Crash Bars
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,630
Likes: 1
From: Munford, TN
RE: Crash Bars
ORIGINAL: DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Rick
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,230
Likes: 4
From: Amherst, VA
RE: Crash Bars
https://www.hdforums.com/m_432486/tm.htm
Here is a link about setting a bike down and the value of a crash bar.
Here is a link about setting a bike down and the value of a crash bar.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,081
Likes: 4
From: Phoenix, Arizona
RE: Crash Bars
ORIGINAL: DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 3,116
Likes: 0
From: Glendale, AZ.
RE: Crash Bars
ORIGINAL: DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Thanks for the advice Rick, and the same to the others who have responded.
If it were simply a matter of aesthetics, I would leave the crash bars off. I think the bike looks best without them. My reasoning in putting them on is purely practical. The guy I've been working with at the dealership says that there are two types of riders: those who drop their bikes and those who someday will.
Is this true? Does every rider drop their bike, especially early in the learning process? If most newbies do, then I am not so arrogant to think that I will unquestionably be the exception (though I'd try like hell to be it).
Again, thanks for your replies!
DarkWater
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Crash Bars
I had my bike over on a very low speed slide. I had front and rear crash bars on. No damage at all thanks to my crashbars. It saved me many hundreds of dollars on a new saddle bag. I don't mind how they look on a RG. In fact it makes it look unique since they stopped putting rear bars on stock. (check out the sig pic) anyway...as a newbie rider with only 13k on it....They are there in case any more....oops'es happen!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, LA
RE: Crash Bars
its fairly easy to drop a sportster. They are quite top heavy, and its easy to lose your footing, or get off balance and that sucker is going down. Not only will the guard save your paint job, but I dropped mine before I had the guard, and it ended up laying sort of upside down with its tires in the air. Meaning you couldn't lever the thing up, you had to manhandle the thing upright. Well 500 lbs is a lot, although I did manage it (by using blocks of wood to stick under the thing)
I kind of looked at it like training wheels - I'll keep them on till I feel comfortable then if I want to I can take it off.
Although in the end I decided to add fog/driving lights to mine - and ran the wires internally in the bar so the whole thing looks great and gives me more visability both to see and be seen.
I kind of looked at it like training wheels - I'll keep them on till I feel comfortable then if I want to I can take it off.
Although in the end I decided to add fog/driving lights to mine - and ran the wires internally in the bar so the whole thing looks great and gives me more visability both to see and be seen.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,007
Likes: 1
From: Baghdad, Iraq
RE: Crash Bars
I'm gonna caveat this from the beginning: *This is a very unique event, not reflective of the likely occurence, and not to be counted on!
That having been said, I found myself rolling across the interstate burning holes in my jacket at 70mph with the bike sliding along on its right side (lady decided she really needed that lane more than me!). The engine guard did it's job, it kept the bike up off the pavement and saved the engine, as well as keeping all the tins clear. Course, fat throwover saddlebag held the bike up in the back, so that helped a lot. Now, in addition to the above caveat: The frame tab that the guard mounts to was snapped, the bar was driven back into the front header pipe collapsing it, the mufflers were ground down, as were pegs and brake lever and such, miscellaneous other accessories were trashed (including my saddlebags and engine guard, clearly). The bar did not save my insurance company a hunk of change, but it did keep the bike from being totaled. And, with the top heavy nature of the Sporty, as noted by Scooterbooter, I'm not sure in the absence of the saddlebags that the guard would keep the bike off a leg. I didn't stick around to find out, me and the bike did a seperate dance.
So, short version: for what they're designed for (low speed or no speed "drop") the bars will work great, save you some heartache, and give you a place to put your feet up. Anything above what they're desinged for, and it's a crap shoot. Put 'em on, take 'em off later when you're ready.
Enjoy the ride.
That having been said, I found myself rolling across the interstate burning holes in my jacket at 70mph with the bike sliding along on its right side (lady decided she really needed that lane more than me!). The engine guard did it's job, it kept the bike up off the pavement and saved the engine, as well as keeping all the tins clear. Course, fat throwover saddlebag held the bike up in the back, so that helped a lot. Now, in addition to the above caveat: The frame tab that the guard mounts to was snapped, the bar was driven back into the front header pipe collapsing it, the mufflers were ground down, as were pegs and brake lever and such, miscellaneous other accessories were trashed (including my saddlebags and engine guard, clearly). The bar did not save my insurance company a hunk of change, but it did keep the bike from being totaled. And, with the top heavy nature of the Sporty, as noted by Scooterbooter, I'm not sure in the absence of the saddlebags that the guard would keep the bike off a leg. I didn't stick around to find out, me and the bike did a seperate dance.
So, short version: for what they're designed for (low speed or no speed "drop") the bars will work great, save you some heartache, and give you a place to put your feet up. Anything above what they're desinged for, and it's a crap shoot. Put 'em on, take 'em off later when you're ready.
Enjoy the ride.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 7
From: Clermont, GA, CSA
RE: Crash Bars
The 'crash bars' were on my Sportster when I bought it, and I've added some footpegs to stretch out a bit on longer trips.
I've never dropped it, but it's good to know the bar is there if, and when, I do.
Who says they look ugly on a Sportster???
I've never dropped it, but it's good to know the bar is there if, and when, I do.
Who says they look ugly on a Sportster???
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