Valve Cover Protectors

[cycl2day]

About to buy valve cover protectors for my 2016 R1200R (red frame). Looking at BMW, Wunderlich USA (std or CF), and carbon from SSR manufacturing in California. Two questions; 1) anyone have a recent 1200R with any of these or maybe you can suggest another choice, and 2) Carbon or aluminum alloy? Carbon looks good and its cheaper than the alum alloy, is there any drawback??

2016 R1200R love this ride!
2013 R2013GS (sold)
2007 R1200R (sold)
2002 R1150R (sold)

 

[sailorlite]

Have you checked out the MaMo protectors? They work great for very low speed drops - no experience at higher speeds.

https://machineartmoto.com/r1200gsa/2013-2014-gs-2014-adv_lc/x-head_lc/

 

[exgman]

The Machine Art Moto covers looked good to me four years ago when I bought my RT. I put them on, and have had no incidents. Here's the URL for your R1200RS: https://machineartmoto.com/r1200r/2015-r-rs-liquid-cooled/x-head_lc/

 

[gsinnc]

Another vote for MachineArtMoto !! Also the BMW guards look and work well too. Have MAM on one of my bikes and BMW on the other.

 

[coachz]

Yet another vote for machine art moto, have them on 1200r and 1200rt

 

[cycl2day]

Valve covers

Sounds unanimous for MAM, I will check those out today.

 

[36654]

I'm happy with the BMW guards on my 2016 RS (same part as the R). There's a replaceable rubber bumper in the event of a drop.

IIRC, GIVI makes the lowest cost cylinder head guard for these bikes.

 

[lee]

I've had the BMW guards for four years. As mentioned above the black plastic piece can be replaced cheaply after a tip over.
My wife had the same BMW guards but sometimes she would catch her pant cuff on the back of the guard when putting her foot down at a stop.
I replaced her BMW guards with the Machineartmoto guards.

Keep in mind any of the valve covers are mainly for parking lot tip overs. If you go down at speed, it doesn't mater what you have for guards, the bike will probably be totaled.

 

[mosrrt]

I quite using these valve cover protection because one bmw valve cover is close to the price of a pair of cover protection and you can’t buy one side cover protection if damage .
Sometimes dirt can get on the backside of the protective cover causing damage to the bmw valve cover .
In the last 4 years or so no issues with damage from drops or tip overs not using anything .
Mike

 

[lee]

you can’t buy one side cover protection if damage .

The BMW covers have to be bought as a pair but the black plastic bumper can be purchased one at a time for $22.
Machineartmoto sells the left or right cover separately for $115.

 

[lee]

Sometimes dirt can get on the backside of the protective cover causing damage to the bmw valve cover .

Trapped dirt and sand behind the protective covers was a concern for me.
I have 47,000 miles on my R1200RS and Debbie has 45,000 on hers.
I had the covers off last week for a valve check and after wiping off the dirt film the valve covers look new with no scuff marks.

 

[36654]

My wife had the same BMW guards but sometimes she would catch her pant cuff on the back of the guard when putting her foot down at a stop.

I just can't make that happen............15-minutes in the garage trying to do it. Have you guys been going 1970's Retro with the bell-bottoms??

 

[cycl2day]

Valve covers

Not that this is a show stopper but the BMW covers would need to come off before changing a spark plug or maybe even to clean the bike as opposed to other brands like MAM?

 

[lee]

Not that this is a show stopper but the BMW covers would need to come off before changing a spark plug or maybe even to clean the bike as opposed to other brands like MAM?

You can change the plugs without removing the BMW covers. The Machineartmoto covers would need to come off.
The plugs need to come out when doing a valve check so I change them at that times. Any valve cover protectors would need to be removed for a valve check.
Some of the GS type bars can be left on.
I would think any brand of valve cover protector would need to be removed if you want to clen under it.

Here's a picture of the BMW covers.

 

[lee]

:. Have you guys been going 1970's Retro with the bell-bottoms??

Debbie has BMW Streetguard 3 pants and Klim Altitude pants with average cuff opening.

 

[lee]

In this picture you can see her knee is close to the head. (I think it's her left leg she would catch) Sometimes she swings her leg more forward and this is probably when she would catch her pant leg.

 

[r0ckrat]

In this picture you can see her knee is close to the head. (I think it's her left leg she would catch) Sometimes she swings her leg more forward and this is probably when she would catch her pant leg.

View attachment 80713

Lee, I see the BMW covers also reuse the aft headcover bolt - does BMW provide a longer bolt for that or does it use the stock length? The MaMo covers require a bolt about 1/4" longer than stock which they supply, but their bolts appear less sturdy than the OEM bolts.

 

[lee]

Lee, I see the BMW covers also reuse the aft headcover bolt - does BMW provide a longer bolt for that or does it use the stock length?

The cover come with a different bolt for that location. The end of that bolt has female threads and a small bolt threads into it holding the cover in place.