Bumpshid

[jaherbst]

I have the Stealth unlighted Bumpskid. (I don't want my wife to find me) I would have purchased the lighted one if it were available when I bought mine.

On the other hand the less extra electrical pieces you splice into your electrical system the less problems you will have. I do like all the extra lighting

people put on but seldom ever ride at night and don't need any more electrical problems than necessary. Seems like those who have gone overboard

with the lighting have the most problems. Not saying having a lighted bumpskid is going overboard.

Jack

[murphybrown]

How many have installed bumpskid and what is your thoughts at to it need/utility? Lighted or plain?

with led

[vstrommer]

Stealth for me.....no lights.....A must have item for protection.

[Jharpo]

I'm not saying that a bump skid is not a good idea, but I will likely be the only "dissenting vote" here. Everybody that has one seems to like it. What I did, for about the same money or perhaps a little less, was install BajaRon's shock adjusters to lift my front end and give me a better ride; and a set of TricLED's high density daytime running lights for the forward visibility. I really like them both.

Those are are really good mods, but the primary reason to purchase a Bumpskid is bike front end protection. Let's just hope good size raccoon or other critter doesn't run in front of you because the nose of your Spyder will be toast. I've seen it happen with and without a Bumpskid and it's not pretty. Everything below the frunk lid collapses if you don't have the Bumpskid. The lights are cool, and the Bumpskid looks good but the real reason is for protection of your investment.

[Jharpo]

Forgetting the lights for a minute, does the stock plate not protect the vital components the same? I know the bumpskid protects a larger area but I would have though the factory plate would protect the engine or critical components of the road hazards as mentioned? Even if its thinner would it not still hold up and protect?

its not just thin, it's also very weak. When I removed my stock plate on my ST, there was a hole in it the size of a softball and I know for a fact, it had never had more than a slight nose rub coming out of my driveway. BTW, the 2015 F3 has NO stock belly plate leaving the bottom of the bucket completely exposed if you don't install a Bumpskid.

[fratzba]

Lighted -- It gets quite a few comments, which means that people are seeing it.

And that's a very, very good thing.

-Fratz

[Chupaca]

I have the Stealth unlighted Bumpskid. (I don't want my wife to find me) I would have purchased the lighted one if it were available when I bought mine.

On the other hand the less extra electrical pieces you splice into your electrical system the less problems you will have. I do like all the extra lighting

people put on but seldom ever ride at night and don't need any more electrical problems than necessary. Seems like those who have gone overboard

with the lighting have the most problems. Not saying having a lighted bumpskid is going overboard.

Jack

what helped me also was the shock relocations and the podium Fox shocks. Lifted the front end but still have scrape marks on the bumpskid as well..

[spacetiger]

No. When I got my GS OEM bumpskid replaced, some bits were missing. SpyderPops bumpskid is thicker, more robust and covers more areas fore and aft. My F3 had one installed before it got home.

Poor GS's first bumpskid...

Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry

[iGot2Fly]

Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry

What can be done to fix the front suspension? I have a 2014 STL - I believe that comes with Fox shocks. Can they be adjusted?

I could really use the extra height as well. I have a bumpskid and do scrape periodically, especially on gravel / dirt roads.

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[Dan McNally]

Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry

The purpose of the bumpskid is not to prevent scrapes, but to minimize the damage they cause to the rest of the machine. Think of it as a "re-entry shield" on a space capsule, designed to burn away in order to protect the capsule - or, in this case, designed to absorb the scrapes and protect your Spyder.

[Ron2andia]

I have the stealth version too... Just felt like I needed the protection but haven't ridden with it yet.

[Bob Denman]

What can be done to fix the front suspension? I have a 2014 STL - I believe that comes with Fox shocks. Can they be adjusted?

If they have some preload adjustment available for the preload; try stiffening things up a bit...
Take some measurements first... add some preload, and then measure it again.
I added BajaRon's adjustable preload pieces to my RT's OEM shocks. Two turns, and I gained .25"

[iGot2Fly]

If they have some preload adjustment available for the preload; try stiffening things up a bit... [emoji106]
Take some measurements first... add some preload, and then measure it again.
I added BajaRon's adjustable preload pieces to my RT's OEM shocks. Two turns, and I gained .25"

I see - I will look into that. That would help out a lot -even an extra .25" would definitely go a long way.

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[iGot2Fly]

I went with the lighted version from Spyderprops - looks great!

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[bmwlarry]

I had one on my 2011 RT and loved it. I now have a 2015 and based on the recommendation of my Spyder mechanic, I am forgoing it on this bike. He has told me that the 14/15/16 are quite a bit lower than the earlier models and the bump skid will make it low enough that it will bottom out on the smallest speed bump etc.. It is better to scrape the bottom plastic a bit and maybe get a scratch than having the undercarriage take a big hit from a speed bump at speed!

Just me thinking and its just my opinion.

[Scotts8826]

I have the unlighted version. I can't tell you how many times I've scraped my driveway. My driveway and the curb cutout must not be at a very good angle. A scrape is not as bad as hitting a gater on the highway but it is a frequent reminder that the protection is there.

[SpyderSteveFL]

I had one on my 2011 RT and loved it. I now have a 2015 and based on the recommendation of my Spyder mechanic, I am forgoing it on this bike. He has told me that the 14/15/16 are quite a bit lower than the earlier models and the bump skid will make it low enough that it will bottom out on the smallest speed bump etc.. It is better to scrape the bottom plastic a bit and maybe get a scratch than having the undercarriage take a big hit from a speed bump at speed!

Just me thinking and its just my opinion.

That's a very good point. I have been on the fence about it myself. Can anyone verify what 'quite a bit lower' really is? Can someone with a stock '13 or prior with no skid measure the distance from ground to bottom of stock plate? Then we can compare and see how much of a difference there is. And... How thick is the bumpskid compare to stock plate on the '14 -16? I'd also hate to go any lower but you can also conclude that with front end lower it may even need more protection? And are the stock plates on '14-16 and different/thicker than the '13 and prior?

[Cruzr Joe]

I had one on my 2011 RT and loved it. I now have a 2015 and based on the recommendation of my Spyder mechanic, I am forgoing it on this bike. He has told me that the 14/15/16 are quite a bit lower than the earlier models and the bump skid will make it low enough that it will bottom out on the smallest speed bump etc.. It is better to scrape the bottom plastic a bit and maybe get a scratch than having the undercarriage take a big hit from a speed bump at speed!

Just me thinking and its just my opinion.

From my experience, my 12 was lower in the front than my 15 is. and scraping and cracking the front end is what the Bumpskid prevents.

Cruzr Joe

[juscuz]

I like the looks of the lighted version but cringe at the thought of having to replace it cost wise as compared to the unlighted model. Decisions, decisions!! I imagine insurance would cover it though. hmmmmmm

[Exditchdigger]

I have the unlighted one on mine because it was installed before they had the lighted one.
If I could install the light kit on mine and make it look right i sure would
Ken

[Bob Denman]

I like the looks of the lighted version but cringe at the thought of having to replace it cost wise as compared to the unlighted model. Decisions, decisions!! I imagine insurance would cover it though. hmmmmmm

If you were to have coverage for accessories on your bike policy: yes, it would!

[Devious56]

I have the unlighted one because I already had LED on the front when I bought it. But, am happy it worked out this way, because the skidplate now protects my LED's instead of sticking them out in front. I live on a gravel road, and am thankful for the skidplate.

David

[trikermutha]

I have non lighted and just removed mine for work that I am doing on the Spyder. When the Skid plate goes back on I will be using a weather strip between the lower body and the skid plate.

As for lights go buy a roll of LED lights and put them on the front end if you like..It would save you some cash.

[SpyderAnn01]

Now you all are frightening me; have bottomed a few times on rough roads, but so far have managed to avoid road debris. With pulling a trailer this is going to get much more difficult to do. Will have to seriously consider this update.

Al in Kalamazoo

If you will be pulling the CanAm trailer you should get the bumpskid for it also. It is so easy to scrape the rear of the trailer while moving it around by hand.

[The Bee!!]

Here in Montana we have pot holes that you can see China at the bottom. And then Road Construction during the Summer. So i have the Bumpskid to save my under side!!!! Didn't get the lights, as i didn't want to see China...