Skid Plate for V7 - Curious about its attachment

[TimmyTheHog]

Well, as we all probably know, skid plate is far and none for V7.

So I decided that I want to fabricate one as weather is still not cooperating here where I live....gotta keep myself busy beside hiding the garage from the wife :P.

But as I start to dig deeper, I start to notice a lot of the skid plates for all sort of bikes nearly all are mounted to the engine itself, if not to the clutch casing nearby.

my Question is: Wouldn't it be less stressful and less likely to damage the engine if the skid plate was to hold onto the frame  of the bike?

Or if I go that route, would I possibly start a destructive path if I do?

[Caffeineo]

I think you are not planning on any serious off road use or impacts. Just some protection for rocks and other stuff thrown up by the front tire. Adel clamps should work fine for a light weight skid plate. You can mount it directly to the frame.

Cheap and easy to put on/take off.

[TimmyTheHog]

Ya, it’s mostly for deflection small rocks and branches for pavement and gravel road.

Thanks for the suggestion of the clamp.

But still curious why would an engine mount skid plate more sturdy/secure than a frame mount one.

I mean isn’t crash bar for V7 designed to mount to ththe frame as well. Hmmmmmmm.....

[guzzisteve]

Well, Guzzi has used skid plates before, V65TT & NTX.  They had a tab on each side on motor bolt (goes thru block). An L shape bracket w/2 screws on each side to hold pan up.
What to use for a guard?  Hospital bed pan, household dish pan, etc.

[TimmyTheHog]

Well, Guzzi has used skid plates before, V65TT & NTX.  They had a tab on each side on motor bolt (goes thru block). An L shape bracket w/2 screws on each side to hold pan up.
What to use for a guard?  Hospital bed pan, household dish pan, etc.

A rod right thru the block eh...interesting. I guess they are going for spoils rigid design where either nothing break or everything breaks lol

Lol at the bed pan...I have access to a plasma machine so was going to cut and form a template out of 1/4 alum...will see heh

[rodekyll]

A skid is a low angle/oblique impact.  A skid plate needs to slide more than absorb a crash.  So I don't see a problem with it mounted to the engine.  After all, many modern engines are stressed frame members, so they're already directly absorbing a lot of forces.

The first V700-through-eldo big blocks had skid bars that bolted to the bottom of the sump using the same bolts that hold the sump.  I've torn down many of those engines that had scuffed and dinged skid bars and even broken skid lugs and bent bolts, but showed no engine damage.

The sump on my Breva 1200 engine is lower than the hydro it replaced (trike content).  The only reason I'm not adding skid bars is that I don't want to reduce the ground clearance even more.  If I had the room though, I wouldn't give much thought to them being engine mounted.

$0.02

[TimmyTheHog]

A skid is a low angle/oblique impact.  A skid plate needs to slide more than absorb a crash.  So I don't see a problem with it mounted to the engine.  After all, many modern engines are stressed frame members, so they're already directly absorbing a lot of forces.

The first V700-through-eldo big blocks had skid bars that bolted to the bottom of the sump using the same bolts that hold the sump.  I've torn down many of those engines that had scuffed and dinged skid bars and even broken skid lugs and bent bolts, but showed no engine damage.

The sump on my Breva 1200 engine is lower than the hydro it replaced (trike content).  The only reason I'm not adding skid bars is that I don't want to reduce the ground clearance even more.  If I had the room though, I wouldn't give much thought to them being engine mounted.

$0.02

Thanks for your 2Cs. Highly appreciate!

Ya I have read that about the modern engine design as well. But I don’t understand it too well for me to mess with it. But it does sound the design has been proven without much faults.

Well, I figured as I do some gravel road, nothing crazy, I feel more comfortable by having something to deflect small objects and glance over small branches when needs to be.

[redhawk47]

A skid is a low angle/oblique impact.  A skid plate needs to slide more than absorb a crash.  So I don't see a problem with it mounted to the engine.  After all, many modern engines are stressed frame members, so they're already directly absorbing a lot of forces.

The first V700-through-eldo big blocks had skid bars that bolted to the bottom of the sump using the same bolts that hold the sump.  I've torn down many of those engines that had scuffed and dinged skid bars and even broken skid lugs and bent bolts, but showed no engine damage.

The sump on my Breva 1200 engine is lower than the hydro it replaced (trike content).  The only reason I'm not adding skid bars is that I don't want to reduce the ground clearance even more.  If I had the room though, I wouldn't give much thought to them being engine mounted.

$0.02

That maybe explains why Agostini thinks it is sufficient to mount their skidplate on some flimsy extended stump bolts. It's not enough if you roll over a big rock and high center. http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=79669&sku=AMV7PC&description=Agostini+Skid+Plate+for+V7%27s+and+V7+II%27s
Plus, you have four bolt heads on the bottom to snag stuff.

And the one from Baak - might look good but would be a trash collector in the woods and not much use in the rocks. V7 only, not V7II or III

I've been thinking of making a skidplate myself. One criteria - no more than four screws to remove (and no loose nuts) to access oil drains. That could be removing the whole skidplate or some access covers. But, too many projects right now.

Dan

[Caffeineo]

I would think a plastic skid plate would do just fine. Get one that is made for a dirt bike and close to the right size. Drill a hole for the oil drain plug. Or you could just just buy a piece of some heavy duty stuff and make one from scratch. I'm sure someone here will know what material would work best and how to cut and shape it.

[guzzisteve]

A rod right thru the block eh...interesting. I guess they are going for spoils rigid design where either nothing break or everything breaks lol

Lol at the bed pan...I have access to a plasma machine so was going to cut and form a template out of 1/4 alum...will see heh

Yes, Smallblocks have a frame bolt that goes thru the block, good place to hang things from.