I use the Enduro Engineering bolt on linkage guard. It was pretty cheap and bolts directly to the EE skid plate I'm running on the Sherco. No issues with it in the last two riding seasons.
Most of my bikes are PDS... But the 2 with links have the first guard you've listed. Plastic doesn't catch on rocks. It's enough to protect the clevis. I've split the guard before. No big deal, have an extra on hand.
Linkage definitely better at speed and on initial stroke, tracks better. 5-6th gear PDS tank slappers are no joke. 🫨😅 EXC head angle doesn’t help there either though. 😅
Si utilizo. Y a juzgar por los arañados que tiene, vale mucho la pena. Tengo uno de aluminio, y una placa de teflon, la que ya solo queda la mitad 😱 Pero yo suelo rodar por terreno muy rocoso, y con grandes escalones. Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷
Great vid. Love the sound effects. I was always baffled why they don't come stock with linkage protection. Even plastic is better than nothing and for logs especially works fine to slide vs catch.
I found the skid plate beaver tails tend to get worn through by the linkage and snap off if you hit it a lot. I fitted a plastic guard as well that is much wider than the linkage so it distributes the load across the whole beaver tail instead of just a small area in the middle. It definitely helps the beaver tail last longer if you are having issues with them wearing through and snapping.
I use the bolt on skid plate extension from dowa tek on my se300 sherco that comes with the axp skid plate from factory. Glued and bolted 1cm think rubber of a conveyor belt on it to addidionally damp the impakts. Works for 95hours now.
I'll definitely be making a trip to the kitchen store for a solid cutting board. I have damaged and repaired linkages before so "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
KTM Power Parts plastic skid plate with the beaver tail. It’s on 300SX for desert use though… but definitely helps as you never know what you might hit at times. Rock riding still on my PDS 300EXC. Wouldn’t buy another aluminium skid plate though.
I use the Xtreme axp/moose skid plate it is Polyethylene and has an extra thick linkage guard with a wear bloke that can be replaced and it is quiet compared to metal and slides across logs and rocks better to but it is a little pricey.
I was wondering for a little bit why I had never needed this part (I find the weak links by breaking them, so to speak) but then I realised I've been using home welded skid plates that I cut to size so they cover anything that looks fragile/grabby. I also try to dent them so water is directed away from my feet when I drive through it. Then you mentioned a single one of those things is 300 bucks and I realised my bikes are literally not worth the protection. On my last offroad bike I ended up getting an entire wingarm with linkage and pins+bushings (not even broken ones!) for around 150 euros. I only needed the chain guard off it but the extra parts ended up being very nice.
Really good point. I can't see any point in spending a lot of money if you don't really need to. Generally if you aren't hitting the linkage regularly on logs and rocks it probably doesn't need protection. And there are cheap ways to protect it. We only opt for the best protection because we are constantly bashing that linkage on every ride....
1/4 inch thick poly skid plate extension. Tough light and durable.
PDS problematic deflection solved 🙏
I use the Enduro Engineering bolt on linkage guard. It was pretty cheap and bolts directly to the EE skid plate I'm running on the Sherco. No issues with it in the last two riding seasons.
I took two pieces of aluminium angle,(40x5mm equal) the same length as the linkage. Cut and drilled, and shaped. Works pretty well so far.
Love this kind of do it yourself mod!
Most of my bikes are PDS... But the 2 with links have the first guard you've listed. Plastic doesn't catch on rocks. It's enough to protect the clevis. I've split the guard before. No big deal, have an extra on hand.
I use a ktm 😅, pds isn't better, but I love the simplicity off the system.
Same here. I'd much rather glide over logs than have allegedly better rear suspension at speed.
Linkage definitely better at speed and on initial stroke, tracks better. 5-6th gear PDS tank slappers are no joke. 🫨😅 EXC head angle doesn’t help there either though. 😅
Si utilizo.
Y a juzgar por los arañados que tiene, vale mucho la pena.
Tengo uno de aluminio, y una placa de teflon, la que ya solo queda la mitad 😱
Pero yo suelo rodar por terreno muy rocoso, y con grandes escalones.
Saludos desde Argentina 🇦🇷
Great vid. Love the sound effects. I was always baffled why they don't come stock with linkage protection. Even plastic is better than nothing and for logs especially works fine to slide vs catch.
Cost cutting? It is strange as there are cheap ways to protect it.
I found the skid plate beaver tails tend to get worn through by the linkage and snap off if you hit it a lot. I fitted a plastic guard as well that is much wider than the linkage so it distributes the load across the whole beaver tail instead of just a small area in the middle. It definitely helps the beaver tail last longer if you are having issues with them wearing through and snapping.
Good point.
Haha the homer screams got me
😁
Acerbis extension off of a TMDesigns skid plate. Slides over stuff nicely!
I use the bolt on skid plate extension from dowa tek on my se300 sherco that comes with the axp skid plate from factory. Glued and bolted 1cm think rubber of a conveyor belt on it to addidionally damp the impakts. Works for 95hours now.
OBIE Link guard . Bolts to skid plate. Like $40 USD . Lasted three years so far but I’m no Barry either!! 🐽Cheers!!
I'll definitely be making a trip to the kitchen store for a solid cutting board. I have damaged and repaired linkages before so "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
I do the cutting board method.
KTM Power Parts plastic skid plate with the beaver tail. It’s on 300SX for desert use though… but definitely helps as you never know what you might hit at times.
Rock riding still on my PDS 300EXC. Wouldn’t buy another aluminium skid plate though.
I use the Xtreme axp/moose skid plate it is Polyethylene and has an extra thick linkage guard with a wear bloke that can be replaced and it is quiet compared to metal and slides across logs and rocks better to but it is a little pricey.
I just bought some 4mm PE Plastic sheet and DIYed some basic "protection"
👍
Acerbis plastic skid plate comes long enough to protect the linkage too. So far so good
I was wondering for a little bit why I had never needed this part (I find the weak links by breaking them, so to speak) but then I realised I've been using home welded skid plates that I cut to size so they cover anything that looks fragile/grabby. I also try to dent them so water is directed away from my feet when I drive through it.
Then you mentioned a single one of those things is 300 bucks and I realised my bikes are literally not worth the protection. On my last offroad bike I ended up getting an entire wingarm with linkage and pins+bushings (not even broken ones!) for around 150 euros. I only needed the chain guard off it but the extra parts ended up being very nice.
Really good point. I can't see any point in spending a lot of money if you don't really need to. Generally if you aren't hitting the linkage regularly on logs and rocks it probably doesn't need protection. And there are cheap ways to protect it. We only opt for the best protection because we are constantly bashing that linkage on every ride....
Nine cnc , linkage guard made of aluminum, coat about 30 usd , works like a charm
My linkages are the bashplate
Axp Nylon plates
I'm heading straight to the kitchen😂
I love these do it yourself mods lol