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[dps4]

How much protections do these bars provide? I like the look of a bike without them-but do they really protect much of the bike or are they best used as foot rests? thanks

[erniezap]

They'll protect the bike if you drop it in a parking lot, but other than that they're a place to mount highway pegs.  Not much protection if you go down on the road...

[dps4]

If the bike falls over standing still, what bike parts are usually protected from the pavement?

[Twolanerider]

They'll protect the bike if you drop it in a parking lot, but other than that they're a place to mount highway pegs.  Not much protection if you go down on the road...

Well maybe.............   

For liability and other reasons they certainly aren't described or guaranteed as "crash guards."  But I've still got a vivid snap shot image in my head of a Road King I had to lay down once coming down on it's front and rear crash guards just above my right leg.  Without the rear guard it might have snapped my leg like a twig as I saw me underneath the bike.  With the guards in place Twolane and bike each went their merry ways and both came away only slightly the worse for wear.  Both rode the 300 miles on home starting about 45 minutes later too. 

That bike slid a ways on both crash bars and really dinged up very little else.  Was fortunate that it got laid down and slid straight.  Had to pull the front crash bar back forward so it wasn't blocking the rear brake pedal any longer.  But that was all that was needed to make the bike completely rideable again.

I agree with Ernie completely.  You can't count on the bars saving your ass (or your leg or your bike).  But they might help some.  And when it hits the fan "some" is better than nothing.  That's why I put the rear guards on the red bike when it didn't come out of the box with them.

[Twolanerider]

If the bike falls over standing still, what bike parts are usually protected from the pavement?

Without bars you'll hit footboards, saddlebags, on over against handlebars and sometimes even side of tank if it falls that far.  With front and rear bars you'll usually just hit the front and rear bars if you drop it.

[erniezap]

I have both front and rear on both bikes...

[screem]

Some years back I owned a 91 FLHS...had just had it repainted, debated whether to put the front crash bar back on...I did, and thank goodness i did,  One evening around dusk I traveling on a 4 lane road , From the sidewalk came a kid pushing his bicycle acroos the road. He got out into the first lane, saw me...panicked and pushed the bike forward as he retreated back to the sidewalk. I had been traveling about 30 mph when i first saw him appear, I started braking and heading out to the second lane, as I slowed the bike he pushed out ahead of himslf was in my path...I was down to about 10mph or so when i had to lay the bike down, my bike slid for 30 feet or soand came to a stop. I jumped up off the pavement....unhurt.... and got yo my bike, picked it up and got it to the side of the road, I got on the bike, got home to my garage and a full inspection of it...unscathed except for some grind marks on the front and rear crash bars and the side of the florrboard...NO PAINT damage...So I'm a believer in crash bars

[Hoist!]

Some years back I owned a 91 FLHS...had just had it repainted, debated whether to put the front crash bar back on...I did, and thank goodness i did,  One evening around dusk I traveling on a 4 lane road , From the sidewalk came a kid pushing his bicycle acroos the road. He got out into the first lane, saw me...panicked and pushed the bike forward as he retreated back to the sidewalk. I had been traveling about 30 mph when i first saw him appear, I started braking and heading out to the second lane, as I slowed the bike he pushed out ahead of himslf was in my path...I was down to about 10mph or so when i had to lay the bike down, my bike slid for 30 feet or soand came to a stop. I jumped up off the pavement....unhurt.... and got yo my bike, picked it up and got it to the side of the road, I got on the bike, got home to my garage and a full inspection of it...unscathed except for some grind marks on the front and rear crash bars and the side of the florrboard...NO PAINT damage...So I'm a believer in crash bars

I agree. I wouldn't run a dresser w/o them. The SERK did not come with rears. I added them. Most people remove them. They'll protect the bags, and it gives me something to lift up on if I have to back uphill. I wouldn't count on them to prevent an injury. I'd still bail first! Hoist!

[altugo]

A friend of mine has a roadking with bars.He went into a curve on the leftlane thinking that it was a one way street and hit a car that was coming from opposite direction around the headlight area.The crashbar ripped the car and got bend but surely saved his leg and the bike.He didnt even fall and continued to ride after without any injuries.He had to replace the crashbar.So I guess they help.

[Coolbreeze]

Front Crash bars = good stuff.   
Rear Crash Bars = good stuff.

I've used them myself several times and I watched them do the trick again just last week in Nelson.  Ask Rjob and Co. about that.

I wouldn't be without them. period. 

[charlie]

I believe in the bars.

[RJ749]

Front Crash bars = good stuff.   
Rear Crash Bars = good stuff.

I've used them myself several times and I watched them do the trick again just last week in Nelson.  Ask Rjob and Co. about that.

I wouldn't be without them. period. 

After our digger on Tuesday, I wouldn't be without them.  I think one bar is scuffed and that's really it.  One of the hard bags would have been thrashed were it not for the 3M film I have on the bike.  Cindy would have been worse off and I most likely would have broken a leg, but the bars kept the bike off of us and off the bags both.

I'm a walking example of just how good they work.  Just before this picture it was on it's side in the ditch, all it is in the picture is dusty.

[RJ749]

But I can handle the dust, hey guys just give me a couple of minutes with the Plexus and we're out of here.

[Twolanerider]

This is the bar that was on that Road King a few years ago.  The cop's report said the bike slid 125 feet.  I personally went about 80.  Nice lubricating wet pavement and rain gear  .

Fortunately the bike stayed just as straight as could be.  Never even changed lanes (good thing as I didn't turn on the blinker before it and I separated).  The rear bar was ground through.  The front bar is just barely holed in its center though you can't see it in the photo. 

The ground down spot there would be the front of the right side.  It was bent back over the brake pedal.  About half the distance of the pedal.  Only thing that had to be done to get on the bike and ride it the 300 miles on home was change my shorts and put a fireman's axe handle between the crash bar and frame to bent it back forward to clear the brake pedal.

It's been hanging on my garage wall as a souvenir ever since  .

[SilverDawg]

After our digger on Tuesday, I wouldn't be without them.  I think one bar is scuffed and that's really it.  One of the hard bags would have been thrashed were it not for the 3M film I have on the bike.  Cindy would have been worse off and I most likely would have broken a leg, but the bars kept the bike off of us and off the bags both.

I'm a walking example of just how good they work.  Just before this picture it was on it's side in the ditch, all it is in the picture is dusty.

Hey Rog,

First off, glad that you all were protected and came away in great shape.

Sencondly, what can you tell us about the  3M film?  Never heard about utilizing it on a bike before   Do tell!!!