ST1300-Radiator Protector
- Thread starter HelloEveryone
- Start date
Sidekick
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Really nice but, fender extensions can help deflect larger debris like rocks, I agree they’re not foolproof. My bigger concern is the finer contaminants, mud, salted sand, and sticky road residues, that tend to cling to radiator fins and are notoriously difficult to remove. A standard mesh screen wouldn’t offer much protection against those smaller, more stubborn particles, and could even be another layer of obstruction.
Funny story... I had a small wet spot on my rad a few years ago and thought "crap, i have a leak". I removed the rad and pressure tested it and it was fine. I figure the rad got smacked with something like a june bug and by the time I noticed, it had rotted and left a stain that resembled a leak. No big deal, cleaned up the rad, inside and out and threw a coat of shiny black paint on it.
Yes agree have that on the bike.
The ST1300 guys met up last Saturday was also discussing on the front fender extension benefits
Last experience was a small fruit bat got stucked to the radiator protector grill along a highway drive (car). The aftermarket grill protected the radiator from damage and it was found out only later when the car was in the service center the mechs were hunting where the foul smell came from.
The mechs removed it, informed me.
Another incident was also on a highway where a high speed loose rock knacks into the radiator (no aftermarket grill and cause it to slowly leak(car)
After the above 2 incidents, any vehicle I own be in car or bike I reckon better to have radiator grill protectors installed to reduce chances of such occurances.
Yup have this too, keeps the bike cleaner from picking up mud splashes from road too