Radiator Cages
 

For you engineer types reading this. How much benifit would I gain by bracing my homebrew radiator cages back to the subframe that runs around the tank? I am looking for a little triangulation to keep the whole assembaly from bending back. I have thought of welding a small tab to the subframe, using a hose clamp or drilling through the subframe and using a small diameter bolt to connect my triangulation to the front subframe. Any thoughts?

Paul


I should just buy some premade units but I always seem to have way more time than money.

im trying to figure out a bracket setup so i can bolt on a set of Works Connection style radiator braces , im thinking about something that will clamp to the frame in front of the fuel tank , it sucks because theres no mounting points to bolt anything to. Using the subframe mounts would work but you'd have to use a long mount which might be flimsy .

I am thinking about mounting to the small hoop the tank sits in no the actaull rear subframe. I had thought about a bracket arond the frame or even a block nestled between the motor mounts. None of those options provides any triangulation.

i have an idea that will work ill get a pic to you tomorrow when my girls around, i dont know how to crop my pics to post them

Paul,

On my '01 XC300 I had GP radiator braces and Flatland radiator guards. Even with the GP braces, the Flatland guards crumpled from side impacts, allowing my radiators to be significantly deformed.

I installed modified CRD radiator braces on my '06 EC300 to provide triangulation in conjunction with GP radiator braces - see images. I added an extra plate on the brace along the side of the radiator. After 2 1/2 years of thrashing my '06 EC300 the radiators are in fine shape.

I also made some triangulated braces out of sheet aluminum similar to the CRD braces for my '01 XC300.

Here is a pic of the nice Meca braces. 4mm thick aluminum and crossed braces all the way across in the back. These are for the 07-09 bikes but the 06 and earlier are similar. Go Fasters will have some soon. Big coin though.

Here is a link to a pic of 99-06 braces. http://www.mecasystem.fr/produit-338...5-gas-gas.html


http://www.gasgasrider.org/gallery/data/500/view899.jpg

Now thats protection if i ever saw it. If i was in the market thats what i would go with.

On my 01 EC200 I have a custom rad brace setup (no frontal puncture protection). It's braced back to the frame (the brace is hidden behind the rad shroud) and the triangulation is GREAT. These suckers are bomb proof.

For bought units, those mecasystem ones look good. My personal choice is the Force Accessories guards out of Australia. They're awesome (though a bit of a pain to install).

Mine are modified Flatlands, with a total side thickness of 5mm that is supported by the GP braces top and bottom. Its tough to acheive the optimum triangulation considering the space. I whipped up the head stay mount as I was in a hurry to ride, so far has been bulletproof, but more trianulation would be nice. If you have time to kill while you heal, design a brace that is TIG welded to the frame like speedy describes for additional support to a good set of guards and GP braces. I will probably do this eventually when I strip the bike to the frame for major service.

Glen, What does the mount you fabbed up look like? For the brace to the rear of the radiators I have been thinking of a aluminum rod that runs from one side all the way to the other. I think I will probably go with a hose clamp around the tank subframe to hold my triagulated brace in place. It will rest against the frame where it meets the tank subframe. I'll Take some pics tonight and post them if I can figure it out.

Paul