It seems that front and rear crash bars on a Harley rig are rather useless (like the side stand that I removed) - have any of you Harley riders removed them?
Originally written by Rotten Ralph on 4/4/2008 8:53 PM
It seems that front and rear crash bars on a Harley rig are rather useless (like the side stand that I removed) - have any of you Harley riders removed them?
Have taken them off of quite a few bikes when we moutned sidecars to them.
Seems like they are only there for a place to mount highway pegs or maybe extra lights once a sidecar is installed.
The Harley "Engine guards" and "Bag guards" work quite well for their intended purpose of protecting the bike from damage if it falls over or tips at low speed. They'll also keep the feet and lower legs from damage at times. They also make it easier to pick up a fallen solo bike.
They were never intended for crash protection.
Many remove them and many install them on Harleys and most other Cruisers.
They are handy for mounting freeway pags, weather gaiters, auxiliary lighting and steering dampers.
They're ornamental and functional accessory for their intended use which was NOT for sidecar mounting, although I have seen them unwisely used for this purpose.
I was glad to have one when I totaled out my 20003 Dyna/563T rig last summer. The engine guard stopped the pine tree I hit from wiping out my right leg. IYhe guard was pretty well twisted up and bolts were sheared but my leg was intact.
Lonnie
Northwest Sidecars
Lonnie
I agree with Lonnie. They are for tipping over, not crashing. They work well for that, at least in my unfortunate experiences.
on a solo bike for me a 1" solid steel square rod mounted to the engines mountings (passing through the pipes) made an exellent job. It held the accesory lights, worked as elevated foot peg and after usual winter touch downs all I needed was a 20 pound slash hammer. (once I counted 4 road posts passing by while I sat on the bike = minimum 150m slideing on the ice.)
My legs are still complete (well, thanks to the "Anatomic motot cross knee protectors when I whacked of one of these wooden posts on my second day with a sidecar many years ago)
Result: The fancy tubeing isn't very tough (someone out of the neighbour hood still whacked off his 6th cylinder from his CBX allthough he had these tubes) but something solid like 1" square 1045 bar does help on a single. on the rig just protects a little the left leg.
Regards
Sven
I've found them useful for putting weather covers over for winter driving - keeps some of the precipitation off my boots. They also seem to be useful as points to put bungees and related tie downs on for camping trips. But other than these simple auxiliary purposes they don't have much of a purpose on a sidecar outfit.
Originally written by gregbenner on 4/5/2008 3:00 AM
I agree with Lonnie. They are for tipping over, not crashing. They work well for that, at least in my unfortunate experiences.
'Crash bars' if made stout enoough to endure much more than they do now would probably trasnfer more stress from whatever happened to the bike frame and allow more damage there. Yes, there do work okay for what they are presently intended for. To beef them up sure could be counter productive. Chasing weak links can get very expensive real quick.
I had front mustashe/highway bars only.. removed for side car...
funny today my son asked why I still hsve the kick stand on?
Will be removed also no need w/ car
does this help?
Happy riding shiney side up!L
the main stand helps a lot for to take of the front or back wheel.
the side stand, no idea yet but I was happy to have it keept on now that I am driveing solo again.
Sven
On rare occasions the sidecar is off. A kick stand is very helpful at that time. 🙂
Engine guards are great in winter cold, or rain, as they are the frame for engine chaps. Dry toes, and warm feet, hmmm, nice. :-0
Safe riding all.
Gail
