What’s why many Harley Davidson motorcycles and customer cruisers have crash bars installed. They are a great way to add chrome to a bike and add another layer of protection.

But does it really add protection? No one seems to know.

Here’s where crash bars really shine. Most cruisers are very heavy and can weigh in excess of 800 lbs. Most “accidents” occur when bikers are parking, maneuvering slowly, or making a quick stop. When those accidents occur, the biker tends to tip over on the side.

Crash bars are great for minimizing damage to a bike when it falls on the side. The bars which stick out a few inches wider than the bike hit the ground and prevent the side and engine area from contacting the ground. This protection can potentially save the bike from thousands of dollars in repairs.

Unfortunately, there is very little hard data on the effectiveness of crash bars in other types of accidents. Unlike DOT helmets, there are no regulations or requirements for crash bars. As a result, there are almost no studies to prove their effectiveness.

Detractors of crash bars as a motorcycle safety accessory state that crash bars are only effective in certain type of crashes and only when the rider is still on the bike. Crash bars are useless if the rider is ejected from the bike. Also, a rider could actually get pinned under the bike if they fall under the crash bar

Although there is no data to support this claim, crash bars are generally thought to minimize ankle and foot injuries in crash situations. In terms of rider protection, wearing protective motorcycle gear and a full DOT approved helmet is still the gold standard of rider protection.

Motorcycles, especially Harley Davidson, are major investments so any opportunity to make them look nice while providing protection is a good thing. While crash bars may not protect the rider in a crash, they can surely help protect the biker in the event of a slow speed crash or if the bike is tipped over. That makes crash bars a sensible and stylish accessory.

• Age/Size: Before a child can ride on a motorcycle, they should be old enough to understand the importance of safety and large enough to ride on the seat. Children who can not comfortably hold the rider in front and rest their feet on the foot pegs should never be a motorcycle passenger.

• Positioning: The only place a child can ride on a motorcycle in behind the driver. Never ride with a child in front of the driver.

• Safety Gear: Children should wear the same safety gear as any other motorcycle rider. Protective motorcycle gear comes in a wide array of sizes for children. Most importantly, make sure they have a child sized, DOT helmet.

• Duration of the Ride: Long rides are not suitable for children as a general rule. Children can fall asleep and slide off the bike; even on a custom cruiser or a Honda Goldwing with full passenger setup.

• Back rest: Ideally, children should ride on bikes that have a bike rest or sissy bar on the rear of the seat. This added support makes it easier for the child to stay in place and minimizes fatigue.

• Test Ride: Before hitting the streets or the highway, make a couple of test runs on a deserted street or a large parking lot. A little practice can make sure the child is truly ready to be a motorcycle passenger.

Riding on a motorcycle for a child can be an exhilarating experience and can be the spark to the start of a lifelong love of motorcycling. Experienced bikers should help insure that the new generation of bikers understands safety is more important than the thrill of the ride. By helping children understand and respect the need for safety at a young age, the entire motorcycle community will benefit greatly.

By following a few night riding essentials, your next evening ride will be both fun and safe.

• Clean your lights: Dirty headlights, tail lights, turning signals, and running lights can greatly impair how visible they are at a distance. Make sure to clean all lights a minimum of twice per week to insure maximum visibility.

• Reflective Motorcycle Gear: Reflective gear provides extra, highly visible illumination that motorists can see at great distances. Make sure your gear has reflective material on it. There are also options to buy additional reflective material and add them to your bike or helmet.

• Helmets and Goggles: Make sure visors and lens are clean and free of scratches. Scratches can cause glare from headlights and impede clear vision. If your goggles or helmet visors have scratches, replace them immediately.

• HIDs or Standard Headlights: HID or High Intensity Discharge lights produce 300% more light than halogen headlights. While this is great for providing the best vision for the motorcyclist, HID lights can sometimes have the opposite effect on other motorists.

• Speed: Always obey all posted speed limits but make sure to use extra care at night. Since your vision will be less acute than during the day, slower speeds will help you see and anticipate potential problems better and allow for maximum reaction time.

• Eye sight: Since motorcycling requires great vision, make sure to have an annual vision check up to see if corrective lens are needed. Night vision can sometimes be more impaired than day vision so make sure to tell your doctor that night vision is important for you.

Night motorcycling is all about seeing and being seen. Make sure that as you head out for an evening ride, all the necessary precautions have been taken so you are not in the dark.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) there are over 8 million registered motorcycles on the road in the United States. They also report that approximately 80% of motorcycle accidents compared to 20% of automobile accidents result in injury or death. This means that if you are in an accident on a motorcycle, it is highly likely that at the very least you will be hurt. That is a sobering thought.

Besides the obvious fact that motorcycles offer virtually zero protection if involved in a crash, there are other less obvious reasons for injuries from motorcycle crashes. A few include:

• Not wearing a helmet
• Not wearing  protective motorcycle gear
• Alcohol consumption
• Exceeding posted speed limits
• Failure to ride defensively
• Improper cornering or braking
• Racing
• Lack of proper motorcycle maintenance

The list above could have been 100 or more characteristics long but for the sake of this assessment, let’s look at these 8 as our starting point. Honestly take inventory of your riding habits and ask yourself, do these characteristics apply to me?

Bear in mind, any of the above characteristic can plant you in a cemetery; just imagine if a few of them describe your riding disposition. If so, you are a dead biker. Here’s the good news, you don’t have to be and it is never too late to make safety and fun your priority.

By changing just a few behaviors, you greatly increase your chances of avoiding injury and death.

• Take a state approved motorcycle safety course
• Drive defensively
• Always wear a DOT/SNELL approved helmet
• Always wear protective motorcycle gear
• Never drink and ride
• Obey all posted speed limits 

Motorcycling will always be dangerous and there is no way to completely eliminate the risk of an accident. Just make sure you don’t add to the risk with your behavior. Keep in mind, motorcycling is only fun when you are alive and healthy. Enjoy the road and ride safely.