Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[MDF27]

After being off a touring bike for just over 10 years I am planing to take a few slow speed / motor officer style training courses to gain back the confidence in slow speed maneuvering so I'm not duck walking the bike.

My question is what's the best protection like motorcycledropguards to add a little protection and help with potential damage to the lower leg fairings and the saddle bags.

I have a 2015 CVO Road Glide Ultra.  Would these drop guards actually touch before the lowers?  From pictures I have seen it looks really close.  I would just take the lowers off but I don't believe it's that's easy.

Thanks
Mark

[GregKhougaz]

This product looks like it might help but they are currently sold out:  Motorcycle Drop Guards for HD.
I had the 2015 CVO Road Glide. There are radiators in your lowers so removing them is probably not an option. I would definitely remove the bags, however. Consider also removing the tour pack which is quite heavy. Doing so will take a lot of weight off and make the class easier.

An old school hack was to slice into a thick garden hose lengthwise so that it can be wrapped around your front and rear crash guards. Secure the hose with lots of duct tape. You can also tape the very bottom of the lowers but for your first layer, use masking tape which won't damage your paint and then duct tape over the masking tape. Of course, none of this is foolproof.

[MDF27]

Thanks for the information.  I am checking with them to see when they will be available but I just may do exactly as you said.

Mark

[kojak]

Saddlebag guards are a must for me on any bike I own along with the engine crash guards..

[MDF27]

Saddlebag guards are a must for me on any bike I own along with the engine crash guards..

I have the stock bag bars and the stock engine crash bars on the bike but was looking at protecting those during the class

[bigchuck]

I'd take saddlebags off, initially at least.

[bigchuck]

Pipe insulation and duct tape

[MDF27]

I would think pipe insulation would just rip off if it hit the pavement.

[JCZ]

A number of the members on this forum from Northern California rode down to Los Angeles to take the Ride Like A Pro-West Coast training.  I call it parking lot riding.....it's all slow speed, tight maneuvers.  We removed or saddlebags.  I believe we all had crash bars front and rear since we were all on CVO Ultra Classics or CVO Street Glides.  You can zip tie rubber hose on the crash bar bends or even replace crash bars in worst case scenario easier than you can replace paint or bags.

By the way, photos are posted somewhere in this forum of our training.

[FLSTFI Dave]

Pipe insulation and duct tape

That is exactly what I did.

I would think pipe insulation would just rip off if it hit the pavement.

I didn't drop mine.  However another student did.  it chewed up the pipe insulation, but not through it as its such a slow speed.

[JCZ]

I found it...... https://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=61608.0   

Actually I've taken this course a couple of times so there's likely more photos posted in another post.  Years ago I posted a lot of photos here.

On a side note, I would use an old rubber hose and duct tape rather than pipe wrap to provide protection on your bars.

[Ironhorse]

Here's what I suggest:

1. Remove Saddlebags.
2. Take old garden hose or heater hose and split it length wise down the middle.  Slip that over the front and rear guards and secure it with hose clamps or zipties.  This is MUCH MORE durable than foam pipe insulation.
3. Make sure you're at half a tank or less to make the bike lighter.
4. Remove getback whips or throttle locks or cramp busters or anything else that might get in the way of making smooth throttle control during lock to lock turns.
5. Remove or tuck in Highway Pegs mounted on front crash bars.
6. Turn your head and look where you want to go.

Post up your experience in training and tells us how fun it was.

[JCZ]

 MDF-27, Mark.....meet Ironhorse, also Mark.  This Mark was the owner and instructor of Ride Like A Pro-West Coast and he is who we took our training from when we all rolled down to Los Angeles.  He's in many of the photos in the link that I provided in my post just above.

Here's what I suggest:

1. Remove Saddlebags.
2. Take old garden hose or heater hose and split it length wise down the middle.  Slip that over the front and rear guards and secure it with hose clamps or zipties.  This is MUCH MORE durable than foam pipe insulation.
3. Make sure you're at half a tank or less to make the bike lighter.
4. Remove getback whips or throttle locks or cramp busters or anything else that might get in the way of making smooth throttle control during lock to lock turns.
5. Remove or tuck in Highway Pegs mounted on front crash bars.
6. Turn your head and look where you want to go.

Post up your experience in training and tells us how fun it was.

[Eqcons]

This product looks like it might help but they are currently sold out:  Motorcycle Drop Guards for HD.

Those look good, but the drawback I see is that they cost more than replacing the engine guard....

[bigchuck]

You are going so slow the pipe insulation/ pool noodles and duct tape is enough.