Scraping highway bars, it is dangerous?

**retro asian** · 27th September 2009, 21:16

Just casually going through some twisties this arvo, and I hear a loud bang... my new crash bars hitting the road.

It didn't throw me off my line or anything, after the touch I guess the bike just got pushed back upright a little bit...

Anybody have any experiences with bar scraping?
Is it dangerous to push the limits here? Am I all good if the bars are only scraping on the odd occasion?

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th September 2009, 21:23

Originally Posted by retro asian

Anybody have any experiences with bar scraping?
Is it dangerous to push the limits here? Am I all good if the bars are only scraping on the odd occasion?

I use to replace the crash bars on my old XJ Special every 6 months due to the scrapping when cornering... didn't notice till one of my mates pointed it out that one was nearly in half...

I did answer by saying "that will be why it was getting easier getting round the twisties and I was scrapping the bar so much"

As for limits depends on the bike, the rider, and corner ie the camber etc...

I just ended up taking them off as the ones on the XJ did limit my cornering... once they were off... my mates noticed big difference

at the end of the day they come down to personal prefernce if you want them there or no... the positive side of the crash bar is the will fold and protect the engine a bit but can also end up breaking the cooling fins on the head

**retro asian** · 27th September 2009, 21:26

I've heard of people binning because of scraping their exhausts and basically lifting their tyres off the road. Does scraping bars have the same effect? Or are they designed to take it?

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 27th September 2009, 21:31

Originally Posted by retro asian

I've heard of people binning because of scraping their exhausts and basically lifting their tyres off the road. Does scraping bars have the same effect? Or are they designed to take it?

Technicallythe bars are designed to fold around the engine if you binned, so scraping them there is technically a bit of give... scrapping your exhaust there is no give..

But does depend on the bike the bars etc... My guess going by your description doing a little bit isn't going to harm it other than having scrap marks on your crash bars but I wouldn't do it to often... take it easy

**Big Dave** · 28th September 2009, 10:54

Yeah mr retro - it's quite dangerous. You dig them in hard enough they will lever a wheel off the ground and the whole shebang lurches sideways.

Ugly sound and quite disconcerting till you know what is coming.

The bars look like they could do with bending to be closer to the engine.

Otherwise you are meant to stick some highway pegs on them and sit back and 'welax, you'll liff longer' - Arnie: Total Recall.

**FJRider** · 28th September 2009, 11:05

They are dangerous if they touch in "casual" twisties. You would do well to check out engine guards that sit a little closer to the engine. That is what needs protection.

If you think the bars should be more for your protection, install a roll cage ...

**slofox** · 28th September 2009, 13:25

Scraping highway bars, it is dangerous?

If it makes you fall off, yes.

**vifferman** · 28th September 2009, 13:52

What Big Dave said.

If you're just gradually leaning in, and they barely touch down (and the road is smooth), then it's no biggie. But if you lean over more quickly, or the road surface is uneven, they could dig in, take some weight off either tyre, and you could crash. Even if you don't, responding to them touching down (by adjusting your lean) could potentially be hazardous.

**retro asian** · 28th September 2009, 14:15

OK, don't worry guys... I'll take it easy until I save up for new highway bars.
That's the risk of buying product off the internet I guess.

Guess they are more designed for looks, or Americans who don't corner...???

Think it's mainly the off-camber roads that will give me problems.

At least they'll hold the bike up if the stand breaks off...

**retro asian** · 28th September 2009, 14:18

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Otherwise you are meant to stick some highway pegs on them and sit back and 'welax, you'll liff longer' - Arnie: Total Recall.

Haha, I have already.

They are HD pegs as well!

**AllanB** · 28th September 2009, 14:23

I'd cut them down and join them back up with some slugs and a good weld. Or get something bent with a greater angle at the bottom to avoid scraping.

They are mega wide and asking for trouble!

Mind you you could hang a lot of lights off them!

I find it weird that for a bike that is designed around a physical look and image the only form of crash protection I've seen is a big fuggly towel rail. There's money to be made in a tidy design.

**Coldrider** · 28th September 2009, 14:27

I bet they look cool scaping at night.

**george formby** · 28th September 2009, 15:18

Once they hit the deck you have no more lean angle, push it further & your off. I know this coz I thought it was cool to scrape the bars on an old diversion until one day I lifted the front wheel. Sky grass sky grass. Thump.

**retro asian** · 28th September 2009, 15:24

Originally Posted by AllanB

I find it weird that for a bike that is designed around a physical look and image the only form of crash protection I've seen is a big fuggly towel rail. There's money to be made in a tidy design.

These are aftermarket bars bought in the States.
I did "research" online, and read posts that said these bars wouldn't scrape before the pegs...

Maybe I could add floorboards...then the floorboards would scrape first, giving me warning not to go any further...