To engine guard or no engine guard
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,033
Likes: 7
From: TEXAS
I read through these pages really fast, so I may have missed some of the responses.
A study was done that showed that you are safer without an engine guard (crash bar) in the majority of bad accidents.
The engine guard will protect some of the chrome cases and your leg in a fairly slow speed crash or when the bike just tips over.
I realize that saying the addition of an engine guard will do you more harm then good in a lot of accidents doesn't sound logical.
But if you think about it, if there was statistical proof that they protected the rider in the majority of crashes, don't you think that all the states that make you wear helmets would also force the motorcycle industry to have engine guards on all the bikes they sell.
You will also notice that all engine guards come with a disclaimer stating that they are not there to protect the rider.
I don't have an engine guard on my bike, but I do intend to add one some day, basically to protect the bike if I let it tip over.
I know that there are riders that have been in accidents and the engine guard have protected their legs, but according to the study a lot of riders have had severe ankle and lower leg injures from the engine guard being bent back onto them.
A study was done that showed that you are safer without an engine guard (crash bar) in the majority of bad accidents.
The engine guard will protect some of the chrome cases and your leg in a fairly slow speed crash or when the bike just tips over.
I realize that saying the addition of an engine guard will do you more harm then good in a lot of accidents doesn't sound logical.
But if you think about it, if there was statistical proof that they protected the rider in the majority of crashes, don't you think that all the states that make you wear helmets would also force the motorcycle industry to have engine guards on all the bikes they sell.
You will also notice that all engine guards come with a disclaimer stating that they are not there to protect the rider.
I don't have an engine guard on my bike, but I do intend to add one some day, basically to protect the bike if I let it tip over.
I know that there are riders that have been in accidents and the engine guard have protected their legs, but according to the study a lot of riders have had severe ankle and lower leg injures from the engine guard being bent back onto them.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
Nothing on a bike is going to help you in a high speed crash.
But MOST bike wrecks are at lower speeds and the guard definitely helps with these.
Also if you are going high speed and can lay the bike down instead of slamming into something you will be glad you had it.
By the way HELMETS have disclaimers too... And states allow brain buckets, so that shows how much the states know about safety...
As far as studies go, I have seen them say that in a high speed accidents, crash bars don't offer better protection, but I have never seen one that says they cause More injuries...
But MOST bike wrecks are at lower speeds and the guard definitely helps with these.
Also if you are going high speed and can lay the bike down instead of slamming into something you will be glad you had it.
By the way HELMETS have disclaimers too... And states allow brain buckets, so that shows how much the states know about safety...
As far as studies go, I have seen them say that in a high speed accidents, crash bars don't offer better protection, but I have never seen one that says they cause More injuries...
I had an engine guard on the first bike I crashed. I hit a car that turned left doing about 30mph. (Speed limit was 45, I was being cautious). The guard was scratched and bent in about an inch, but I was nowhere near the bike when it happened, I was on the other side of the car. The bar saved the the bike from damage at the cost of itself. All in all I'm glad I had it.
A guy my friends rode with dumped his bike on I-10 doing 70 and the crash bar pinned his leg in. He wasn't wearing a helmet and was in the hospital for months. He is blind in one eye, from where he hit his head. The bar that pinned him to the bike carried him across the freeway and into a semi. But the bar also kept his leg off the road. So you be the judge.
I am undecided as to whether or not I will get one on my Bones.
A guy my friends rode with dumped his bike on I-10 doing 70 and the crash bar pinned his leg in. He wasn't wearing a helmet and was in the hospital for months. He is blind in one eye, from where he hit his head. The bar that pinned him to the bike carried him across the freeway and into a semi. But the bar also kept his leg off the road. So you be the judge.
I am undecided as to whether or not I will get one on my Bones.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,059
Likes: 32
From: Oregon
Are engine guards worth the money? I have an 04 Heritage I just picked up and was surfing for "stuff" for it. It currently has no engine guard. I know they are only for if you drop it or it tips over, but do they protect the tank at all?
I had them on all my metrics years ago, figuring if I dropped them on me I could probably at least get my leg out!
Thoughts?
I had them on all my metrics years ago, figuring if I dropped them on me I could probably at least get my leg out!
Thoughts?
Stone
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: In the World
Are engine guards worth the money? I have an 04 Heritage I just picked up and was surfing for "stuff" for it. It currently has no engine guard. I know they are only for if you drop it or it tips over, but do they protect the tank at all?
I had them on all my metrics years ago, figuring if I dropped them on me I could probably at least get my leg out!
Thoughts?
I had them on all my metrics years ago, figuring if I dropped them on me I could probably at least get my leg out!
Thoughts?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 54
From: Mansfield, MA
Black
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