Engine or "Crash" Bars?

[TaosBrick]

The weather is getting warmer in Taos, and though I am currently in Floriduh piping at a RenFest,
my thoughts are turning to the spline lube job that awaits me at home (I'm getting myself psyched for this, really gonna do it now!) - and the idea of making it
easier for klutzy, wimpy me to pick up my bike when I drop it.
  I have read in various posts on various forums that "crash" bars are a good way to eff up your
engine, so I am wondering if ther may be a home built/welded solution that would stick out a bit
And make the bike easier to pick up after a klutz move. Or.. Should I just man up and go to the
gym and do a lot of dead lifts to prepare for these inevitabilities?

[2000rsv]

Picking up a K75 isn't too hard.  Put your back against the seat, grab the rear grab bars and the handlebars and walk backwards.  It will stand right up.

Don't know where you heard about the tip over bars being bad for the engine.  They are not big deal.  However, it appears they would make it easier to lift the bike after a tip over.  I have them on my K75 but have not had the experience to test their effectiveness.

[pdg]

I've seen quite a few 'bad' opinions of crash/engine bars too, from ruining the engine to being a waste of time.

If they are too strong and/or badly designed then they can be bad - you don't want the bar to keep it's shape and rip lumps off the engine, they should deform to absorb the impact while protecting the cases from damage.

I've also seen people saying that a set of bars cost more than an engine case. My opinion here is that you can ride home with a bent crash bar - I'd like to see anyone ride home with a hole in the crankcase.

I got driven into a few years ago on a Suzuki - the car hit the engine bar (instead of my leg) on the left and the bike hit the road on it's right - no damage to the engine and I got to keep both my ankles too... Personally, I'm sold on them and will be making a set for my k75 pretty soon.

[2000rsv]

The factory tip over bars are just that.  Tip over bars.  They will protect the engine cases and the tupperware in a parking lot tip over.  Not much protection in a crash.

[TaosBrick]

The factory tip over bars are just that.  Tip over bars.  They will protect the engine cases and the tupperware in a parking lot tip over.  Not much protection in a crash.

That's really all I'm lookin' for. Something to help mitigate the consequences of my innate klutziness. Keep the comments comin', brickheds.

[mystic red]

Great place for your highway pegs...

[pallum]

Personally, I'm sold on them and will be making a set for my k75 pretty soon.

Hopefully some documentation on the process for the forums? 

[Qdude]

Could beefy highway pegs act as nerfs?

[TaosBrick]

Personally, I'm sold on them and will be making a set for my k75 pretty soon.

Hopefully some documentation on the process for the forums? 

Second that.

[pdg]

Could beefy highway pegs act as nerfs?

Well, they could but what are you going to bolt them to? You could make a single bar that goes from the top front engine mount down to the threaded hole in the bottom of the crankcase where the lower fairing frame attaches, but if that's strong enough to support your feet / hold the pegs if you drop it then you're running the risk of breaking out those bottom holes as the bar would want to twist... You'd need to triangulate the bars to either both top engine mounts and a bottom threaded hole, or both bottom holes and a top mount - if you do that you've pretty much made a set of engine bars anyway.

(JMHO of course - it's not like I know what I'm on about 3/4 of the time...)

Personally, I'm sold on them and will be making a set for my k75 pretty soon.

Hopefully some documentation on the process for the forums? 

Second that.

Shall do. Don't hold your breath waiting for it though - according to swmbo it's not a 'high priority' to mess with the bike  :laugh

[TIV]

Mine, being an ex-police bike, came with crash bars front and back. I decided to keep them on. They have saved the bike from damage on three occations so far, in all cases a tip-over. I think they look great, you can use them to lift the bike on the centerstand and for moving your feet around on long rides. I mounted extra lights on them, and they can protect your legs, in some situations anyway.

[mystic red]

I'm jealous of your rear bars..

[TIV]

I'm jealous of your rear bars..

You should be, they are pretty rare cool shades "just joking"  :laugh

[K75RT Keith]

I found a set of police bars.  Tiv,  would you please post pics of where and how the front and back bars mount

[TIV]

I found a set of police bars.  Tiv,  would you please post pics of where and how the front and back bars mount

My pleasure Keith, take a look at the pictures in this link http://s1073.beta.photobucket.com/user/throsing/library/K75RT%20crash%20bars You will probably need some special items for it, but I think it´s all available. If there are any questions feel free to ask. I might be able to help with some of the small items such as crash bar rubber bobbins and small covers etc.