you can also remove it legally if you have a passenger backrest - the law is just to give the passenger something to help keep them in place

 

My wife really likes to use the strap to keep her on the bike when we get moving through the Hills. If you carry a passenger, you may want to keep it.

 

Show me a law that makes it illegal to remove it. Don't believe it. It should be illegal for anyone to hold onto a vinyl strap held on by two screws. Does anyone actually use it? I doubt it.

 

IIRC the Feds require that for 2 up riding, there have to be grab handles or a strap for the passenger to hold onto

It was cheaper for the MoCo to use a strap to meet DOT requirements, IIRC the last year grab handles were installed OEM was 2002 or so, I got one off EBAY for my 03 clone project.


HD does make chrome grab handles for the newer bikes, and Kury makes them too, and they ain't cheap.

I've never heard of a cop busting them over a grab handle or strap being missing, he'd have to be a complete douche or you'd have to have really p*ssed him off. I can't think of any state where I have seen that requirement in law or regulation. I'd be interested in knowing what states do require them

 

+1

There are Federal requirement for manufacturers to be able to sell a motor vehicle. Lighting, emissions, and others (like that strap on the seat) fall under this.

Unless a state actually has a law on the books preventing it, a cop isn't going to bother you about removing it.
They only "enforce" laws that are on the books in their jurisdiction.

There might be a state out there with that law, but I haven't ever heard of one.

 

Correct. The fact that the manufacturer is required to have a strap doesn't mean it is illegal to remove it.

 

Don't do it....it'll void your warranty!

Sorry, had to do it.

 

Oh now you tell me !! Lol

 

It's like the tags you get on a new mattress, "Do Not Remove Under Penalty Of Law"

 

A buddy drilled out that rivet and used a dremel to cut the extra rivet bits left on. He uses the chrome bracket for his bungie tie down.

Me, I just cut the strap.