Took the T120 for it's first service yesterday and the weather for the 80-mile round trip was awful. The bike is absolutely rotten and it will be interesting to see how well it cleans up. The irony is I am having it ceramic coated but arranged for that to be done after the first service.
Well, here is a, somewhat belated, update. The bike cleaned up well but the radiator has taken a bit of a pounding at the bottom. It looks like it is not fully protected by the mudguard. I have purchased a fenda extenda in the hope that will help. I might also consider putting some radiator mesh between the radiator and the protector but am wondering if this will impeded the cooling. I guess the good thing is that the radiator isn't stupidly expensive.
The coating was applied after the clean up so, no. I guess we will have to wait until the next time I get caught out to see how that performs.
Some after market radiator protectors may impede the airflow. Had one fitted to my previous Tiger 800 and it definitely ran slightly hotter. I also have one fitted to my R nine t - a cheap as chips Chinese copy of the ridiculously expensive Wünderlich one. Owners on the forum complain that the engine temperature runs too hot (the BMW has an digital engine temp gauge, which is actually an oil temp gauge as the bike is air cooled). Mine only goes up by 2 degrees so cheap is not always bad!
I need to do something. This is disappointing after 500 miles and only one trip in inclement weather.
That looks like impact damage from road crud. Usual story I'm afraid, front mudguard not large enough by design. Easily sorted by fitting a mudguard extension. I've just ordered one for my Tracer.
I have bought fenda extenda, which I will fit at the weekend. Also, some R&G radiator mesh that will offer a bit more protection than the OE radiator cover. Shame, if I had known how ineffective the OE cover was I would have fitted these from day 1. Oh well...... Any other vulnerabilities that I need to be aware of?
That's pretty much the basics covered Marcus. Any other bits you fit will be just " nice to haves ". Great name, BTW, named our eldest Marcus.
There’s a big difference between SoCal and So’ton! If you peered behind the grill it’s just what your car rad looks like. My TS has been fully up armoured out of the same necessity.
I like the look of that but the holes seem quite large. Does it offer better protection than the original factory-fitted radiator guard?
The fender extender does a good job, only get the bottom hose a bit mucky on bad days. Rad guard is good for looks and against stones.