Do Crash Bars Protect Much?

[norseman]

I think they're a good idea, but my recent accident (thankfully just BEFORE putting on my fancy Reband exhaust) showed that the bike does a good job protecting itself even without the bars.

I tipped over on my right side after some joker slammed on his brakes at a green light and I smacked his rear bumper. Obviously my front fender was ruined, as was my tire, but the damage to the side of the bike was REMARKABLY little. If you did any sliding or scraping I think the bars would save more, but just a little "oops" tip over isn't going to be very different with/without the bars (from my limited experience).

 

[warp9.9]

I think they're a good idea, but my recent accident (thankfully just BEFORE putting on my fancy Reband exhaust) showed that the bike does a good job protecting itself even without the bars.

I tipped over on my right side after some joker slammed on his brakes at a green light and I smacked his rear bumper. Obviously my front fender was ruined, as was my tire, but the damage to the side of the bike was REMARKABLY little. If you did any sliding or scraping I think the bars would save more, but just a little "oops" tip over isn't going to be very different with/without the bars (from my limited experience).

Lucky you I bent the frame and broke th lower triple tree casting wasted the beetle bag on the left along withthe rear fender and tank. front fender and head lights windscreen and just about everything on the roll over. I wonder if I should have bailed off rather then trying to ride it out

 

[TURBO200R4]

hi
i have let mine fall over about 5 or 6 times. i probably hold the record. even let it get away from me in the dirt and gravel and went down on the right side. other than a few scratches nothing damaged. i think that it was money well spent.
herman

 

[TriumPhil]

Yes, and don't ask my how I know!

I have both the front and rear sets, the latter serving to prevent cosmetic damage as they are not nearly as rigidly attached as the fronts.

 

[Tripps]

hi
i have let mine fall over about 5 or 6 times. i probably hold the record. even let it get away from me in the dirt and gravel and went down on the right side. other than a few scratches nothing damaged. i think that it was money well spent.
herman

We may be tied, LOL The other great thing is it only tips about 45 degrees, easy to stand back up, not sure if I could do it if it was actually laying flat on it's side.

 

[baconboy]

We may be tied, LOL The other great thing is it only tips about 45 degrees, easy to stand back up, not sure if I could do it if it was actually laying flat on it's side.

Is that with a shapped set? I have noticed that you can get some that are just rounded and some that have the bottom edge cut at an angle. Can any recommend one set over another?

cheers

 

[Tripps]

IDK, I have a Touring, came with factory installed set.

 

[LiteFiter]

Bars

I just had my bars (OEM) put on Tuesday. Had them powder coated black to reduce their signature. I like them not just for the assist in keeping the bike off my legs if something unexpected happens, but I LOVE having the highway pegs on there. Nice to be able to change my sitting angle.

 

[MikeDeY]

That bike Mittzy mentioned earlier...

On page one of this thread... Yeah, that was mine. Let's just say that I wish I'd had crash bars on my baby that day. It put her outta commission for almost a year while I was building money up to rebuild her...

 

[EnglishRider]

The other great thing is it only tips about 45 degrees, easy to stand back up, not sure if I could do it if it was actually laying flat on it's side.

Agree that Tripps - layed mine down at an uphill junction when I put my foot down on loose gravel. Don't know how I would have got it upright from flat, even with the wife helping - but from 45 degrees ish we got it back up even fully laden and against the slope .