which headlamp protector. ?
 

Hi, before I press the dreaded buy now button...is there a difference between the OTR headlamp protector and the Touratech one...seem to remember someone saying one was a better fit. Got whipped by a branch today, no harm done but I realised some headlight protection would be worthwhile...I'm talking about the mesh one by the way! Steve

Personally, I prefer the Holan mesh protector. It's the cheapest too.

http://holan.pl/gb/xt660z-tenere/431-headlight-protector-steel-yamaha-xt660-tenere.html#.VQR2t46sWSo

It looks very similar to the OTR version, but I think the fixing points look neater and a little less clunky.

The TT one, besides being expensive, only fixes at two points and relies on resting on the headlight lens via a rubber bung - If the guard gets hit force will be directed to the headlight lens.

TT's new quickly removable mesh guard looks horrible and is ridiculously expensive!

I use the Yamaha one. It's delivered with a special bracket to fit it. Very happy with it.

http://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/access...00/details.acc

I like the look of the Yamaha one; saw one on a bike in a dealers and was impressed. Looks to be a good fit and not secured to the headlight by velcro stickers like some others. Should be easy to clean both the guard and headlight as there's a small gap between the two.

Hi Pleiades, thanks as ever for advice...have you bought from Holland ? Just went to buy the guard from them and thought I would check first as they don't do PayPal and need your card details. Thanks Steve

Yes I have. Bought my panniers and rack from them, amongst a number of other things.

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=21198

Never had a problem. Safe, secure, decent products, excellent prices (especially given the falling euro) and their delivery is surprising quick from Poland.

Thanks Pleiades, I'll get my order in! Steve

Looking at the Holan website they used to be suppliers to Touratech up until 2008 til' deciding to go it alone.
I like the look of their metal rear carry rack, & can see they are ( the large & small ) the same shape as the TT's.
Holan is where I first saw the 3 LED lightbar I was seeking advice on.
Good to know they are safe to deal with.

Hi steve...
I can double that vote for off the road , brought a few bits from there , good service. Just wish i brought the bit i needed from them , would not have had the really long wait then. Will be messaging you soon about that ride!!...cheers jo..

Thanks Desert Racer and Joe, apreciate the info!, and hope your bikes back on the road soon Joe. If only we had Desert Racer's weather to ride in...! Steve

Should be fully back on road wednesday!!!!..

What effect does the metal mesh have on the light spread? Does it cast a shadow?

Yes, they do cast a shadow. It's quite significant and noticeable round the periphery of the beam. They don't actually interfere too much with actual light on the road, but it goes without saying, if you put anything opaque (no matter how small) in front of a light, it will reduce its efficiency.

The biggest drawback of mesh guards I've found, is that when riding in mud, it gets through the mesh and bakes itself on, and the fixed mesh makes it quite fiddly to clean off the lens at the end of a days trail riding for the ride home. You can flush behind it with water, but the only totally effective way is to take the thing off, which unfortunately requires removing screws; the last thing you want to do when it's cold, wet and getting dark. I've since reverted to a clear polycarbonate guard for this reason - quick spit and a rub with your sleeve and the jobs done! Or quickly detach it to reveal a perfectly clean lens underneath.

I think the plastic guards offer better protection too, although it might be sacrificial protection! There's always the chance that a small stone can get through a mesh one.

Mesh guards do look cooler though. ;)

+1 Pleiades

Just dont get the OTR clear perspex one. The Velcro tabs never held the cover well and luckily the few times it fell off while riding, it landed on the front guard and I didn't lose it.
Eventually drilled two small holes in the sides so I could secure it with two zip ties around the headlight frame. ie the velcro align and hold it and the ties just ensure it cant vibrate forward out of the velcro and drop.
Then last week I pulled up and just overbalanced the the bike into a small depression on my LHS (couldn't touch the ground) and a stick hit the cover and it just shattered!

So on the prowl now for a new one with the perspex tabs that protrude off the side and dont rely on velcro for securing!!

Matt.

Has anyone tried the Powerbronze protector?

http://powerbronze.co.uk/StuffForTeneres

I'm not sure how it attaches.

They're also available on eBay.

Fixes with four small Velcro pads.

Best of the plastic protectors IMO are either the Yamaha official accessory or the Touratech one. The Powerbronze, Skidmarx and OTR versions are all Velcro fit jobs and sit very close to the lens, so any big impact on the protector will connect with the lens too. The Yamaha and TT versions, leave a good 10-15mm gap which will cushion any impact. The TT one is also a shatter-proof material too. They are both more expensive of course.

How much is a new lens?

As far as I remember it's about �140-150 and a ball-ache to change over.

Yeah Pleiades is correct. A Pheasant kindly obliged to make me put a new one in. Not too much of a problem but quite expensive!:mad:

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. What I meant is that it is a lot more time consuming than simply replacing (or just removing) a broken plastic (or mesh) protector, especially when the headlamp unit is only available to order. Your bike will be off the road (at night anyway) for a long time, which is even more of a ball-ache if you're travelling.

Protecting your lamp, which ever route you go down, is a prudent move in my eyes.

Yamaha headlight protector
 

Surprisingly, bought a genuine Yamaha headlight protector and it was the same price as the OTR one and is twice the quality.
I lost my OTR one numerous times but was lucky that others saw it or it landed on my front fender a few times without completely falling off the bike. The Velcro fasteners are useless for holding but ok for locating with zip tie fastening as I eventually did. Then I dropped the bike on a log and smashed it!
sooo, new one fitted today (along with did chain and JT sprockets from wemoto au)
http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/m...pshztvcrpk.jpg
http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/m...psdhlcif6w.jpg
Brackets pickup bolts on the frame and use compression rubbers to mount the screen.
http://i317.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa2aungbr.jpg

That looks strong, should do the job!. Steve

That's what I'm hoping and I'm making a tracing of the Perspex plate so if I break it I will cut out another and refit to the brackets.

Matt.

On the subject of the Yamaha headlight protector...

I have a brand new spare perspex front (no mountings) surplus to requirements if anyone wants it for free?

I don't suppose you would be trekking past Australia any time soon would you Pleiades ? Otherwise I'll be visiting my folk's in Kent in September & hopefully be bringing back an Altech rad guard in my suitcase to.

I would be interested in it if there's no taker's closer to you & less hassle. :112:

First come - first served! ;)

Just PM me the Kent address to post to and I'll send it off...