When it comes to getting your motorcycle safety equipment, is there anything you should consider? For example, what’s the best crash bar to get? Or would a seatbelt or helmet give you enough protection in case of an accident?
There’s nothing worse than crashing your motorcycle and then spending hundreds of dollars on expensive bike repair and recovery.
If you have had a motorcycle accident, you may be wondering whether motorcycle crash bars are worth it.
The answer is yes! Crash bars are definitely worth it. They are one of the most important safety features for your motorcycle. Crash bars have been shown to help prevent lower leg injuries. Studies have also proven that they may also keep the bike’s weight from crashing into the rider in the case of an accident.
In this article, we will show the value of crash bars for motorcycles as well as the different types of motorcycle crash bars.
What Is a Crash Bar?
Motorcycle crash bars are designed to protect you in the event of an accident. They are attached to the handlebars and, when activated, push against your body.
By doing so, they help reduce the forces exerted on your body during the impact. If you have ever been in an accident where you felt like you were going to be thrown from your motorcycle, you will know that these forces can be quite substantial.
Should I Have a Crash Bar on My Motorcycle? Is It Necessary?
Most motorcycle manufacturers are now offering crash bars as standard equipment on many cruisers, and many companies make crash bars as aftermarket accessories. They are easy to install and pay for themselves in the damage that one tip-over could cause to the bike.
They are much cheaper than helmets, so they make sense as an additional layer of protection for motorcycle riders. When you’re on the road, your safety is your priority, so making sure your bike has a simple aftermarket safety feature installed is smart.
Crash bars are not designed to guarantee that you will not sustain injuries in a motorcycle accident, but they do offer protection for your bike and your legs.
What Do Crash Bars Protect?
Crash bars are designed to diffuse the force of an impact in the event of a crash in order to keep expensive parts from hitting the asphalt. Crash bars have a number of mounting points. The distribution of the force allows it to be prevented from being transmitted directly to a single point.
Crash bars aren’t designed to make your bike impervious to damage, but rather to keep its most valuable components intact. The right set of bars can be used to save the engine, frame, and gas tank. If your engine and gas tank are undamaged, you can usually make it home after a bad crash. Unless you damage your tip sensor, that is.
What Injuries Can Motorcycle Crash Bars Prevent?
A motorcycle crash bar won’t prevent you from being thrown off of your motorcycle if you have a collision. It also won’t prevent the bike from falling on you and injuring you. However, it can help prevent one of the leading causes of debilitating trauma among riders: leg injuries.
Studies suggest that motorcycle crash bars can help to minimize ankle injuries and lower leg injuries. Experts have mixed opinions on whether or not crash bars can reduce the risk of injuries to the upper legs. Crash bars may be especially helpful for riders who are involved in low-speed tip-overs.
If the bike crashes to the side, the crash bar can absorb the impact and prevent the bike from crushing a rider’s or passenger’s leg. The bar itself can also make it easier for the rider to pick the bike back up. It’s amazing how much damage can be done by one bike.
Types of Crash Bars
Crash bars are specific to the type of bike you have. Many riders install aftermarket crash bars because they prefer better materials or designs. As you already know, crash bars may be designed to protect the engine or fuel tank of your bike. In the event of a crash, you may still be able to complete your ride. Other crash bars are designed to protect the bike. This often means the use of plastic.
Are All Motorcycle Crash Bars Steel?
Not at all. Crash bars tend to be made of aluminum, stainless steel, or mild steel. You don’t need to buy any new bike components, but you will need to decide what type of bike is right for your riding style and what kind of bike components are right for that bike.
Crash Bars: Material Considerations
Mild steel is the best material for crash bars because it flexes, which means it’s less likely to break during a high-speed crash. Aluminum is the lightest and adds the least amount of weight to a bike, but it isn’t particularly strong.
With so many choices, it’s easy to get stuck. To get through this maze of choices, you need a crash bar that can protect your vehicle’s finish and hold up under heavy loads. The best crash bars are made of mild steel and coated in a powder coat.
If the crash bar is damaged, then the crash bar will rust. Steel is a nice material for crash bars because it is strong. This is especially beneficial if you are installing a lot of bars around your bike. However, steel is heavier than aluminum, which is a trade-off.
After you’ve fallen, the crash bar may crack, causing it to be compromised. To choose the right crash bar, you’ll also need to know the size of your pipe and what it’s made of. If it’s smaller, then it may not have enough surface area for its size. If it’s thicker, then it may be stronger. Larger tubes generally require less thickness and are less likely to dent, but they take longer to assemble.
Advantages of Crash Bars
The benefits of crash bars are many. These bars are designed to protect your motorcycle from an impact. They are available in different designs and sizes to meet the requirements of the user. Crash bars come in different shapes, sizes, and materials.
Crash Bars’ Disadvantages
There are a lot of advantages and a few disadvantages to crash bars. If you crash your motorcycle, they are the best way to protect it from damage, but they can be expensive and take a lot of time to install. Before you make the decision to install one, you should consider a few things.
Do You Need Rear Crash Bars?
They are helpful in protecting your rear end, but they are more useful in the event of a crash. It is important that you are comfortable with the distance between your rear wheel and the crash bars.
The bike is protected from a rear impact with crash bars. The bars are usually installed at the rear of the bike, but they can be installed on the top of the gas tank.
Can Motorcycle Crash Bars End Up Doing More Harm Than Good?
Crash bars are designed to protect motorcycle riders from serious injury and are an essential part of a rider’s safety equipment. However, there are some safety experts who now say that these bars may do more harm than good.
In fact, motorcycle crash bars have actually been shown to cause injury to the rider’s neck. If crash bars are going to cause injury, then they shouldn’t be used. An easy way to pull your head back to prevent it from sagging is to pull your shoulders back.
Is a Motorcycle Crash Bar Illegal?
Immediately after a crash, the motorcycle rider may feel that it is safer to use the crash bars. However, many state and federal laws don’t allow motorcyclists to use crash bars. Several states might even have laws that specifically forbid motorcycle riders from wearing crash bars.
If you’re a motorcyclist, your helmet must comply with the laws regarding motorcycle helmets. The federal motor vehicle safety standard requires motorcycle crash bars to be no more than 12 inches above the top of the gas tank.
Final Words
Crash bars are definitely a lifesaver for motorcyclists. The good news is that many new motorcycles come equipped with crash bars already.
In my humble opinion motorcycle crash bars are definitely worth it and should be your must-have safety accessory!
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