I've been thinking about this myself, seeing as my shiny new fmf is currently in the post! Ruined my std exhaust last month lol. Thing is those bash plates seem to offer the most protection, they just ruin the look of the bike imo. Thinking about the carbon one's that wrap around the exhaust but then do they really provide any real protection other than a ding from a stone? The other thing is I bet the fmf will take a hell of a lot more punishment than the tin foil one on the ktm!

 

You make some fair points there, the bash plate does not look all that great but I've seen some worse ones than the one in the link! I do have an old carbon guard that I was thinking of fitting to my Gnarly but imo they also look a bit crap and I can't see it taking much of a beating before the exhaust gets dented. I reckon that the carbon guards will also cause the exhaust to rot quicker than it would without it due to the extra heat and the crap that gets stuck between it and the guard.

 

Hadn't thought about shit getting stuck between it, that's a fair point tbh. My main concern is the bash plate looks like it'd bend quite easy as there's nothing supporting it at the front. I don't know if that's the case mind, probably best to wait for someone who's actually used one lol. But it's a lot of money if the guard itself takes a beating and gets damaged, not far off the cost of the pipe in the first place!

I've had a couple bikes in the past that had fmf's fitted to them, do seem to recall they took a hell of a battering before showing signs of damage. My standard exhaust has crumpled up and bent on the lhs of the exhaust where the starter motor is, don't think I've ever seen an exhaust fail there before!

 

Saw one of these exact ones on a blokes bike at Valleys last weekend. Looks like a good bit of kit. I think it will be hard to bend as its 4mm thick and the curves will make it stronger. If anything it may eventually crack before the weld....but I doubt that.

I have a knarly on my bike already and have had to blow it out a couple of times. Next payday I will be investing in one of these for sure...

 

Hyde plastic ones are better than the ali type.

 

I don't disbelieve you or anything like that but I'm just wondering why you think the plastic ones are better? Please can you post up a link to one! Cheers!

 

Plastic bash plate from pro action £38ish. Carbon pipe guard. They do offer good protection. Not gunna save it if you smash into a rock at any sort of speed but better than not having it.

 

I prefer plastic bash guards. Cheaper, lighter and flexible and offer plenty of protection.

 

Ive used the outsider for a few years (the original skid plate/exhaust guard combined ) the eBay one is a very similar design. the earlier Outsider ones wont fit on the gnarly,which is a shite as the last big off I had I had the gnarly on the bike with a standard spine type guard and flattened it.
If that model fits the gnarly I'd get it over the Pro carbon /plastic bash plate combination option.they generally have 3 fixing points underneath and a strap ( i dont use them though) so any hits are transferred to the frame not the pipe.

 

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Thanks for all the replies guys!

 

KTM 250, 300, 360, 380 2 Stroke Dirt Bike Off-Road Motorcycle Accessories :: Hyde Racing

 

Cheers for the link, unfortunately the gumph states OEM pipe only.

 

Id have a punt on the eBay one you posted SCB.

 

I may well do that. The one thing I don't like is that it attaches to the expansion chamber but I guess most do anyway. I might try and knock up some sort of supporting bracket at the front which attaches to the frame.

I find these days that it is always worth bunging up a post on a relevant forum to see what other people think.

 

So is the general opinion the carbon exhaust guards don't really do an awful lot. Don't think I can handle a massive basket hanging off the bottom of my bike lol. Feel like I need something though given the fact I'm have a habit of hitting things lol