Opinions wanted - OTR bashplate tool box
 

Hi folks!

I've just been chatting with Thorsten at OTR and he is playing around with some designs for a tool-box/container as an accessory to fit on his sump-guard on the Tenere.

If you look at the CAD drawing below, you can see he has addressed the main issue owners of the Touratech bash-plate have, that is access to the compartment itself:

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...eenShot001.jpg

Instead of having a top hinged lid (that fouls on the exhausts), he has put the pivot further down, so the whole container pivots downwards, and basically rests on the ground once it's been opened - giving full access to the interior (to get at all those Smarties that have shaken themselves out of the packet en route - yummy!)

I've suggested using two clasps (they will be lockable btw.) for safety - just incase one ever failed or broke - this is vastly more important than with a top hinged lid design of course; and that the capacity ought to be at least 3 litres or more, so you could put in a water bladder (MSR/Ortlieb bag type) for us rally types...

So, what do you think? - and more importantly, would you buy one?

Jenny xx

Looks good, what would the clearance be like between the front wheel & the container?

Hi Kev - I'm presuming 'enough'... x

Certainly there is quite a bit of space on the Tenere, as the engine is mounted quite far back, and the front edge of the engine/frame is quite chamfered. I've not heard anyone complain who has the Touratech set-up (well, not complain about that issue anyway x), and they use their tool box designed for the KTM 990A.

I'm sure OTR will shape it so the wheel can't touch the front edge of the container...

J x

Presumably this won't fit the standard Yamaha bashplate?

Hi Tim - I doubt it, it's almost certainly specifically designed to fit the profile of the OTR bashplate - the same as fitted on my bike:

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...t/DSCF2736.jpg

xxx

Im still looking for a bash plate, really like those metal ones.
How will the hinges work if you drove thru mud?

I would consider buying one if it isnt too expensive (TT ones at �260 or so)

I dunno Jenny, What's the chances of a CAD simulation of the unit closed ??


To be honest in it's open position it looks like a dustpan, only requiring a brush to complete the set ......

I'm sure the quality will be unquestionable, but what about the price ? any idea of a rough figure ??

And, the big question, because to my mind if this is a no, then this isn't much use, can it take a normal 275/300mm pair of tyre levers ??

Here you go GLUG' - this is basically what it would look like closed...

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/r...eenShot002.jpg

A good point abut being large enough for tyre levers (although to be fair they can be attached to the bike in other places such as frame rails with zip ties, as they are rarely used?) - I'll pass that on...

I'll also ask about prospective pricing - the bash-plate is €129.00, and the box will be an add-on accessory, although he may do a combined price...

xxx

Just ordered the bash-plate last week...

... and would have ordered the toolbox if it had been available.

'cos I'm in need of a place to stash some tools (indeed including a set of 30cm levers) for a short Marokko trip.

Touratech (smaller) skid-plate is only €109,
Touratech toolbox is €52,-

I still went for the OTR bash plate cos:
- the small Touratech one offers less protection I guess and should be combined with a €85,- roll barr
- JMo tested it ;)

Anyhow: to solve the storage problem I'll probably go for some sort of tooltube solution (... or very much maybe the TK Pipes solution)

HJ

Hi Singleminded!

Good luck on the Morocco trip - I wish I was going somewhere warm this time of year - I've not been in the UK for two winters now, it's mad here!

As for the comparison with the TT set-up, I believe their tool box only fits on the larger of the two bash-plates (it's the same tool box that fits the KTM 990A bash plate), and on the Tenere, the lid fouls the exhaust header pipes, which is basically why OTR came up with this alternative design.

Regarding carrying tyre levers - I've seen people zip tie them to the frame tubes next to the airbox/pillion pegs, or even to pannier rails if your bike has them - hopefully you won't need to use them much. In fact you could always just stash them in your luggage for the amount of use they are likely to get?

looking at the space available on the front face of the OTR bashplate, I'm not sure there is going to be enough width to get a tyre lever of any size in there (even diagonally), although you can get a nice set of 3 mini tyre levers that work very well (don't ask me how I know this, read TBM in March x)

Glad you went for the OTR guard, in my opinion, it is the best one out there at the moment - even if I have recommended a couple of improvements based on my recent rally experience...

Jen xx