08 Touring grab bar?
08 Touring grab bar?
So - I managed to get my hands on an FLHX rear fascia, tail light, & plate mount. NOW, I want to get rid of that unsightly grab bar where the plate WAS attached.
I asked a couple of (Milwaukee area) dealers about this yesterday.
ONE of them said that I shouldn't cut it off, or remove it, as it has to do with the strength of the frame, and the smoothness of the ride.
The other dealer said it shouldn't be a problem.
Who's right? Either of them?
The last thing I want is to sacrifice the ride or strength of my scoot for an aesthetic reason.
PS - How the HECK do I get a pic to show up in my sig?!?! It's driving me crazy. I've uploaded, saved, etc - still no pic.
I asked a couple of (Milwaukee area) dealers about this yesterday.
ONE of them said that I shouldn't cut it off, or remove it, as it has to do with the strength of the frame, and the smoothness of the ride.
The other dealer said it shouldn't be a problem.
Who's right? Either of them?
The last thing I want is to sacrifice the ride or strength of my scoot for an aesthetic reason.
PS - How the HECK do I get a pic to show up in my sig?!?! It's driving me crazy. I've uploaded, saved, etc - still no pic.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 2
From: the frozen tundra of the "Windy City"
just dropped off my bike today, and I'm having this done. I was told by my dealer that this isn't a problem. They have done it on a few bikes and all has been fine! Although they did say that it does offer some sort of strength to the rear, although there is additional support to the frame under the rear fender.. Mine will be gone by early next week and there will be LEDS in the place of that unsightly bar!
Good luck with your choice !
Good luck with your choice !
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
I can't see how that can add strength to the frame, take it completely off try to pry the frame tubes apart, noway. You do need it back past the bracket part that connects the fender brace, maybe they thought your taking the whole grab bar off. Anyway you can cut it or get an eliminator bracket fr brusiersinc.com. I just cut mine and got his bullet type plugs.
EDIt: I don't know about the SG kit but if it doesn't come w bumper eliminator brace you should get one because that does stabilize the fender and muffler bracekets.
EDIt: I don't know about the SG kit but if it doesn't come w bumper eliminator brace you should get one because that does stabilize the fender and muffler bracekets.
Last edited by gmc; Feb 19, 2009 at 09:36 AM. Reason: bumper
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Grab Bar Removal
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,449
Likes: 46
From: Roswell, GA
Unless someone is a structural engineer familiar with HD's design, any opinions about the need for the upper support tube are WAG's IMO. I doubt any of us have the physical strength to exert the pressure on those struts to replicate the forces at play when our 800+ lbs bikes are going down the road with rider (and passenger, etc.) at speed.
HD made a new upper support tube for the SG rather than eliminating it on the '06-'08 models. Given HD's penchant for reducing cost by removing parts (no air baffle on recent EG's, no passenger grab rails, no saddlebag guard rails on EG Standards, etc.), keeping the tube on the SG suggests that the tube serves a purpose.
I doubt that I could tell the difference in riding my bike with or without the support tube, though I have read of those who say they have noticed the difference and reinstalled the tube.
HD removed the tube on the '09's, but they also redesigned the frame to do it.
Not saying that removing the support tube creates a dangerous situation or that it will invariably lead to problems. For me, I'll leave it on the bike. I'm accustomed to seeing it and actually prefer it cosmetically to bikes that don't have it.
HD made a new upper support tube for the SG rather than eliminating it on the '06-'08 models. Given HD's penchant for reducing cost by removing parts (no air baffle on recent EG's, no passenger grab rails, no saddlebag guard rails on EG Standards, etc.), keeping the tube on the SG suggests that the tube serves a purpose.
I doubt that I could tell the difference in riding my bike with or without the support tube, though I have read of those who say they have noticed the difference and reinstalled the tube.
HD removed the tube on the '09's, but they also redesigned the frame to do it.
Not saying that removing the support tube creates a dangerous situation or that it will invariably lead to problems. For me, I'll leave it on the bike. I'm accustomed to seeing it and actually prefer it cosmetically to bikes that don't have it.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,802
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, UT. Dushore, Pa.
Unless someone is a structural engineer familiar with HD's design, any opinions about the need for the upper support tube are WAG's IMO. I doubt any of us have the physical strength to exert the pressure on those struts to replicate the forces at play when our 800+ lbs bikes are going down the road with rider (and passenger, etc.) at speed.
HD made a new upper support tube for the SG rather than eliminating it on the '06-'08 models. Given HD's penchant for reducing cost by removing parts (no air baffle on recent EG's, no passenger grab rails, no saddlebag guard rails on EG Standards, etc.), keeping the tube on the SG suggests that the tube serves a purpose.
I doubt that I could tell the difference in riding my bike with or without the support tube, though I have read of those who say they have noticed the difference and reinstalled the tube.
HD removed the tube on the '09's, but they also redesigned the frame to do it.
Not saying that removing the support tube creates a dangerous situation or that it will invariably lead to problems. For me, I'll leave it on the bike. I'm accustomed to seeing it and actually prefer it cosmetically to bikes that don't have it.
HD made a new upper support tube for the SG rather than eliminating it on the '06-'08 models. Given HD's penchant for reducing cost by removing parts (no air baffle on recent EG's, no passenger grab rails, no saddlebag guard rails on EG Standards, etc.), keeping the tube on the SG suggests that the tube serves a purpose.
I doubt that I could tell the difference in riding my bike with or without the support tube, though I have read of those who say they have noticed the difference and reinstalled the tube.
HD removed the tube on the '09's, but they also redesigned the frame to do it.
Not saying that removing the support tube creates a dangerous situation or that it will invariably lead to problems. For me, I'll leave it on the bike. I'm accustomed to seeing it and actually prefer it cosmetically to bikes that don't have it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,289
Likes: 6
From: Mayfield Ohio
The street glide has no plate or trunk on the bar. I order the street glide grab bar out of the touring parts book. I was going to chop my old one off but was worried about flex in the rear end when turning