Engine Guards for 800 - Again

kw-retrorider · January 02, 2013, 20:27:36 PM

Drift1: If you use the link I gave, it takes you to ebay and the item for sale. If you scroll down, eventually you get to a section labelled "ask a question." When you click on that it will ask you to log into your ebay account (so you need to set that up with password first). Once you do that it will allow you to send email back and forth to the seller within ebay. That is the correspondence I had with Guido Broux....all in English.

Ratman: My total was $228 to my door in Maryland. That is better than $250 plus shipping from the guy in NJ (whose are similarly shaped) and that is for a chrome one. Black powdercoat extra from the NJ seller. Must cost more to ship to Canada. I looked at the engine guards from Motif and did not like the shape - unique I suppose.

Drift1 · January 02, 2013, 19:27:19 PM

RATMAN,I myself have been getting on Mo-Tiques web ever since you gave me that info with no success....that site has been down for weeks....as a matter of fact,never been able to see what that site looked like,my man.

CDNRatMan · January 02, 2013, 19:06:12 PM

I just tried them on ebay and was a bit turned off, to get them shipped if I did the conversion correctly it is $176.16 for the bars and then then $110.00 for shipping, $286.16 seems to be a bit dear for the product.
I have tried to get to Mo-Tique site but they seem to be under repair or something, but I am sure it was not so dear there and shipping seemed to be a lot less costly. I am going to hold off for now.

Drift1 · January 02, 2013, 18:57:01 PM

KW,I'M having no luck on the website(foreign language) being able to communicate with someone.Do you have an actual contact # or an email address so I can try that route?I would like to see if he has the rear bars as well being he seems to be the only person with the front bar available for the 800's.Thank you for any help you can provide.

kw-retrorider · January 02, 2013, 18:49:35 PM

49Reo - Thanks, just trying to tone down the chrome and keep it "old school."

49Reo · January 02, 2013, 17:05:55 PM

Kw, don't know if anyone has told you this yet, but that is ONE SWEET RIDE!!!

Regards an such,
49Reo

CDNRatMan · January 01, 2013, 18:32:33 PM

I could not get the black light bar nor the spotlights in black so I had mine powder coated........I have also been repalcing a lot of the chrome acron nuts and button head bolts with black over the past few weeks.

kw-retrorider · January 01, 2013, 18:25:58 PM

Drift1 - Don't remember how I found these. I think I started with Motif and once on UK ebay, did a search for engine guards or bull bars. Anyway, from the link I gave, you can click on another to his wesite. He seems to specialize in crash bars. On the left side, it said there were only (18) kawasaki parts....all bars and radiators. Like you, I don't speak the language, but, Guido Broux responded to me in english when I had questions before I finalized the purchase. You could try that.

49reo: Thanks for your comments. I too wanted a blacked out Drifter, but couldn't find one in the right condition at the time. When I found my 2002, the black body work made it conducive to further "blackening, so I had a vision, but it took awhile to find the right parts. See photos.

Trying to stick to OEM accessories, I put a black head and tailight on it and just finally put a black light bar, spots and front and rear black turn signals....all from a '99 1500. Now just have to figure out what size the in line fuse is to the spots, then they'll work; but I think I like the overall look as a blackened Drifter equivalent. Even have a set of black handle bars, but will with this for now.

Drift1 · January 01, 2013, 16:53:45 PM

KW....I myself just received the same product from the same guy....I went through a third party to learn about motorsloop.Wasn't to sure how it was going to pan out,so I didn't want to post to you till the deal was a smooth transaction,but you beat me to it.I've been trying to see what else Broux has available for the 800,.but the web is in Dutch & I can't change the language setting.I've clicked on English with no luck....Do you know wgat else he gas? Aprecciate any help in advance.....

49Reo · January 01, 2013, 16:45:06 PM

Nice! Good write up. i like the look of that "beefy bar". Every time I look at one of you guys' blacked out bike makes me want to buy another Drifter, in the blacked out look.

Regards and such,
49Reo

kw-retrorider · January 01, 2013, 16:07:17 PM

Since there was limited response on the topic, would like to share what I came up with for my 2002 800. The links below are to a bike parts place in Belgium. The engine guards are made in the Netherlands. It is a current product available in both black and chrome. Price is about $171 with about $50 from overseas.
I liked the shape because of the vertical side instead of a half circle loop. The profile is just the width of the floorboards. The tube is 35 mm, which about 1.38 inches; so larger than the fire and ice 1.25 inches, but not noticeable as a jumbo beach bar. The quaility is above average and fit precise (which means you put all the bolts in loose and then tighten it up. See photos.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAWASAKI-VN800-VN-800-DRIFTER-CRASH-BAR-ENGINE-GUARD-/150966909255?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2326543947

http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAWASAKI-VN-800-DRIFTER-ENGINE-GUARD-BULL-BAR-BLACK-/200865544185?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2ec484f7f9

The only modification required was the horn, which could not be mounted again. The two horn bolts are used by the engine guard. See photos. I thought I was going to bend the horn bracket and then use longer bolts, but instead I drilled the cross piece for two 1/4-20 x 3/4 stainless bolts (more visible than black, but fasteners I had around) with a washer on each side and a nyloc nut on the back side, then used the original horn bracket and horn. There is plenty of slack in the wiring to connect it again.
This is in the price range of things available in the U.S., but comes in black for those with blacked out Drifters. The transaction was smooth and the contact at the other end, Guido Broux was more than accomodating by answering questions and making prompt shipment, well packaged. My only question was: does it fit the Drifter.....it does! I would recommend this "bull bar" as they call it.

CDNRatMan · November 17, 2012, 07:49:34 AM

I have ordered parts from Mo-Tique, just not the engine guard. I have the sissy bar and the front fender guard. If the engine guard is made as well then not an issue, both mine are well made with really nice welds, ordering was simple payment was simple and shipping to here was fast. Cost is very resonable as is the shipping cost. Ease of installation will be found out soon as the snow is on the ground to do my mods I am after.

kw-retrorider · November 17, 2012, 04:32:15 AM

Have read all the info in previous posts...all dated around 2010. So, now two years later....looking for more current info on engine guards:

1. K32000-041 no longer available from Kawasaki - If anyone has one used, I am interested.
2. Does the OEM engine guard for the 1500 Drifter fit on the 800 Drifter (this question on previous threads but no answered.....anybody know or tried to fit one?)....lots of 1500 guards around.
3. Anyone have a set from Mo-Tique on their machine that can post photos?
4. Any experience with the guards from MC Enterprises?

I know they are available from Cobra, but would prefer a minimum and not oversized guard. Other options I have found either say: "Doesn't fit Drifter" of simply doesn't say. Prefer OEM guard.

Any assist much appreciated.