Own development of "bulletproof" skid plate.
 

Hi guys, as I cannot find any durable enough looking skid plate for XTR, I decided to develop one for myself. And I will appreciate any good ideas you can give me. Current prototype is made from 5mm Al material, laser cut, welded only for testing, no final stadium. Final type will be welded to "look nice" or brushed from outside to not be able to see any welding.

What you think about construction? I tried to protect water pump, let enough air wents and protect even mag cover. All mounted on frame directly with 4x 10mm screws - original points on bike.

Development hi-res gallery is here.

Thanks for any ideas, Radek

https://photos.smugmug.com/Yamaha-XT...8_193528-S.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Yamaha-XT...8_192408-S.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Yamaha-XT...8_192330-S.jpg https://photos.smugmug.com/Yamaha-XT...8_192303-S.jpg

Hello and welcome aboard.
That's a Decent looking guard you're made and i quite like it's exposed welded look.
Only personal option I would suggest would be as you have done a great job of covering the the pump and mag cover maybe some small hard rubber blocks attached to the inside of the guard incase in a side fall the alloy would contact the casings. That could help disperse the force.

Colin J

Welcome to the forum! , that looks like a seriously strong bash plate. ..good job! Steve

Hi Colin, that sounds me like a really good idea! Thanks a lot, I will try find something proper to stick to inner side...

Thanks Steve, I will test its strength during weekend hardcore testing.. Will post some video...

Wow !
Solid !

Great Job !

i have some suggestion about a possible airflow improvment. on the side, maybe it is better to cut a bit a let the airflow cool the sides and the engine. like this (your actual job ), it can have a "lift" effect too - hard to say (French sorry :)) . better for air resistance i mean

https://s14.postimg.org/5ms9xho4t/IM..._192303-_S.jpg

Thanks for opinion!

Meanwhile, we tested current state in real conditions. It was very, very hard to bend it ;-) but we did. So we added some more "ribs" (?) to inner bottom part and inner front part. There was not any problem with heating. Material itself works like big cooler, absorbing and radiating heat from engine (aluminum). We decided to cancel some of front vents to avoid mud going directly into skid plate - it will be much worst for heat to have full plate of mud. We are canceling all in the middle and some near mounting part, which need to be stronger. We discuss exactly the same vents you mean, but there is opinion - if you will ride through muddy road in deep track, you will have skid plate on mud and vents can "slice" mud and it can get inside...
https://photos.smugmug.com/Yamaha-XT...6_100659-M.png

yeah you are right about the mud for the sides ;) didnt thought about that :)

this is a very nice project !

somethng i ve noticed and may be usefull for "enduro" or heave road - is the cooling hose on the right side. freaking bad placement here ... is there anytong to do with your proctection ?

We think about that it is soft enough to not be destroyed by "flying" rock from front wheel, it is inside bike enough not to be destroyed by dropping bike on right site... and making skid plate over that will look horrible.

Anyway, we are developing additional crash bars for lower part of fairing and radiator, compatible with skid plate. It will solve rest of problems.

Damn ! extrem pro project !!

i already need it :D