Crash bars and cooling system
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 605
Likes: 96
From: SW Colorado
Crash bars and cooling system
I’m sure no one has ever had it happen to their own bike, but has anyone seen a bike with a lower fairing cooling system that was laid over? My concern is that the crash bars won’t save the cooling system. Doing a line-of-sight from the front bar to the back bar, it looks like the lower fairing sticks out and would strike the ground. Someone suggested that if the bike went over, it wouldn’t roll far enough to hit the fairing. I would prefer to avoid testing this myself. I have picked up an older Electra Glide (don’t ask), but it didn’t have the lower fairings.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 755
Likes: 189
From: Sartell, Minnesota
I dropped a 14 Limited completely on it s side (wheels off the ground) and the only damage to the lower was 2 tiny nicks on the edge. They were small enough that the rental company never saw them when they inspected it.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
The bars are not man enough to cope with an actual crash at any speed, but are just fine for a static drop - being a short-*** mine have been tested quite a few times! It is true that the bike will only normally roll so far and stop when it gets to the bars, unless you are really unlucky. Mine never has gone right over, with the wheels off the ground.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 60
Likes: 10
From: Jarrettsville, MD
It depends on the terrain, but it is highly unlikely that you could damage the cooling system by simply dropping the bike. Like others have said, they usually only go so far (unless the bike is moving) and at that point there may or may not be contact with the edge of the lower fairing. Usually not enough to cause any more damage than a nick or scratch.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
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From: Indiana
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
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From: Georgia
That's unfortunate!
On the other hand, no damaged lowers or cooling system...
On the other hand, no damaged lowers or cooling system...
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From: Bedford UK
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 454
Likes: 134
From: Martinsburg, WV
I have had my Ultra Limited fall over twice now and the cooling system had no issues. Both were non-moving drops but there was ZERO damage. The catch is the terrain. I was on flat terrain both times.