CSC Aluminum Skidplate Installation

[detours]

I've had CSC's aluminum skidplate since 10/15 and since I gave it a beating on the Webster Pass trip, I thought it deserved a long term review.

To cut to the chase, this was a great addition to my RX3 and it has really saved my butt a couple of times. Mostly it just had to deflect a few small rocks thrown up by the front wheel. But when I needed the protection, it did the job.


Protection

The protection is really excellent. Each time I've taken a hit, the bike survived without any damage. It's really strong. I've bottomed out on a few boulders, got high-centered once on a ditch (while I pitched forward over the handlebars), and even hit a cut off steel post that was hiding in plain sight. The steel post left a mark, but aside from that and a few scratches, it looks almost new.

The protection is probably overkill for pavement and graded dirt. But if you plan to hit any rocky trails at all, I highly recommend the CSC skidplate.

Another aspect of protection is staying out of the way. Unlike the stock skidplate, CSC skidplate mounts flush to the bike frame. This gives you about 1/2 inch in ground clearance, helping you avoid hits offroad. It also deflects dirt and keeps the front of the bike clean.


Installation

I won't rehash the installation process, but I will note that the upper bracket has rattled loose on mine, causing vibration on road and off. Retorqueing the bolts fixes the rattle, but the bolts aren't easy to reach, so it's kind of a pain.


Service and Removal

The upper bracket hooks onto a square bar that runs between the frame bars. The bracket is square too, and it holds the skidplate firmly in place, so you can't just swing it out of the way for service.

As it is, the main oil drain bolt is in the open, but cleaning and draining the two other mesh filters from the side makes a mess on the skidplate. No big deal really, but I don't like drips. It would be nice to swing it out of the way.

Note: For 2017, it would be nice if the RX3 changed to round bar stock instead of square for this crossbar. It would make installation and service with the CSC skidplate much easier.

First, the bracket could be riveted to the skidplate instead of bolted, avoiding the difficult reach to those bolts. After removing the stock plate and brackets, you would just need to hook the bracket on the round bar, swing the new skidplate down and tighten the rear bolts.


Lifting the bike

One nice thing about the CSC skidplate is the flat, even surface, which is great for lifting the bike. Lifting my RX3 is very stable with my Harbor Freight motorcycle lift, thanks to that flat surface.