Utah Cycle Skid Plate on an 07 WR450

[SXP]

A couple of you had asked for pics of the skid plate installed on the bike. Here you go...

[mxcowboy]

Nice fit.

[jim-in-so-ore]

I notice you still have all of the carb vent hoses going down and out the bottom... If you follow up on them you will find that 2 of them have tees in them. In deep water crossings(where these vent hoses are submerged) your bike will stall and die because the hoses can't let the carb breath. I suggest that you take the 2 hoses with the tees and route one each up into the airbox by the battery. this will allow the carb to vent properly. I found this out the hard way.

Oh, by the way, Nice skid plate. It's differant that the steel framed model.

Jim

[dangermouse007]

Cool.. Am talking to them at the moment about getting one.. looks a good fit.. the only thing I don't understand it why an oil Drain hole at the bottom, when you will still have to take the plate off to get to the front one ????

And at least it fill the gap before the linkage,,, I had a ton of mud sitting there the weekend...

[WR_Dave]

Thanks SXP, nice looking skid plate, I was hoping it would cover the rear frame spars where they weld onto the engine cradle tubes. I've had to weld up a buddies bike in the area below the footpegs, due to a rock gashing the metal open. I would hate to have to start doing any welding on the Aluminum frame. I may get one of those and modify it to my idea of what should be covered. I think it's a great plate for mud and logs and roots but some of the jagged rocks we get into here might get to the unprotected areas, My .02---WR Dave.

[dangermouse007]

Just Ordered mine.. been thinking about it.. but your pictures sealled it.....

[WR_Dave]

Since SXP has been so good to the rest of us with posting pics, I thought it was only fair that I posted some pics of the mods I did to my Utah Sport Cycles skid plate. Now don't get me wrong , the skid plate is a perfect fit and built very strong. I just have to have things my own way and riding bikes in the Canadian Rockies is hard on unprotected frame rails ( jagged rocks damage frames). I tried to TIG weld some extensions onto the stock plate but the anodizing is completely through the aluminum and won't stick, so I just bolted my extra protection on for my own piece of mind. This in no way reflects poorly on the original skid plate, it is just what I seem to end up doing to alot of my equipment:crazy: .Thanks again SXP----WR Dave

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1136.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1142.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1144.jpg

[SXP]

Since SXP has been so good to the rest of us with posting pics, I thought it was only fair that I posted some pics of the mods I did to my Utah Sport Cycles skid plate. Now don't get me wrong , the skid plate is a perfect fit and built very strong. I just have to have things my own way and riding bikes in the Canadian Rockies is hard on unprotected frame rails ( jagged rocks damage frames). I tried to TIG weld some extensions onto the stock plate but the anodizing is completely through the aluminum and won't stick, so I just bolted my extra protection on for my own piece of mind. This in no way reflects poorly on the original skid plate, it is just what I seem to end up doing to alot of my equipment:crazy: .Thanks again SXP----WR Dave

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1133.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1136.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1142.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1138.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v234/WR_Dave/100_1144.jpg

Brilliant:thumbsup: What kind of fasteners did you use to attach the pieces to the skid plate? Did you countersink the holes and did you tap and thread the skid plate to act as the "female" fastener?

[Tough Guy]

I like the skid plate, whats the cost?

Chris

[WR_Dave]

I used 1/4 by 20 tapered head allen screws from a local bolt supply store, Home depot here has them as well. I drilled and tapped the skid plate and counter sunk the holes in my extension pieces, used lock-tite on the threads and used a grinder to knock off the small bit of the threads sticking through the other side. I also put some neoprene weatherstripping on the bottom of the frame rails so there is no metal to metal grinding going on. Using the 1/4 inch screws allows me to go up to the 5/16 inch screws if I have any problems. The skid plate was $82.00 USD. WR Dave

[jams229]

SXP and WR Dave:

Have you noticed additional engine noise bouncing off your skid plate?

How has the plate affected handling, if at all?

I know that the Works Connection skid plate that I had on my CRF450X

did affect the noise and the handling. That's why I am considering an

E-Line plate.

Thanks,

Jim

[SXP]

SXP and WR Dave:

Have you noticed additional engine noise bouncing off your skid plate?

How has the plate affected handling, if at all?

I know that the Works Connection skid plate that I had on my CRF450X

did affect the noise and the handling. That's why I am considering an

E-Line plate.

Thanks,

Jim

Definitely more engine noise reflected back up at you.

I don't see how a skid plate could have any effect on handling at least none that I've noticed.

[WR_Dave]

It will definetly make the engine noise a bit louder, but like I keep saying, where I ride a bit more engine noise is better than a rock up through the cases. I think the only handling difference might be a lower center of gravity if you filled it with mud. And that is exactly why I chose this particular skid plate because the rest don't cover the front of the frame enough to stop mud from filling the area between the engine and the plate. I have been using plates for 15 years and have yet to have a problem because of it. WR Dave.

[dangermouse007]

Its a great product... the only fault I would say is the under bolts are not counter sunk... just have a vision of catching the head on something... but once again a great great product and a must for any 07 owner...

[WR_Dave]

The bolts that come with the plate are round headed allen bolts that would slide over most obstacles. The reason I changed mine to bolts is that if I drag one over a rock I can still get a vise grip on it to remove it.Also with the extension pieces I installed they are kind of below the aluminum in the frequent event of skidding over a log or downed tree. WR Dave.

[Chooch68]

Nice job Dave! The lava rocks in the Cali desert do a number on aluminum frames. If I can find the time, I'd like to do that as well. But the Utah plate is working well for now.

[nico-1]

where did you by the skid plate?

[WRC]

SXP or WR DAVE, where did you order the skid plate from, and would you have a part number for it? Thanks

[WR_Dave]

I ordered directly from Utah Sport Cycles http://www.utahsportcycle.com ,but I hear that TT has the same thing in the TT store and the Moose and MSR plates are made by the same company as well. WR Dave