then the main frame and make a one piece plate. I would install nut inserts in the cross-bars to mount the center plate to. The flat bar to bolt the plating to added weight fast as it is about 5 feet worth

this could bring it under 4 lbs. I hope this helps anyone who might want to build one. For now I will run this one to see what else it needs.

 

[joedirt1970]

While Toyoanvil perfects his skid plate and we all anticipate a super finished model.



I found this...

http://www.happy-trail.com/Yamaha-TW200/Skid-Plate-TW200.aspx $74.95