The Everything 2018+ Heritage Thread
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 504
Likes: 192
From: Atlanta
IMHO the Engine guards are a necessity.
At the prices of everything on these bikes today, even if your bike just falls (or gets knocked) over in a parking lot and messes up a signal fixture or passing lamp not to mention the cost if you ever have to lay it down intentionally because of some dumb a** that crosses your path, the engine guard will pay for itself.
Then there is the ability to be able to upright an almost 800 pound bike by oneself if necessary if laid down unintentionally... not that that ever happens to anybody.
The black guard on the blacked out Heritage is almost invisible and looks like it could ( and maybe should be) a stock item.
At the prices of everything on these bikes today, even if your bike just falls (or gets knocked) over in a parking lot and messes up a signal fixture or passing lamp not to mention the cost if you ever have to lay it down intentionally because of some dumb a** that crosses your path, the engine guard will pay for itself.
Then there is the ability to be able to upright an almost 800 pound bike by oneself if necessary if laid down unintentionally... not that that ever happens to anybody.
The black guard on the blacked out Heritage is almost invisible and looks like it could ( and maybe should be) a stock item.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 504
Likes: 192
From: Atlanta
This is confusing....your bag looks like it has a bib on it....the stock bag has a lock which I dont see on yours and does not have HD emblem on the top. Veddy Interesting.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Ah, sorry....yes...its the stock bag, but I hated the visible latch so much I covered them with stickers. Theyve lasted great. Ive changed them a few times for style. I cant lock them, but I rarely leave anything particularly valuable in them. Also the service guys at my dealer had zero idea how to open them when I left it for the 5k service. I had to go into the shop to show them so I figure most people wouldnt figure it out.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 3,134
From: Texas
Engine guards may provide limited leg and cosmetic vehicle protection under unique circumstances (fall over while stopped, very low speed slide). They are not made nor intended to provide protection from bodily injury in a collision with another vehicle or any other object.
The black guard on the blacked out Heritage is almost invisible and looks like it could ( and maybe should be) a stock item.
Found an alternative that may be more acceptable, if more expensive:
Says it fits the '18 Street Bob and Low Rider models, but it may not fit the others because of the forward controls. Still, an interesting idea, perhaps someone will figure out a way to make a similar product for the Softails with forward controls.
And if you look at the "rear pegs", it looks like that's actually another crash rod back there.
Last edited by FatBob2018; Feb 19, 2018 at 01:44 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
Not sure that straight pipe type guard would help much in a tip over lay down situation or a slow slide. Nothing to slide on. Probably would just spin you around into more trouble.
As far as what HD says...they are going to state that disclamer as a CYA. Way back, when I was a lot younger, I had to lay my bike (A 750 Kawasaki tripple back then) down at about 40 MPH because a "little Old Lady" pulled directly out in front of me. Slid a long way on the "Engine Guard (AKA Crash Bars)" without ever scraping any flesh. Little bit of damage to Handlebars and signal lamps, but not much else. Managed to ride the bike home. So I know they work even if I dont ever want to experience that again.
I guess the simple question is: Is your perceived appearence more important than some degree of protection in a fall/lay down situtation? Your choice!
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 504
Likes: 192
From: Atlanta
Ah, sorry....yes...its the stock bag, but I hated the visible latch so much I covered them with stickers. Theyve lasted great. Ive changed them a few times for style. I cant lock them, but I rarely leave anything particularly valuable in them. Also the service guys at my dealer had zero idea how to open them when I left it for the 5k service. I had to go into the shop to show them so I figure most people wouldnt figure it out.
Too funny....that explains the "great bag mystery"!!
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 3,134
From: Texas
... but the more I look at it, the more I think I like it... they say they're not up on their website yet but should be in a couple of weeks.
Here's a different pic, you can see how the small bars at the bottom and the big bars at the top form an angle which should completely protect the pedals and everything else...
Last edited by FatBob2018; Feb 20, 2018 at 01:10 AM.