I leave for New Mexico tomorrow morning, so I put the crash bars on last night, and I'll be putting highway pegs and HD Roadking handle bars on tonight. Crash bars were a cinch, but they're pretty small and other than to put highway pegs on, I wouldn't recommend going through the trouble b/c it says on the packaging that they're for looks only, not to actually save your engine. Is that normal for crash bars, or is Suzuki just not concerned with such a small bike?

Anyway, I'm getting all pumped up about the trip. I'm thinking about putting new grips on tonight as well, but that will depend on whether or not I find the time. Oh, and I saw yesterday that one of the saddle bag mounting brackets isn't even bolted onto the bike, so hopefully I don't forget to fix that before I leave... New Mexico, here I come!

guitarsr4girls2 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:



What part of New Mexico?

IMO, the Wingerline highwaybar is much better than the cosmetic Suzuki "Engine Guard".

You're in the DFW area too, huh?  There are actually a handful of us in the area.  We all need to try to meet up sometime.

Have a great ride and take lots of pictures!

guitarsr4girls2 wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:05:



I was born and raised in that around that area. You're gonna love it.

I have to say that when the guy brought out the crash bars for the savage, I laughed and winced at the same time, knowing I was about to lay down a bill for those mini-bars. Ha!

Though I didn't see the "cosmetic use only" warning until I had opened the package and was half way through installation (I had turned over the directions), it doesn't really make a difference to me since I'm only using them for pegs. I saw my dad's bike after an accident, and I figure crash bars are either hit or miss, considering his bent into his cylinders and the bike was totalled. But what can you do? I guess if it's your bike's time to go...

I will definitely post a picture tomorrow. With the small Suzuki bars on, the highway pegs are just a higher position to put your feet (and the fastest way to get your knees over the tank). I felt comfortable enough being able to lean back in to my duffle back and slouch, but they were mostly only good for having another way to make my butt uncomfortable. I probably would have been ticked off the whole way without them, but long term, I would have rather had a wider set on. I think Savage_Rob has a wider set on, and from the looks of it, I'm pretty sure that's what I'll be upgrading to eventually.

Urgency was my main reason for getting the Suzi's instead of the Wingerlines, but if the Suzi's are all you can find...I still suggest holding out and waiting for a mail ordered set. Keep in mind that I'm 6'0" though, so a shorter person may not feel the same way.

Like a rule, the crasdh bars protect the engine and a lot of other stuff, depending on the bike and on the crash .
The Savage is an exception. The crash bars are 99% looks, because the engine is so skinny, that the bike will hit every other part before You get to the engine. The exception is if there is a rock, or side walk, or some other object sticking out of the ground, exactly where the eng. case is.

Hope these pics come through

suzuki crashbars with highway pegs  Wish I'd known about the wingerlines

http://bikepics.com/pictures/598386

http://bikepics.com/pictures/598392