Description
If you spend enough time off asphalt, don’t ignore a proper skid plate. The Ténéré 700 is blessed with a very durable under-engine cradle that provides robust mounting points and immense strength. However, the OEM skid plate is very thin and doesn’t provide as much coverage as this Acerbis unit. There are a lot of options on the market, so why consider this Acerbis?
Firstly, this skid plate is lightweight (approximately 1 lb heavier than OEM). Many of the competitors on the market are made of welded 1/4″ thick aluminum and can weigh as much as 5-6 lbs more. If you’re using the T7 for hard enduro, these are what you should be looking at. For everyone else, the weight penalty doesn’t equate to increased reliability or durability. We’ve run this skid plate on our test bikes over the years and it’s worked very well on typical ADV terrain (BDRs, double track, light-duty single track, and gravel).
Secondly, the plastic construction is injection molded and fits like a glove. The skid plate clips onto the cradle and holds itself in position so the bolt holes line up perfectly. If you’re prone to cursing in the garage, this won’t be the reason. It’s also very quiet and doesn’t rattle when debris hits it (or gets stuck on top of it). No one likes a skid plate that rings and resonates!
Finally, it covers more of the engine than the OEM skid plate. This means that mud and stones that get kicked up from the front wheel won’t ruin the finish of your engine. Furthermore, it includes a shock linkage protector, so in the event you need to slide over a log in your travels, those bits are also protected.
Note: This unit is designed for Euro 5 models. Euro 4 models can use this skid plate, but the clearance around the header is a little more than on prior skid plates (which are no longer available).
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