Bushes for fixing plastics
 

Is there an affordable alternative for replacing the bushes which stop the plastics from being crushed when you tighten the M6 bolts that fix plastics such as the sidepanels? I would imagine another manufacturer has a cheaper (presumably pressed) item. The machined Gas Gas bushes are expensive (£5 UK ea.)

I go to a good local industrial hardware supplier for stuff like this, o-rings, metric hardware, etc. Not sure what you have available in the UK but you can likely find an alternative for a fraction of the cost of OEM.

What immediately comes to mind for your request is an M6 weldnut. Just drill the threads out and grind to length to match the plastic thickness. I did this on my Hyde combo skidplate.

Yes, I'll probably make up some spacers. I'll check some of the other dirt bike manufacturers first though. I'm sure one of them must produce a cheap bush.

i use a bonded fender washer. it's a sealing washer with 1 side rubber, 1 side steel. works well, gives larger contact patch too.. it works for the holes that top hat bushes have been torn out..

Another trick for torn out plastic mounts is to use a rubber stopper of the closest size to the tapered recess in the plastic, cut to length. Drill a hole through it and use a fender washer on top. When its tightened it expands and captures the plastic, way stronger than an OEM shoulder washer, perfect for fixing shroud mounts.

I use this type grommet, it work fine and my local shop carries them. cheap too.
the last ones i purchased were about 50 cents each.
http://lockhartphillipsusa.x-shops.c...236-230-01.jpg