I have a 2009 FLHTCU and i'm trying to decide to either taking off the bag guards or leave them on. My bike is Vivid black but i'm having some paint work done on it while i'm in Afghanistan. Before, when taking off the bags, sometimes they would hit the guards when pulling them out. With the new paint work, just wondering if it would be better off taking them off.
If anyone has some input that would be great. Maybe pics too.

 

What unit are you with in Ft. Hood? I was stationed there 2003-07, 1st Cav.
Anyway to answer your question. Taking the guards off does clean up the look of the bike but you will need to replace them with another support bar. I took mine off but recently put them back on to use as an anchor point to tied down my T-Bags tour pack. Stay safe in the desert.

 

I like the guards- why?
'cause more than once some azzhat has tried to squeeze his bike in too close at a bar, event or rally. with guards, my bag don't get dinged.

on my left side guards, I have strips of rubber on the inside as a cushion when I am taking the bags off, there can be no paint to metal contact.

2.) rubber stick-on feets from the hardware store on the bottom of the bags, means you can set them down anywhere in the garage or roadside.
how many times have you pulled the bag and stood there looking for a soft place to set it down.

mike

 

My buddy was making a slow turn to the left and hit a plastic bag that was flyng though the parking lot, front tire slid enough that he fell over...just removed the saddlebag guard and crack the saddle bags. he was embarrassed and pizzed and the first thing he said was those guards were there for a reason..lol

 

Mike has a great idea with the rubber feet to take care of the bags not hitting the guards.

Many times the guards have taken the hit or scratch, that if they weren't there the bags would have gotten it.

 

Hey brother, in the rear i'm with III Corps. Used to drive for the III Corps and Fort Hood CSM. I am PSD NCOIC for the 2 star Operations General here in Afghan.

 

I had the saddle bag guards on a 2009 FLHTCU. Traded that for a 2011 FLHTK which does NOT have them. I think it cleans up the bike by NOT having them, I don't miss them and it makes cleaning the bike that much easier.

I just got back from Afghanistan last week. Thanks for what you do, I hope your tour goes by quickly.

 

Agreed 100%. In a low speed situation like coming to a stop light, dropping the bike by forgetting to put the side stand down etc, the front and rear guards in place means the difference between some scratched guards or having to replace a lot of freakin parts. I have seen this first hand at the various Bike Week events we go to every year....

 

I like the looks of the guards and the security they offer in case of a fall or drop, or if one of the saddlebags come loose.

 

I was in 4/5 ADA 1st Cav 98-01... Anyway,

Like anything else, there are pros and cons. I actually can't say anything about those saddlebag guards running at the bottom of the bags, but I will say that the saddlebag crash bars will be a necessity for any bike I ever have. Long dumb story, but my bike went down in the driveway last week.

It basically laid down on the saddlebag crash bar and the engine guard crash bar. A little tiny scuff on each of those bars a tiny scuff on the exhaust and almost unnoticeable there on the floorboard was the only damage I had. If it'd not been for the saddlebag guards, I think I would be getting some new CVO style bags at the tune of about $1000.