I installed the Mototorque crash guard and removed the stock engine guard on the Triumph Scrambler 400X. Why did I do it and how does it perform? Let’s get into it.
The stock leg guard and the lower engine guard on the Triumph Scrambler 400X is very functional. The build quality is great and it does a great job in protecting the engine in case of a fall. However there was one issue that we faced with it when we started taking it off road, on trail rides and dirt track practice sessions.
The stock engine guards sits close to the frame. And hence on multiple occasions, the bike fell over rider’s leg and it used to get stuck in between the engine guard and the ground. The leg wouldn’t get crushed but the foot would be stuck on the other side. It’d completely immobilise the rider and they can get out of the situation only if someone lifts the bike and then they can drag their foot or leg out of the situation.
When this happened a couple of times, we were on the look out for alternatives. That’s when we came across the crash guard made by mototorque. Before fixing it we went to their office and checked it out. Now it’s been more than 5-6000 kms riding with it so here’s my review on it. Long story short, it’s so good that i got one for my Himalayan too.
Pros of Mototorque Crash Guard
1. The Sliders
Mototorque crash guard comes with a big enough slider. When the bike falls, the slider is the first thing to come in contact after the handlebar. This creates a large enough gap between the flat ground and the bike to a point where you can pull out your foot by yourself instead of having someone lift the bike. This feature was the main one that made us go for mototorque crash guard.
The second advantage of these sliders are that in case of a bigger impact, these bolts that holds the sliders in place absorbs the impact and bends out of shape. And thus it prevents the full force from getting transmitted on to the chassis. This happened in our trip to Ladakh as well. All that was needed was to remove the bolt and replace it with a new one and we were good to go. And in case the slider gets severely damaged, you’ll get fresh ones from Mototorque.
2. Build Quality
The fit and finish of these crash guards are great. The powder coating on these match the quality of the chassis on the Scrambler 400X and hence these won’t feel out of place with the bike.
Cons of Mototorque Crash Guard
I don’t consider this as a con at all but some say these rigid 3 point mounting crash guards will transmit forces to the chassis and will break the chassis. To all those people I just have one thing to say. You can spend money and replace a chassis. No amount of money can completely replace a fully functioning femur or a tibia. So for me, our limbs are more important than anything else.
With that being said I’m totally against all the cage like crash guards that are actually a hazard in most of the cases. They cause more harm than good. But this particular one from Mototorque strikes a perfect balance in not being too much but just enough to give a little extra protection than the stock one.
On the Himalayan, I installed the crash guard that’s made for the Scram 411. Mototorque has a separate one for the Himalayan but i think it’s an overkill. This particular one for the Scram 411 fits perfect and is just enough for the Himalayan 411 as well.
Also another accessory that I forgot to mention in the other post is the side stand extender from Mototorque. This is a great help when going off road and when you go on tours. This prevents the bike from sinking in when it’s parked on sandy or muddy terrain especially when it’s loaded with luggage. We got it installed for both the Scrambler 400X and the Himalayan and it was of great help during our Ladakh trip.
Product Link – Mototorque Crash Guard for Triumph Scrambler 400X, Mototorque Crash Guard for Scram 411, Mototorque Side Stand Extender for Triumph Scrambler 400X, Mototorque Side Stand Extender for Himalayan 411
- Which Motorcycle Should I Buy? – Types Of Motorcycles
- What to pack for a long motorcycle ride
- What to carry for a Ladakh trip on a motorcycle / bike?
- Vesrah Ceramic Brake Pads for Himalayan 411 – Honest Review
- Vaishnu LED Headlight Review for the Triumph Scrambler 400X
- Tour tension free! – Skyshop C400 TPMS Review
- The best touring accessories for the Triumph Scrambler 400X
- The best mod for Triumph Scrambler 400X – 15t front sprocket
- The best handle bar for the Himalayan 411 – Magnum Motorsports
- TEC Camshaft for Himalayan 411 – Is it worth it?