Erwin P
Well-known member
- Likes
- 365
- Location
- Netherlands
Coverage may be an issue when falling on the side and some pointy rock sticks out. Has been with a few riders (broken of cooling fins). The question there is how far do you want to go and with what compromises? More coverage is less air and obstruction to where you can put your boots. But too little might be a damaged battery.
Also the linkage might be well served by a extender that covers it. But that can be done with a modifaction to the OEM plate that would/should not void the warranty since there is no extra force in the mounting points on the battery.
But then again. The rocker arm is €79,90 and i've never broken one on any bike. Combine that with this being placed higher and i'm not spending €180+ to protect a €79,90 part that i expect might never be seriously damaged in the first place.
The material used will not tear or break. It is simply too flexable for that and it slides really well (notice how rounded it is so it will not hang on to stuff). We have the same kind of material on our Beta's wich have seen a lot of violence as well (and don't have any damping underneath it) and still the material always stays intact. However we see the frames being bent flat due to it not absorbing enough power. Same happens with the steel versions friend of us had. However they add the extra benefit of tearing of the mounting point so it's welding O-clock.
The question with all bashplates from nilon like materials is not if the bashplate will survive, it just will. However it's the amount of force it can take without temporary deforming so much the protected area is hit. That is where the Stark shines with the foam instert. All the other brands have their bashplate hard mounted and the material doesn't matter if the force is fully transmitted.
I have my Stark for almost 2 years now and just replaced the battery under warranty due to something in the cells. Looking at the bashplate and the foam i will order new foam before next Hard Enduro season. It's not junk now, but you can clearly see it is somewhat deformed and will not absorb the same amount of force. But i think i can bear the financial burdon of having to replace a €29,90 piece every 2 years.
I would love to see someone taking a stock bashplate (from Stark, Beta or whatever) and working it with a sledgehammer and all kinds of violence. I think you'd be shocked by how much and well directed force it takes to do any damage. Do the same test with the more rigid alternatives and be amazed by how little it takes to deform of crack them.
Also a nice thing i've noticed is how much more plush comming to a standstil on some concrete is with the damped Stark compared to the undamped Beta. Significantly less shock force on your arms and knees. And if your arms and knees can feel it, the construction surely can as well.
In my opinion damping is the solution to forces from bashing into things. Not just more ''strong'' protection. Have been talking about that way before the Stark saw the light of day.
Also the linkage might be well served by a extender that covers it. But that can be done with a modifaction to the OEM plate that would/should not void the warranty since there is no extra force in the mounting points on the battery.
But then again. The rocker arm is €79,90 and i've never broken one on any bike. Combine that with this being placed higher and i'm not spending €180+ to protect a €79,90 part that i expect might never be seriously damaged in the first place.
The material used will not tear or break. It is simply too flexable for that and it slides really well (notice how rounded it is so it will not hang on to stuff). We have the same kind of material on our Beta's wich have seen a lot of violence as well (and don't have any damping underneath it) and still the material always stays intact. However we see the frames being bent flat due to it not absorbing enough power. Same happens with the steel versions friend of us had. However they add the extra benefit of tearing of the mounting point so it's welding O-clock.
The question with all bashplates from nilon like materials is not if the bashplate will survive, it just will. However it's the amount of force it can take without temporary deforming so much the protected area is hit. That is where the Stark shines with the foam instert. All the other brands have their bashplate hard mounted and the material doesn't matter if the force is fully transmitted.
I have my Stark for almost 2 years now and just replaced the battery under warranty due to something in the cells. Looking at the bashplate and the foam i will order new foam before next Hard Enduro season. It's not junk now, but you can clearly see it is somewhat deformed and will not absorb the same amount of force. But i think i can bear the financial burdon of having to replace a €29,90 piece every 2 years.
I would love to see someone taking a stock bashplate (from Stark, Beta or whatever) and working it with a sledgehammer and all kinds of violence. I think you'd be shocked by how much and well directed force it takes to do any damage. Do the same test with the more rigid alternatives and be amazed by how little it takes to deform of crack them.
Also a nice thing i've noticed is how much more plush comming to a standstil on some concrete is with the damped Stark compared to the undamped Beta. Significantly less shock force on your arms and knees. And if your arms and knees can feel it, the construction surely can as well.
In my opinion damping is the solution to forces from bashing into things. Not just more ''strong'' protection. Have been talking about that way before the Stark saw the light of day.
. It’s seems I’ve de-railed the original topic with all this. Sorry for that Erwin! 
But if they can iron out the above 3 things, I think you will see a massive shift here in the states where currently not everyone are feeling it just yet. Well at least in my crowd which consists of 3 separate rides clubs with lots of members in each. Just being brutally honest BTW.
