Until I saw your post, I wasn't sure of the maker of these I pulled off the 2005.But they look just like yours! So I will assume they are MCL's! Thanks for sharing!Holy Crap!
Those T-Rex ones defiantly differentiate the definition of tip over bars to crash bars.
I have motorcyclelarry.com (2007ish and long gone today) bars on mine that are good for the embarrassing tip overs at Walmart but not much more.
Edited: Hey SupraSabre...we posted the same within minutes of each other. My ST has a bunch of motorcyclelarry farkles..all good additions.
For those who have a lift table, or anything else solid to put under the motorcycle that a ratchet strap can be attached to, I found another way to compress the GW bars that is much easier than using a vice and trying to hold them in the correct position with clamps.The GW bars work well but, as others have said, they are a PIA to install.
Is there a reason you couldn't just wrap the strap around the two ends of the bar?Attach a ratchet strap to the lift table and wrap it around the top of the GW bar.
I put the T-Rex on mine and like the fact that you could replace the aluminum pad if you have a bad tip-over. I did have to grind/shave some of the pad off for clearance when opening panniersUp to 10 years ago, Bygdog made the crash bars I favored on all three of my STs. He's no longer in that business . . . I checked! Now I'm looking for something to protect my 'new' ST.
Searching on the site and online I've found bars made by T-Rex Racing, waase and descriptions of modifying bars made for other bikes. Didn't find reviews here from anyone who put them on their ST.
So, anyone found anything recently to recommend? I'm only interested in the rear guards to protect the tank bags.
Thanks all,
Shuey
The distance between the two open ends of the bar is only a few inches. Any ratchet strap that has a crank assembly small enough to allow it to compress the two ends close enough together I doubt would be strong enough to do it, even if ratchet straps that small exist.Is there a reason you couldn't just wrap the strap around the two ends of the bar?
Now you tell me! I could've justified a lift table!Install the lower bolt first and tighten it just enough to hold it in the position that you need to get the top bolt inserted. Wrap a rag around the top of the bar to protect the finish. Attach a ratchet strap to the lift table and wrap it around the top of the GW bar. Tighten the strap and cinch the top of the bar downward until the bolt mounting hole lines up with the threaded hole in the step frame. Have a pry bar of some sort at the ready to move the bar left or right as required to get it in to alignment. The strap makes easy work of it and allows you to draw it in exactly where you need it to be to get the top bolt inserted.
I don't see why not, as long as they can be kept away from contacting the body/frame anywhere and causing damage.Okay, I thought about it. Would a spring compressor work?
I have read of, and have personally seen, someone get their foot caught under an ST1300 when it was dropped. I suggest to you that the very small surface area of these bars in conjunction with where they are situated makes the risk of getting your foot pinned under them extremely small and unlikely. That minimal risk is far outweighed by the protection offered to your foot by the much more likely risk of getting your foot pinned under the motorcycle itself. If your foot gets pinned under the catalytic converter you further risk serious burns on top of physical injuries. In the incident that I witnessed the rider was very fortunate that he was wearing very heavy thick off-road riding boots. There was rather significant damage to the boot where it was melted, but his foot did not get burned. Lesson learned. Not long after we both installed Goldwing bars.I'm aware that you guys like those steel-ornaments sticking out the side...
But frankly, I wouldn't like to get my ankle/lower leg pinched and pinned down by those during a U-turn/parking lot mishap...
MHO...