Removing Road King Bars
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Oh no. Not the frame, the BIKE!
No dealer will "repair" a frame. They will jump up and down and scream liability reasons. And demand a frame swap. Which on anything but a pretty much new bike will cost more than the bikes value. This isn't speculation or urban legend. This has been Harley SOP for decade's.
No dealer will "repair" a frame. They will jump up and down and scream liability reasons. And demand a frame swap. Which on anything but a pretty much new bike will cost more than the bikes value. This isn't speculation or urban legend. This has been Harley SOP for decade's.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 1,759
From: Atlanta, GA
I have a RKC and I agree the bike would have better visuals without the rear bars. Front bars are great for highway pegs and additional lighting.
But I also want to believe I will never have a low speed/ no speed tip-over; a belief I have proven to be wrong a few times in the last 5 years. With bars = no damage; without bars your talking about a lot of cash. Not to mention if you do tip over with no bars, there's little chance of lifting it off the ground by yourself.
Regarding the mustache bar with the passing lamps, personally I like the look of it and I think it's a bad idea to remove anything that will make you more visible on the road.
But I also want to believe I will never have a low speed/ no speed tip-over; a belief I have proven to be wrong a few times in the last 5 years. With bars = no damage; without bars your talking about a lot of cash. Not to mention if you do tip over with no bars, there's little chance of lifting it off the ground by yourself.
Regarding the mustache bar with the passing lamps, personally I like the look of it and I think it's a bad idea to remove anything that will make you more visible on the road.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 610
Likes: 82
From: Indiana
She was upright very soon after, and that flag still flies down the road today...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,458
Likes: 2,875
From: Oklahoma
Thousands extra for custom paint, THEN remove the bars that would protect it in a tip-over. I am one of the "It's your bike, do what you want", but I will NEVER understand the LOGIC of this. What happens to resale value by removing the bars? Is that before or AFTER the tip-over?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,037
Likes: 1,528
From: Bunola pa
I have pics posted on here of a recent lowside slide that alot of damage was saved having the bars on. I could just remove the bent up bars but im going with either invikta or factory 47 to replace
Banned
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,250
Likes: 136
From: Nomad
Oh no. Not the frame, the BIKE!
No dealer will "repair" a frame. They will jump up and down and scream liability reasons. And demand a frame swap. Which on anything but a pretty much new bike will cost more than the bikes value. This isn't speculation or urban legend. This has been Harley SOP for decade's.
No dealer will "repair" a frame. They will jump up and down and scream liability reasons. And demand a frame swap. Which on anything but a pretty much new bike will cost more than the bikes value. This isn't speculation or urban legend. This has been Harley SOP for decade's.
Of course, to repair it properly e.g. weld a new one on and repaint it, which would be risk free, would cost a bit too depending on how much of the frame you thought had to be repainted. Strictly speaking all of it, tho' a rattle can would stop it from rusting.
Just as an FYI, front crashbars also cause damage when they fold up, e.g. denting the tank and can bend or tear the footplate mount brackets.
It's an interesting dilemma. It is ridiculously irresponsible to trash an entire vehicle for the sake of a 3" x 1" welded on strip. But yet it's the perfection of what we have come to demand and the "market forces" insist on whether the factory shops pushing for profits or everyone running in fear from aggressive or bogus law suits. And we all end up paying for it in our insurance premiums.
If it was a car, we'd think nothing of far more chassis welding. It was the norm on older vehicles.
So, yeah, crazy to remove them unless you've got throwaway insurance and don't care, or ride a junker.
It does look better, but how many times do you need to look so cool? The odd pick up or show off, once or twice a year?
Last edited by Wodan; Oct 5, 2017 at 03:31 AM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,154
Likes: 2,562
From: CT/FL
How many times do you drop your bike? I've had a dozen bikes that didn't have crash bars, what makes touring bikes sacred?
