Do You Need A Skid Plate or Radiator Guard?
Wondering if you should invest in a skid plate upgrade or radiator guard? It depends on the kind of terrain you’ll be riding:
Hard Enduro & Trailer Riders
Trail riders and hard enduro addicts with a passion for rocks and logs should carefully consider adding both a skid plate and radiator guard to their bike. Skid plates offer protection for your frame, engine block, linkage, and more – the underbelly of your bike – as you navigate gnarly terrain. Radiator guards help to prevent trailside punctures in your radiator that leave you at risk of engine overheating.
Motocross Riders
Motocross riders may wish to upgrade their stock plastic skid plate as flying rocks, crashes, or even the footpeg of another bike can cause severe damage to the underside of the bike. Whether or not you’ll need a radiator guard is up to you–but most MX riders seem to skip the rad guard to avoid adding extra weight to the bike.
Choosing A Skid Plate
There are two models of skid plates: The narrower plastic models are typically designed for motocross riders who want essential undercarriage protection without adding unnecessary extra weight to the bike. The wider, heftier models are designed for off-road and enduro riders–offering more significant coverage for both sides of the engine, protecting your linkage, water pump, ignition cover, clutch cover, and more.
Choosing A Radiator Guard
Your radiators are the primary cooling system for your bike’s engine. Holes in your radiator are difficult (if not impossible) to fix trailside! And riding a bike with a punctured radiator puts the engine at serious risk of overheating (resulting in a warped cylinder head, cracked engine block, and more). Avoid these issues entirely by protecting your radiators with guarding. There are a variety of brands and styles available. Most important will be choosing a radiator guard that fits your particular bike.
Ready To Shop? We’ve Made It Easy:
Start by using our search tool to ADD YOUR BIKE – and then review available skid plate and radiator guards available for your specific bike model.
