If you are thinking about getting some radiator guards to protect the rads, but want to maximise airflow and not compromise the cooling, I came across this eBay seller and tried his guards on my old Monster. The quality and fitment was very good, so I decided to try him again on rad guards for the 1098R. Ordered in a Satin Black powdercoated finish, they arrived perfectly packed just 2 days after ordering them. Ducati 848 1098 Radiator Protective Grille | eBay All I can say is that the quality appears even better than before, they are perfectly sized/shaped, have a thinner gauge to allow more air through, and are very subtle when fitted - more so than the likes of EvoTech/PowerBronze/etc. You can't see the rubberised edging once they are fitted, and there are no sharp bits on them at all to scratch anything. Cheaper than mainstream brands. Highly recommended! :smile: I have no affiliation with the seller, apart from being a satisfied customer. Just passing on the recommendation if anyone here is looking for similar.
They look identical to the set I got from Mikes Grilles last week. I'm certainly happy with the ones I've got on the Mutley.
I've got a set of EvoTech Performance guards on mine, I forget what I paid but have never had any overheating problems and I think as a precautionary measure, they're well worth it as I shudder to think what Ducati would want for a new radiator or oil cooler. I'll always have some fitted to my bikes in the future.
Just bought an 848 cooler to fit onto my carby... wonder if they would sell me just the bottom guard??
+1 for evotec. Fitted a lower one to the Streetfighter and have just come back from riding over the Pyrenes quite 'sportingly' at temps over 30 deg C and the temp was perfect. Saves the lower rad getting a battering. Greg
What did you use for trim? The mesh itself isnt that expensive... hmmmm. **EDIT** Got it. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Door-...essories_ET&hash=item43b0a1c0f5#ht_579wt_1139 :biggrin: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zunsport-...arParts_SM&hash=item3cbb9d6a2d#ht_3839wt_1037 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1e6ed52378
Be careful, seems lots of heavy braking eg trackdays, can foul the guard which can knacker the rad, or so I've been told. You have Ben warned.....
for the lower intake I used car body bonding and fitted it to the back of the plastic intake, for the upper I used said rubber edging the fitted it the way the road racers do theirs, ver fine cable ties at the edges of the rad.oh and some black heat-proof enamel paint makes the grill look like a pro job.
I have used rad guards on my previous track GSXR over many trackdays and never had a single problem. I assume most people check their bikes at least after a trackday, if not in between sessions. Mind you, I would be interested if anyone else has ever had the problem of rubber marbles getting lodged in the guard?
Believe it's the flex of front wheel fouling the cover which presses the rad and in turn splits the top. Looks like the old rad problem but you can see the rubber marks hence the concern. Reckon answer I'd go with would be take off for track days
The lower rad fairing is already screwed firm flush to the rad/engine, so I'm not sure there is any flex backwards at all? <confused>
It's the forks that flex and the wheel comes closer to the rad. With the guard in place, at least on the one I'm talking about, it's thick enough the tyre fouls it and pushes it but it seems enough that it puts pressure on the rad mount and splits the rad That was the theory of why it slit from the mechanic anyway. Having seen marks on my own bikes from front wheel rubbing a bellypan post Track use that wasn't thee on road use it makes sense to me
