SW-MOTECH Skid Plates

The skid plate from SW-MOTECH, also called an engine guard plate or sump guard, is an aluminium plate bolted under the engine so that a rock, a kerb or a log hits the plate and not the sump. It is the classic accessory for trail and adventure bikes, and the brand also makes it for some nakeds.

What it covers and what it leaves open

The oil sump is one of the lowest parts of the engine and is usually thin aluminium: a blow from below can dent or crack it and leave you without oil in the middle of a track. The plate protects exactly that area. What it does not cover is the side: in a fall onto the flank, that job belongs to frame sliders or crash bars, which is why on adventure bikes it is normal to fit both a plate and a bar.

Bikes and finishes

Most are for trail and adventure bikes: Honda Transalp and Africa Twin, Yamaha Ténéré 700 and Tracer 9, BMW GS from the F 750 up to the R 1300 GS, KTM 790, 890 and 1290 Adventure, Suzuki V-Strom 800, Triumph Tiger, Ducati DesertX, Aprilia Tuareg 660 or Royal Enfield Himalayan. There are also plates for nakeds such as the MT-09, CB1000R, GSX-8S or KTM 990 Duke. They come in black and silver, and in orange and black for the KTM Super Duke; pick the one that goes best with your bike's engine and frame.

Before you order

• Check the year and version: there are two different part numbers for the same Africa Twin.
• If you run an aftermarket exhaust with a low collector, confirm that it does not rub on the plate.
• After a hard knock, check that the plate has not bent up towards the sump, because then it no longer protects it.

With your bike saved in «My garage», the strip above the list tells you how many guards fit it.