The All things ROAD KING SPECIAL THREAD
Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 27
From: Exit 160, NJ
I have a dumb question.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I dont mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I dont mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
Yes. There are brackets on the bottom side of the fairing.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 414
Likes: 602
From: Florida
I have a dumb question.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I don't mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I don't mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
I went for the straight bag protector bars with a roller skate wheel on the bottom and a snubber in the top. The bags have not touched the ground since.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 27
From: Exit 160, NJ
The OEM "front" crash bar did nothing to protect my bags when the bike "fell" over. To protect the bags you'll need some rear bag protector bars installed.
I went for the straight bag protector bars with a roller skate wheel on the bottom and a snubber in the top. The bags have not touched the ground since.
I went for the straight bag protector bars with a roller skate wheel on the bottom and a snubber in the top. The bags have not touched the ground since.
I was looking at the bars with sliders at the ends, but seems like the bottom slider under the bag may reduce the lean angle, so I was hesitant on getting it.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 414
Likes: 602
From: Florida
Thanks for the feedback on this! My bike came with the OEM crash bars for the saddle bags but they seem very close to the edge of the bags (same as in the pic above, from post# 4399), did your bike not have those bars?
I was looking at the bars with sliders at the ends, but seems like the bottom slider under the bag may reduce the lean angle, so I was hesitant on getting it.
I was looking at the bars with sliders at the ends, but seems like the bottom slider under the bag may reduce the lean angle, so I was hesitant on getting it.
P. S. The wheel will get torn up a bit when it saves the bike n bags. Small price to pay for them doing the protection job.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 414
Likes: 602
From: Florida
PM if you can't & I'll try and get it.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 149
Likes: 27
From: Exit 160, NJ
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 170
Likes: 127
From: San Diego
I have a dumb question.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I don't mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
Looking into taking a bike course for slow turn riding (it's been a long time since I've taken proper courses). I'm anticipating dropping the bike due to being rusty and pushing aggressive maneuvers.
How reliable are our OEM crash bars to protect the body and saddle bags?
At some point I will ditch the OEM crash bars for something different, so I don't mind scratching them up, as long as they protect the bags and rest of the bike.
I agree you will need rear bag protection for planning to drop the bike. Depending on how much you do or do not care for the look of rear guards, it may be just as cost effective to rent a standard Road King for the day. When you do go, I would suggest asking the folks putting it on if they provide any sort of tip over guard protectors. I went to a class some years ago and they had a bucket of cut up fire hose portions and zip ties for us to protect them. If the class doesn't provide anything, a cut old hose works really well. And you can have them on hand for practicing. Even if you plan to ditch the OEM, you will get more for a used set of tip over bars that aren't scratched up and a few bucks is better than a stick in the eye!
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 2,206
From: Midlothian, VA
Why don't you just remove the bags and leave them at home for the course? Or you can look into the drop protection that the guy from Ride like a Pro offers on YouTube. They are a bit pricey but apparently they work and it also protects the primary case.