How do you know if those crash bars you bought really work or if those panniers will hold up in a fall? Will your $18,000 adventure bike still look pretty after a tumble? Those guards may look sturdy, but will they break on impact? You will never know the answers to these questions until after you crash it seems.

Or maybe someone else could do the crashing for you? Wouldn’t it be great if more manufacturers produced crash test videos that put their products to the test? No gimmicks, no staged scenes, just professional riders that ride hard until the inevitable crash occurs.

Of course no one wants to see anyone get hurt making crash test videos, but there is no better way to build confidence in a product than to show its durability in a crash. Manufacturers that show how well their product handles a fall are rewarded with confidence in their brand. When damage occurs to a product, it is not necessarily bad for the manufacturer. Consumers want to see if the damage is major or minor.

Here are three companies that really torture test products. No one gets hurt in the making of these crash test videos and they don’t try to hide damage to the bikes.

AltRider
Crash tester and “President” of AltRider Jeremy LeBreton barrel rolls this BMW R1200GS down a hill. Now there’s a company president that know’s his products!

Twisted Throttle
Chris “Teach” Mcneil tries his best to destroy this BMW F800GS as a tester for Twisted Throttle. This poor bike really gets flogged by Chris.

Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV
The host of  Motorcycle Adventure Dirtbike TV crash tests the Yamaha Super Ténéré hard on wet pavement during a bike review. The fall looks painful but the damage is surprisingly minimal.

Would you like to see more crash test videos from manufacturers? Let us know by leaving your comments below and thank these crash testers for their dedication and sacrifice!

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.