Order the Crash Bars and Skid Plate together as one complete system here.

If you've already installed the AltRider Skid Plate, mounting brackets are not required. Choose "Without Brackets" in the dropdown to the right.

A new bike requires new protection, so AltRider completely redesigned the crash bars for the new water boxer motor. A step up from years past, they utilize 1.25 inch (31.75 mm) O.D. stainless steel tubing making them the largest diameter bars on the market. The decision to increase the diameter came from years of research and production results. The West Coast BMW Off-Road Training School has been outfitting their bikes with AltRider gear for the past 3 years. This real world testing yielded much insight on how much damage large bikes can do during crashes. The 1 inch (25.4 mm) bars allow a significant amount of flex during a crash, creating the need to space them farther from the bike. The stout 1.25 inch (31.75 mm) bars allow a tighter profile while still providing real protection. Available in shot peen satin, black powder coat, triple black (grey) powder coat and blue powder coat finish, they're extremely resistant to rust whether you’re riding the liquid cooled GS across the highway or across a river.

The top of the bars are secured in a total of three locations per side. The front mount is the only one on the market designed to utilize two bolts per side to increase the ability to distribute the load of any impact. The rear is held with a custom machined through-bolt that replaces the engine mount hardware -- increasing strength of the bars up to 25%. AltRider offers one of only a few designs that utilize a custom machined through-bolt. There are no plastic spacers to break upon impact. This creates an incredibly strong design that distributes any impact evenly throughout the bars, and also makes a solid foundation for upper crash bars.

Another first for AltRider crash bars are the integrated 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) lower flanges designed to interface with an AltRider skid plate. This creates a modular protection system that doesn’t mount directly to the motor and is substantially more robust than anything else on the market.  

Other bars are fabricated by crimping then welding joints, creating a forced fit with a weak bond. In this method, gaps are created which are later filled with weld. The additional heat causes warpage and all-too-common installation difficulties. All AltRider joints are 5-axis laser cut, creating a perfect union before the bars are hand TIG welded in a jig. This process creates a precision fit, easy installation and superior strength.

Installation is simple and straightforward. All necessary hardware, including a difficult to find T55 bit, is provided with the bars.

• AltRider motorcycle accessories are 100% designed and manufactured in the USA
• 1.25 inch (31.75 mm) stainless steel tubing
• 5-axis laser cut and hand TIG welded joints
• Custom machined M12 engine through-bolt heat treated and plated to Grade 8
• 1.57 inch (40 mm) flange mount design increases strength exponentially
• 3/16 inch (4.76 mm) lower flanges integrate with AltRider skid plate
• Weight: 12.2 lbs (5.5 kg)

• Compatible with R 1200 GS Rallye (including Sport Suspension) and Exclusive models
• "Blue" color made to closely match the frame of the Rallye edition

• Because powder coat is baked-on plastic, not wet paint, colors may not be a direct perfect match for the frame paint color