Was about to stick the new 06 engine guards on my bike and I noted how they fitted. They used a u-bolt to attach the lower end to the downtube. Besides looking like crap, they look they could seriously screw up the frame. Plus I was worried about to much tension on the U-bolt would crimp the downtube, didnt want to chance it. They didnot look that great to me anyhow

 

use some clear plastic tubing to slide over the u bolts to protect the frame, then get locking nuts so you don't have to draw them to tight.

 

we dont need no stinkin engine guards............................................ ......................................

 

I say go aftermarket. I am getting a set of Lindby bars for X-Mas and they fit to the holes for foward controls. If you have fowards they make sets for them too.

 

The Bike Stealers named them Engine Guards
but they are really called Crash Guards

 

I don't know if this is true..............

I have been told your frame can crack/break if the bike falls with the crash guards on.

Like I said, not sure about this.

 

I bet it would take more than a simple fall to crack/break, Bend or Twist your frame.
A major crash with or without guards in place could do a lot of damage.
Most guys & gals want the crash guards for looks and maybe an additional foot rest.

 

The crash bar will bend before anything happens to the frame.

Truth of this: 'lane invasion' in Melb 2005 7:05 am: turning from a 3 lane into a 3 lane at Footscray with truck on one side, car in front, car behind, Mr Brainless next to me pulls right into me and my 'other' scoot - an 03 FLHRCI. All driving/riding at 35 mph in the pouring rain. Result: one bended crash bar (by about 1/2" in forward deflection), one knee impression in tank by knee trapped between front wing of car and tank, one highly mangled foot board, but scoot kept upright, even after the guy took two bites at the scoot (why?). Satisfactory result of invasion: $8500 damage to front wing of Holden SS Comodore Ute: the guy was concerned I was going to ride my scoot to XRay (that's where I work), he was just going to drive to work himself......uh not!......with a tyre pierced-by-ute's entire front wing and various liquids pouring onto bitumen, no way mate! Call the tow truck! Strike one for HD.

So I chalk this freaky escape to the factory crash bar: this was a slow speed impact relatively. (The guy said he was sorry and just couldn't work out what was going on........yep!). Should paint a Holden ute with line through it on the tank.

Final lesson: when being hit, if you're pinned, push back hard and keep yerself upright at all times. (But crash bars are good places to hang DesertDawgs and footpegs too!)

Ride safe,

John.