Hugging the bike with Engine Guards

[James_C50]

Thanks! You just saved me some money. I didn't know that about the Cobra bars. I personally don't like the looks of crash bars. With that being said, why would a dealer showing someone the less structural bars compared to something like the Cobra bars affect anyones decision on what to buy. They all are for looks, even Cobra say it, so just get the ones that look best on your bike! Am I missing something?

[Rickster]

Now in a SLOW SPEED drop I can see it working. In fact just to see if the bars will hold the weight I set the bike on it's side with the bars on it to see where what will hit first in a hard lean. The bars held the weight of the bike but I wouldn't want to try it in a skid.

Don't forget that in a hard lean, you will have G-forces, and your body weight on the bike, so it will sit a couple inches lower.

[jpwM50]

Like I said earlier, the bigger bars are to prevent your legs and yourself from being pinned under the bike when you lay it down in a slow speed crash. It worked for me on a Honda 450 and it basically went down allowing the bike to continue on without me or harming me, since I slowed quicker than the bike.

[Lexcruiser]

Originally Posted by James_C50

They all are for looks, even Cobra say it, so just get the ones that look best on your bike! Am I missing something?

I think they say that so that they're not liable in case something happened, mainly to cover their a$$. If someone was to go down and the bars didn't "protect" them, that person may sue for false advertising or malfunction of equipment or what have you. With that being said, crash bars won't guarantee anything, but it may help in lower speed crashes.

I have the MCE bars on my M50 and almost dropped it in the parking lot of McD's once. The bike leaned over to the right and was held up long enough by the engine guards/crash bars for me to get my bearings and stand her back up. YMMV!

[manimal]

Its true they can save you. A couple of people I know went down & hung on to the bike with minimal damage to themselves.
Some companies are now making rear bars also, like Lindby Customs.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by manimal

Its true they can save you. A couple of people I know went down & hung on to the bike with minimal damage to themselves.
Some companies are now making rear bars also, like Lindby Customs.

Rear bars arn't new, Harley has been putting them on there bikes for years. That would be a sight to see, two people hanging on to a bike sliding down the road. I like story's where no one gets hurt, perhaps you can give us a few more details.

[manimal]

Hey Rickster, My bad, I didn't mean 2 people on one bike. I was referring to 2 seperate instances. Sorry for not being more clear.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by manimal

Hey Rickster, My bad, I didn't mean 2 people on one bike. I was referring to 2 seperate instances. Sorry for not being more clear.

No problem. I was hoping to get some more info out of you. My feeling is that crashbars will help protect a bike in a slow speed tip over, but do next to nothing to help protect the operator. It sounded like you might have some firsthand info to the contrary.

[Bluecruzer]

I assume it would be possible. And I am sure it is better than nothing, but remember that engine guards, while called guards are more for show than protection. Not something to rely on.

Okay, I HAVE to step in here.

Lady decides to turn into a parking lot on a one way. I'm in the right driving lane, parked cars to my right. She's two lanes over and just turns straight across me. I either hit her in the door or try and dodge her. Must missed the last car before the entrance on the driveway... the owner of that vehicle said you couldn't have put a dollar bill between his front left bumper on his parked car, and the right side of my bike (CB900F) Still not enough room. The OEM guards are not real wide nor narrow... the left guard was point of impact. The bike stopped right there - I went through the instrument panel and landed 45 feet away!)

Damage to bike? Bent engine guard, minor scratches on right pipe (it fell on the right side), damage to throttle grip and mirror, damage to decal from gas spilling out of tank, new instrument panel (taken out with my chest), new helmet, major concussion (was out for two minutes), bruised ribs... walked away.

Damage to Dodge - $1500.

With no engine guard the impact would have been ON THE BLOCK and MY LEG.

Don't underestimate the value of a pretty front end crash bar.

[aviator]

I recently bought a new C50 and have been researching the type of guards to get. Your info re: this is really helpful, as is the input from so many riders. Thanks to all.

[SoCalCruisin]

Okay, I'm gonna take this thread in a little different direction. When I lived in Michigan and rode a Kawasaki LTD 550, I had the smaller case guards. I was in the right lane on a city street when a woman in an early 70's Chevy Impala decided she wanted my lane. Her damaged and protruding rear bumper actually caught my left case guard and I was stuck. She dragged me (upright) about 50 feet before she finally slowed enough for me to get off her bumper. She was oblivious to my horn and yelling, she just happened to slow to make the right turn.

I took the case guards off after that, but only for a short time. Their main use to me was for highway pegs.

I have the Lindby bars on my C50T now. They look good, and work good enough as an alternate place for my feet on those longer rides.

[SNAFU]

That's an idea! Rear bars. If you want you can add wheels to them.

[mcgill]

just my 2 cents but if you have time to even ponder the thought of laying a bike down then chances are you had time to slam on the brakes and stop allot safer ....and yes im on the range every weekend with msf instructors to here the same stuff said over and over again to people that would rather say they "laid it down" then " I recked".....crash bars can save your leg from being pinned but most riders have a natural reflex to try and catch themselves in a situation where the bike is going down....

[tallannie]

Mcgill,
hmmm yeah, I think you may be right. The few times I have felt I almost lost it holding my bike upright (slow speed stuff) I found my natural reaction was to throw my legs out and (successfully) right myself....not hug the thing.
I wonder if during a higher speed accident if I would do the same? Thinking about it, I have a son in law who nearly died and destroyed his groin area completely by staying with his bike as he went down and then going over the bars. It has made me wonder if I would try to launch myself clear of the bike... take a chance on how I land....instead of letting myself strip the handlebars and instruments with my legs.... just thinkin out loud.. opinions of long time riders welcome...
Annie

[pounds14]

This is my first time posting on this site..so HELLO.. I am planning a motercycle trip from pittsburgh P.A. to Treasure Island Florida with my father in-law.. We really dont want to get on any major highways.(at least not for to long).. We dont want to make the trip to long but want it to be scenic. Do it in 3 days at most.. I could use any suggestions. thanks again.

[Rickster]

I make it a habit to play "what if games" in my head when I'm riding. My theory is, if your are mentally ready for something to happen, you are more likely to react when it does. By the way, this is not something I do in traffic, in traffic, the dangers are real, and not just in my head.

It's pretty hard to physically practice something like avoiding a chair falling out of the back of the pick up truck you are following, or a car pulling out from a side street 40 feet in front of you, but if you have run through it in your mind a time or two, your reaction time might just be that 1/2 second quicker that enables you to react in a way that offers you your best chance of survival.

As we all know, things are constantly changing as we ride, requiring us to be continually reevaluating our avoidance strategy, and what works good in one situation, might not work at all the next time, even if it appears to be the same.

My point is, don't trap yourself into thinking "if this happens, I need to do this". Keep your options open.

If you put crash bars on, and get your mind set to hug the bike anytime things get harry, you are not keeping your options open.

[SoCalCruisin]

Very good points Rickster. My girlfriend bought a Kawasaki 500 recently. She took the MSF course first, and is still only comfortable close to home and in parking lots. She rides with me (two up) quite often, and as one way of teaching her, I have been thinking of and pointing out every little thing I can think of as we ride. It has helped re-enforce in me a lot of things I do naturally, and some things I have taken for granted too often and need to pay more attention to.

Just thinking about situations and options I think keeps me safer and better prepared.