Well, I went ahead and made my own radiator guard.....I wanted to buy an already made one but I had some time on my hands....and so it began.
1.- You will need aluminum screen, can be bought at Home Depot/Orchard Supply Hardware.
-You will also need zip ties (I used 15), make sure they are the re-useable ones...they are easier to remove if you need to clean the guard or need access to the radiator.
-Weather stripping. I bought the double sided with adhesive on them.
-and some tools/entertainment that you may need....beer, music, and some snips to cut the excess zip ties.
2. You will need to remove the bottom fairings, splash covers under the nose, and the radiator overflow bottle. You can remove the front fender if you like...to avoid scratching it, but it’s not necessary.
NOTE: BEFORE YOU PROCEED TO INSTALLING THE GUARD....CLEAN YOUR RADIATOR SO ITS FREE OF BUGS/SHIT WITH A TOOTH BRUSH OR SOFT BRUSH...BE CAREFULL NOT TO DAMAGE THE FINS>
3.You will need to cut the mesh down to size....I cut mine to 14"wide and 11" high....this will give you just the right amount to be able to fold the edges inward.
4. Once the mesh is cut and edges are folded inward (about half an inch) you can cut the strips of weather stripping to size (these are used so that the mesh does not rub on the radiator edges and it spaces the mesh between the radiator fins so as to not damage them) Center the weather stripping on the edges and fold them like a taco...then take three zip ties placing one on each end and one in the center, gives the weather stripping support.
5.Once all that is done...use your rear tire (I have a 180) and center the mesh on it....then press the mesh into shape by pressing it unto the tires shape...this gives it just the right curvature....worked perfect for me, lol..
6. Once that is done..."dry" fit the guard on the radiator and makes sure all is well....the left/right edges should butt right up against the foam that is on the edges of the radiator.
7. On the top right/left sides of the radiator...there are holes that you can feed a zip tie through...use these as anchoring points....I did not take a pic of these "holes" but you'll notice them right away....if not..I’ll take pics, lol. For the bottom...you only need one zip tie at the bottom center...loop the zip tie around the bracket that the radiator is attached to. BEFORE YOU ZIP TIE THE BOTTOM....PEEK UNDER AND MAKE SURE THE GUARD IS NOT BRUSHING ON THE RADIATOR FINS....THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST HALF AN INCH OF CLEARANCE.
8. Once its all zip tied and perfect...YOURE DONE!!!! Put everything back together and youre set to go.
1.- You will need aluminum screen, can be bought at Home Depot/Orchard Supply Hardware.
-You will also need zip ties (I used 15), make sure they are the re-useable ones...they are easier to remove if you need to clean the guard or need access to the radiator.
-Weather stripping. I bought the double sided with adhesive on them.
-and some tools/entertainment that you may need....beer, music, and some snips to cut the excess zip ties.
2. You will need to remove the bottom fairings, splash covers under the nose, and the radiator overflow bottle. You can remove the front fender if you like...to avoid scratching it, but it’s not necessary.
NOTE: BEFORE YOU PROCEED TO INSTALLING THE GUARD....CLEAN YOUR RADIATOR SO ITS FREE OF BUGS/SHIT WITH A TOOTH BRUSH OR SOFT BRUSH...BE CAREFULL NOT TO DAMAGE THE FINS>
3.You will need to cut the mesh down to size....I cut mine to 14"wide and 11" high....this will give you just the right amount to be able to fold the edges inward.
4. Once the mesh is cut and edges are folded inward (about half an inch) you can cut the strips of weather stripping to size (these are used so that the mesh does not rub on the radiator edges and it spaces the mesh between the radiator fins so as to not damage them) Center the weather stripping on the edges and fold them like a taco...then take three zip ties placing one on each end and one in the center, gives the weather stripping support.
5.Once all that is done...use your rear tire (I have a 180) and center the mesh on it....then press the mesh into shape by pressing it unto the tires shape...this gives it just the right curvature....worked perfect for me, lol..
6. Once that is done..."dry" fit the guard on the radiator and makes sure all is well....the left/right edges should butt right up against the foam that is on the edges of the radiator.
7. On the top right/left sides of the radiator...there are holes that you can feed a zip tie through...use these as anchoring points....I did not take a pic of these "holes" but you'll notice them right away....if not..I’ll take pics, lol. For the bottom...you only need one zip tie at the bottom center...loop the zip tie around the bracket that the radiator is attached to. BEFORE YOU ZIP TIE THE BOTTOM....PEEK UNDER AND MAKE SURE THE GUARD IS NOT BRUSHING ON THE RADIATOR FINS....THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST HALF AN INCH OF CLEARANCE.
8. Once its all zip tied and perfect...YOURE DONE!!!! Put everything back together and youre set to go.