Last Updated on: November 11, 2025

Motorcycle protection can make a big difference, and allow you to continue on your journey instead of facing the end of it.

BMW 1200 GS Adventure with additional crash bar struts.

I said can. It all depends on circumstances of course, type of incident and, not the least, type of protection mounted. Plus type and design of the motorcycle. Not to mention the condition of the rider. Regardless of details, motorcycle protection can mean the difference between being stranded and being able to ride on.

Motorcycle protection types

There are plenty of simple solutions to improve motorcycle protection. Almost regardless of type of bike. There are ways to build on on what’s already installed or what comes with the bike. Extra protection comes with extra costs. Some solutions are very expensive.

The key is to reduce impact damage and divert or spread impact energy, which can help to reduce the degree of damage.

Cylinder protection on a 2010 BMW R1200 RT (touring bike).

BMW boxer engine motorcycles for example, are by design vulnerable in a situation where you tip over. But if a BMW boxer motorcycle has adequate protection it can help protecting the rider. Plus, like said above, make it possible to continue the journey.

Some types of protection:

• Hand guards: those made of aluminium can protect both your hands and handles.
• Engine guards: protects engine and vital, exposed parts of the engine.
• Bash or skid plates: applies if riding offroad or offroad oriented, protects the underside of the engine.
• Chassis protection: normally means upper crash bars that protects fairing from impact.
• Lighting or headlight protection: can be useful if you ride gravel, dirt or offroad, especially if you often ride in groups.

It’s not uncommon to buy and mount more protection than what’s actually needed. Stuff that easily can be classified as fancy accessory. Without any real or limited purpose. For every single item added the weight of the motorcycle also goes up. Potentially in the wrong places.

Some might also consider that well, if shit happens, it’s going to be an insurance case anyway. True, but how about being able to ride on in the event of minor damage. To not have your adventure ending because of lack of protection.

Some experiences

In the 10 years passed since returning to ride motorcycles (2015) I’ve not had many “incidents”. The few there are ranks from the pretty serious to the minor. In all those cases, or most of them, both standard and added protection did the job. In some cases more to reduce insurance settlements.

After 3 hits in road fenders & sliding >75 meters the engine was still undamaged.

In a serious crash back in 2020 the additional crash bar struts saved the engine. Without them the factory protection would have collapsed into the engine and destroyed cylinder heads and all the rest. The struts withstood it all.

On a later motorcycle I added some cheap crash bars that saved the engine and allowed me to continue the adventure. And there have been more benign circumstances where the protection prevented costly repairs.

September 2021: Cheap crash bars saved the engine in a offroad tip-over.

Some may argue that if it’s get serious then it doesn’t really matter. That i will be an insurance case anyway. Well true, but like I said above, that’s not really helpful if you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, and your journey cannot continue.

Lessons learned

Simply put: some protection is better than no protection. Smaller adjustments or more minor additions can do the job. You don’t always have to buy the high end, super expensive protection. That I’ve seen over and over again. The happening in 2020 led me to upgrade my current BMW 1250 GS with both additional struts, and cylinder protection plates. Latter to prevent the cylinders from being hit by rocks or other debris.

I also added a cheap variant of bark busters, with aluminium rods that could fit on the outside of the plastic hand guards. A nice addition that probably will protect both hands and handles.

My 2022 BMW 1250 GS with extra protection.

How and where you ride naturally influences what kind of motorcycle protection it’s sensible to consider. if you are the sort who like to venture off the beaten track. ride gravel and dirt roads, then all of what I mention should be standard.

Road oriented riders might dismiss this, but I will still maintain having some protection adds safety, for the rider as well as the motorcycle.

See also

• Windscreens and spoilers, a never-ending topic
• Windscreen spoilers, problem solvers or problem makers?
• Tomtom Rider 550 GPS review, after 3 seasons
• Touratech RALLYE Evo, don’t try this at home! (KTM 890 Adventure)
• Luggage solution for the KTM 890 Adventure
• Handlebar risers, controversies & (personal) results
• Motorcycle accessories – preparations for the season (KTM 1290 SAS)
• Air filters – all that glitters is not gold
• Part 2: accessories mounting day 2, the difficult part (BMW 1200 GS Adventure)
• Part 1: accessories and mounting on BMW 1200 GS (Adventure)
• Extra options that can make a world of difference