I am waiting for delivery of my new 2017 Heritage Softail. I purchased the front engine guard to be installed before delivery. My thinking was it would provide some protection in a tip over preventing damage. Do I need the rear guards as well or does the front one do the job well enough?

 

If you have saddlebags and no rear guard, if you do tip over, it will scuff up your bags even with the front engine guard. I'm assuming you have soft bags so it wouldn't be nearly as bad as if you had hard bags. May not even damage the soft bags if it just tips over.

I guess it kind of depends on the situation, if your at a stand still and the bike tips, it probably won't damage the soft bags. If your moving a little and tip over and the bike slides a little on its side, you may scuff up the leather bags a little. May have to worry about the rear blinkers too, they stick out quite a bit.

 

I'd lose the bags and watch wtf you're doing.

 

[except "lose the bags"] I know you are not consciously expecting to drop the bike; however, subconsciously you may be preparing for what may become inevitable.

 

Been riding for 40 years so I do know that a tip over can happen. (like when I lowered the bike off a lift and forgot to put the side stand down.)

 

I have rear guards and if I were going to wear the bags all the time I'd put them on. Due to seldom using the bags (set them up as quick attach) I just use the engine guards.

 

The front engine guard is going to save the tank and mirrors if your stopped and on smoother terrain. Soft bags will probably be ok. If you're moving good luck with anything being unscathed.

 

This.

 

I add the guards to mine just in case they tip over moving them around in the garage let alone on the road.

The guards saved my left leg Jan. 2016 when an old lady T boned me as she ran the stop sign.

Worth every penny. They also look nice.

 

Congratulations on the new purchase.

To answer your question, you don't need engine or saddlebag guards but, as others mentioned, they are functional and look nice. The engine guard also allows you to easily add highway pegs.