BMW R 1300 Boxer: Wunderlich protects the cylinders in black

Technically, the familiar protection concept remains unchanged. What's new is the look: the integrated stainless steel insert now comes in black too. This means there will be two versions of the protectors to choose from.

The layout of the Boxer engine is a big part of its character, but it also brings a design-related quirk: the cylinder heads and valve covers stick out far to the sides of the bike. Stone chips can leave their mark there, just like a tip-over or unintended contact with a wall while manoeuvring. Wunderlich also points out that the force-fit valve covers can deform on impact. This could subsequently lead to leaks or impair the ShiftCam valve train. This is exactly the area the ULTIMATE valve cover and cylinder protectors are designed for. According to Wunderlich, they can be used either as an alternative to a crash bar or in addition to one.

If you want to protect your bike, you don't necessarily have to wrap a big tubular crash bar around the cylinders. With the ULTIMATE protectors, Wunderlich takes a more compact approach. According to the manufacturer, the protective shells hug the valve covers with tight gaps, precisely following their contours. They are made of a fibre-reinforced high-performance plastic, which Wunderlich describes as impact-resistant. However, the actual protective effect isn't supposed to come from the outer shell alone. On the inside there are integrated segments made of a high-temperature-resistant, elastic material. These elements are designed to dampen external forces and then distribute them more evenly across the shell structure. In the event of an impact, this should reduce force and torque peaks as well as the risk of resulting damage.

Alongside the fibre-reinforced plastic, a second material plays an important role. Wunderlich integrates a form-fitting stainless steel insert into the protectors. According to the manufacturer, it acts as wear-through protection when things go wrong. This is intended to reduce the risk of damage to the magnesium valve cover underneath. At the same time, it should also lower the risk of oil loss and possible consequential damage. It's precisely this stainless steel component that is the key point of the new version.

Until now, Wunderlich offered the protectors with a black protective shell and a visible silver stainless steel insert. Now a second design option joins the line-up: black on black. On the new version, the integrated stainless steel insert is also finished in black. According to the information available, the basic technical concept remains unchanged, so the new version primarily expands the range with an additional visual option. Owners of a BMW R 1300 ShiftCam Boxer can now decide whether the metallic stainless steel surface stays visible or the entire protective shell takes on a discreet all-black look.

The new all-black version is offered under part number 13240-012. The set of ULTIMATE R 1300 valve cover and cylinder protectors in black/black costs 269 euros. The existing black/stainless steel version remains in the range. It carries part number 13240-002 and costs 249 euros. That makes for a price difference of 20 euros between the two versions.

Wunderlich doesn't limit the ULTIMATE protectors to a single R 1300 model. The protection system is offered for all BMW R 1300 models with the ShiftCam Boxer engine. The basic idea stays the same across all versions: the exposed areas of the Boxer engine are to be protected with the closest possible fit, without having to rely solely on a classic crash bar. According to Wunderlich, however, the protectors can just as well be used in addition to such a bar. This allows the protection concept to be combined depending on the bike and its intended use.

To go with the BMW R 1300 family, Wunderlich has also released a video featuring Bernd Hiemer and the Wunderlich BMW R 1300 EDITION X. It puts the spotlight on another interpretation of the R 1300 platform and shows how Wunderlich takes the Boxer concept further with its own components and conversion ideas. You can find the video on the Wunderlich website.

With the new version, Wunderlich doesn't change the basic concept of its ULTIMATE protectors. The shells made of fibre-reinforced high-performance plastic, the internal damping elements and the stainless steel insert remain the core components. What's new is the all-black design of the protectors. If you deliberately want the silver stainless steel surface as a technical accent, you can still go for the existing version at 249 euros. If you prefer a uniform black look, the new black/black version is yours for 269 euros. Further information on the ULTIMATE valve cover and cylinder protectors and on Wunderlich components for the BMW R model ranges is available directly on the Wunderlich website.