I'm not a fan of the exhaust guards, but I know people that love them
I prefer to let the exhaust get banged up rather than letting the forces go through less malleable parts of the bike

with a 2t blow out kit you can easily pull off the pipe and blow out the dings in no time

 

I had the bottom skeleton type on my TPI but conscious of the damage to the frame paint where it mounts. I wrapped inner tube around the frame. Honestly I wouldn’t bother with another for the reasons Grant gives above.

 

The only person who wins out of exhaust guards is the person who makes/sells it. A bit like swing arm guards. They both can do more damage than they prevent. As the others say, easy to fix a pipe and rare that they get really battered.

If it’s about maintaining a shiny pipe then cleaning is a better option. Wire wool and autosol sorts any pipe.

 

Cheers guys. No guard it is then 🍺

 

I’ve always used one, Procarbon for the last 10 years, and I’m using an Acerbis sump guard at the moment which is excellent

 

AXP Xtrem KTM EXC 17-23 Skid Plate - Black

The strongest extreme sump guard for KTM EXC and XCW 17-23. AXP Xtrem skid plate in black.

dirtbikespec.com

AXP on both our bikes good bits of kit

 

Tried the AXP first, did not like the mounting system at all on the Beta, the Acerbis use the factory mounts

 

i was looking for one with me upside down to show you better...

 

Cylinder exhaust flange guard gets my vote.

Rather have a dinged pipe than a mullered cylinder.

TPS guard, metal petrol tank fitting rather than plastic, rad guards with rad shroud rubbers rather than bolts. S3 master cylinder savers, wrap round handguards ....... spare pants.

Jesus - 'flange' and 'rubbers' in one reply ...... wazza will be here in a minute 🙄

 

Flange guard is already on its way. I'll have a nosy at the other bits

 

Big Fan of AXP skid plates, i also sell quite a few R-tech skid plates which are good too and a lot cheaper and easier to mount than AXP

 

Link? I use R-Tech plastics and really rate them

 

Exhaust valve guard on mine too. Really good idea.

 

I would go with the second option, if a must...but better to let the pipe to take the beating.
FMF Gnarly for example is much thicker than OEM.
Flange protector is a must for hard enduro.

 

I would go with the second option, if a must...but better to let the pipe to take the beating.
FMF Gnarly for example is much thicker than OEM.
Flange protector is a must for hard enduro.

Pretty much a contradiction

 

I run a carbon guard on my exhaust, P3 on the 300EXC, Power Parts on the 300SX… touch wood, never broken a flange and I’ve dropped the EXC a good few times in the rocks.

Skid plates, I’ve got the aluminium power parts one on the EXC and the plastic one on the SX, which is OEM but really Acerbis I think. If you hit the aluminium ones hard enough, you can bend them. Easy to straighten in a vice but a faff, can buzz too.

I’d go with the plastic ones going forward… got the beaver tale one on the SX. Not a fan of those big exhaust cradles, as above.

 

Gnarly is a tougher pipe but also different power characteristics. Much harder to blow back out too after a good bash.

A thinner pipe deforms rather than transferring any load to mounts or flange for a lot of hits. Thinner is also easy to blow back out. Scuffs file out. If you use a factory bare metal finish pipe rather than the chrome finish ones, it’s really easy to look after them. I think I’ve only ever totally screwed one pipe since 1980! I’ll keep running the gauntlet.

The water pressure pipe blow kits straighten twists and bent pipe necks. It’s ace watching it go back to the original shape.

 

I don't use carbon exhaust guard anymore. I found they just look good and bend your exhaust out of shape which puts strain on the exhaust flange and cylinder in a impact. I don't worry about the dents. Better dents than broken header flange or worst case cylinder. The gnarly does the same because it is thicker. But less than having a carbon guard.

Bashplate I have aluminium from EnduroTek Over time it has taken all the paint of the bottom of the bike. But it doesn't bother me. Maybe you could stick some rubber to the bottom of the plate to stop this. I don't know. I hope that helps

 

I got a Fresco Factory cone pipe for my Beta. It looks like a Scalvini. It’s proved very robust so far even being dropped on rocks. Only annoying thing is no bolts to re pack. It’s a drill the rivet job. Well made though and looks sweeeet!

 

I run an Artafon exhaust cage and it is one of the best thing I have brought for the bike! Not had to blow out any dents and I ride some hard river beds etc.
Pig to fit, but once on does a brilliant job and doesn't collect mud.

 

These are available if you like to run a cage for your pipe…

 

Stainless steel might be a bit cold to start but fine once warmed up.

 

Greater coefficient of expansion… handy if you’re a grower…