The bars got delayed by the weather like everything else but turned up a week ago. I don't have a garage and didn't fancy fitting them in the snow so I waited untill today when I had some time and all the snow had ******ed off.

When they first turned up I thought that they may have made a mistake and sent me some jeep bull bars, The box was just 5 times larger than it needed to be and full of packing.

I was working with the bike on the side stand cos I have to. I'm looking into a center stand as storing paddocks is a hassle. Fitting instructions were easy enough and the bars went into place quite easily. Had a couple of niggles with the bolts.

The engine and frame must have shifted slightly after I had removed the three bolts used as mounting points. The original bolts came out easily enough but the longer bolts that came with the bars were stiff going back in. Nothing the application of a rubber mallet didn't put right.

The other thing was the the original bolts have 14mm heads and the replacement Givi bar bolts have a 17mm head. This made it a very snug fit for me to get the socket over the bottom bolt as the 17mm bolt head is that much closer to the engine casing. The socket was rubbing up against the engine. As close a fit as you can get and still fit. You can't realy get a spanner to it as the exhaust pipe is in the way and I didn't really want to get into taking the exhaust off.

My only other issue wasn't a fault of the bars or fitting instructions but my tools. I couldn't get the socket on the bolt head properly (head completely in the socket) because the exhaust was in the way and when I used my only extender bar it still wasn't a perfect fit because the engine bars I was fitting was in the way.

15-20 minute job. You may need to use a mallet and/or some judicious bad language.

Yea the 17mm nut can be a bit of a pain but the bars are great, ive used them already, twice!!!!:icon_smile:

Thanks for the update Bishop, can you post a couple of piccies when you get chance? Presuming it's ever light enough to take any of course!
Thank you,
Selina

It's a slow night and I've got a flash.

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...neBarsRHS1.jpg http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...ineBarsLHS.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...BarsRHSGap.jpg http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...BarsLHSGap.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...X/FrontRHS.jpg

All the pictures are the same size in photobucket, this first one keeps blowing itself up when I post it. It's showing off.

Should give you an idea of what it looks like on. I like that it protects the engine without sticking out too far, like a pair of bull bars.

Hope it helps make a decision one way or the other.

Many thanks for taking the trouble to post piccies Bishop. They look great and look like they offer a lot more protection than i thought... and just when I'd more or less decided on the OTR bash plate.
http://www.off-the-road.de/xt660_sturz_schutz.html?&L=1
Which does look cool, but does it give as much protection as the bars? Arghhhhh can't make me mind up!
Cheers!
Selina

Selina, depends on what type of riding you're going to do. If you're going to be hitting the trails & bumping large rocks the Givi bars won't do you any good. They're fine for street riding and will save the engine from damage if you have a spill. I too have the Givi bars, I chose them cos they are discreet and offer the protection I'm after. Only thing is that they crack at the weld points due to the vibes.

So would these fit with the standard yam bash guard?

Ok I need to order some givi bars like Bishop has. Bit confused about which to order though as I'm not finding one for my exact bike - maybe I'm not on the right sites. My bike is an 06 model XTX - found this link is it the right one even though it says it's for the R http://www.motorbikesandparts.co.uk/yamaha-xt660r-givi-engine-guards-0406-p-18232.html
Where did you get yours guys?
Many thanks!
Selina

X / R same thing...they'll fit. They've even got an X as the display pic.


unless someone can give a reason otherwise....

Thanks Denny, I was confused by the website quoting 07-08 models and X / R seperately in one case when I had thought they were the same too.

Selina