CSC Aluminum Skidplate Installation

[detours]

I installed my new skidplate from CSC today and it came out really nice.

I didn't take pics of the whole process because CSC's tutorial is very good, but I did some of the process a little different and thought I would share.

I don't have a grinder, so to save work for my dremel, I used a pair of pliers to bend and break the welds on the stock mounting brackets. Worked perfectly for the front and right side, but the left weld was pretty tough and didn't break off clean.

I put a metal cutting wheel on the dremel and cut it off to the frame. Then I painted the bare spots with some bed liner paint.

[detours]

While I was under there, I noticed a small drip of coolant from the lower radiator hose. I tightened the clamp and wiped up the drip. It seemed to stop the leak, but I'll keep an eye on it.

While I was thinking about coolant, I topped off the overflow reservoir. The level has just about stabilized, so this may be the last top off it needs.

[detours]

I also took this opportunity to replace my engine guards. Both sides of the guard were bent from going down a few times in the dirt and I thought this would be a good time for some fresh metal.

The aluminum plate is very strong, and I like how high up the new guard goes. Some mud might make it through the slots in front, but it's going to keep the engine a lot cleaner.

Notice how close the new skid plate hugs the frame. I wish I had a pic of the original plate, but it hangs about 1/2 - 3/4 inch down from the frame. The new plate probably extends only about 1/4" out, so you actually gain ground clearance with this mod.

[detours]

And here's the whole thing. I think it came out pretty nice.

[SpudRider]

That's a nice, clean installation. Thanks for posting the good photos.

[SpudRider]

Indeed, the new skid plate compliments your bike very well.

[detours]

Thanks, I can't wait to take it on the trail!

[SpudRider]

The Shinko tires also look very good on your RX3. Have you noticed any cupping/unusual wear on the front tire?

[Riceburner]

detours, what do you think of the next oil change and potential mess, think you'll be able to get it semi clean? I don't see any drain holes like the OEM.

I keep looking at the mess from the oil change and have a semi-plan on making a drip tray to slip up under there just haven't made the time to focus on it.

[detours]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

The Shinko tires also look very good on your RX3. Have you noticed any cupping/unusual wear on the front tire?

No, at 2800 miles, I don't see any cupping. Front and rear look great.

[SpudRider]

Originally Posted by detours

No, at 2800 miles, I don't see any cupping. Front and rear look great.

That's good. The rear tires on my motorcycles never cup. However, the Kenda, K270 front tire of my RX3 began to cup, but it didn't start until after 8,000 miles.

[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.

[pyoungbl]

I have removed the aluminum skid plate a few times. I use a 3/8" drive universal joint to get at the front bolts. It's still a less than ideal setup but I find that I can reach each bolt (one from the left side of the engine, the other from the right side). Since the nuts are self locking I don't try to put a lot of torque on them. Soon I'll need to replace the nuts as the nylon locking feature won't last forever. On my bike the left rear mounting bolt is a challenge. My crash bar on that side is not an exact fit so it always requires some 'encouragement'. Nevertheless, the plate is well worth what it cost and the minor aggravation.

Peter Y.

[detours]

Oil changes are going to be messy. The drain plug isn't blocked, but removing the oil filter and screens will drip all over the skid plate. A drip tray is a good idea if it can be worked out, but I figured I would just live with the mess.

Removing the skid plate would be a pain. The rear bolts are easy, but the front ones are hard to reach. I only got one or two good clicks on my socket wrench reaching through from the left side. Or you could pull the exhaust every time and lift the front bracket off the cross bar.

[Riceburner]

Originally Posted by detours

Oil changes are going to be messy. Or you could pull the exhaust every time and lift the front bracket off the cross bar.

detours,
You may want to just pull the engine out every time you change the oil...