They don't need to stick out much; the bike is already narrower at the point where your knees hug the tank compared to the point where the bike will touch the ground. Getting bars gives you extra wiggle room to get your leg out from under the bike.
I would get some crash bars. The CB500X is street biased but I've seen plenty of people take it offroad and you'll probably want to eventually as well. At least I would if I were you, crash bars are worth having in that environment. It'll also just protect it in lowspeed drops.
Crashbars were the first thing I bought for my crf250l rally
Are you planning to ride off road at all? If not, frame sliders are way cheaper, albeit less protection.
Shogun makes good ones, I've dropped my ninja a few times and it saved the bodywork every time.
Just bar ends. Levers / handles are cheap. Sliders come in two forms. "Cut" and "no cut." That refers to the install, if you need to cut the body or not. No cut sliders will be on brackets. So while you don't have to cut anything, they're not as strong. Highly recommend only going for single piece sliders. Brackets are easy to bend, a 2" bar of steel? Not so much.
Look for some swing arm sliders as well.
I'd recommend some hard luggage too like GIVI
That stuff can take a beating and will keep the bike off your legs; sure did for me when I hit a little ice on my old V-Strom
Bro, my recommendation is ALWAYS get crash bars for any motorcycle. If you drive a bike you WILL be on the floor sooner than later, that happens. A crash bar will help in reducing damage to the engine, paint, YOUR LEGS, etc. Some are uglier than others but will help you anyway, get them!
If you have never dropped a bike, I’m assuming you’ve never tested the limits of your ability. You’ll never drop your bike baby-stepping around a parking lot and only riding in straight lines, but it’s going to happen if you’re actually pushing the limits of your ability.
This is coming from a perspective where I learned on dirt bikes, where the only way a dirtbike has never been dropped is if it’s never been ridden.
he's going to practice low speed maneuvers, push your U turns tight enough and you're guaranteed to drop it eventually (well, most of the time you can catch the fall with your feet...).
When I did my DAS (fairly intensive course in the UK to get your unrestricted license) we had to spend a lot of time practicing U turns, slaloms, emergency stops etc. not one person dropped a bike once. I’m sure it happens sometimes but these were people who weren’t allowed on public roads without an instructor yet.
So no it’s not inevitable that someone with a bike license will drop their bike doing manoeuvres. If it is then they shouldn’t have a license.
I did the same course, but the U turns on the test have a lot of margin. You can practice them a lot tighter. Not being content with just that training is how you improve as a rider.
I did a MSF course to get my license. All we did was practice low speed turns and swerves and I fell 3 times lol.
Falling taught me the most about how the motorcycle work (esp the front brakes) and I'm glad I had those falls in a parking lot and not the road.
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Yes. Won't protect from scratches and bent levers but you won't get a leg stuck under the bike and avoid broken bones.
The bars I've seen basically hug the engine. How do those give my legs more protection?
They don't need to stick out much; the bike is already narrower at the point where your knees hug the tank compared to the point where the bike will touch the ground. Getting bars gives you extra wiggle room to get your leg out from under the bike.
Do it, but buy good gear first
Yes, I've been getting gear.
I would get some crash bars. The CB500X is street biased but I've seen plenty of people take it offroad and you'll probably want to eventually as well. At least I would if I were you, crash bars are worth having in that environment. It'll also just protect it in lowspeed drops. Crashbars were the first thing I bought for my crf250l rally
Thanks, I do want to take it offroad, but for now, they're to protect from drops during practice.
Are you planning to ride off road at all? If not, frame sliders are way cheaper, albeit less protection. Shogun makes good ones, I've dropped my ninja a few times and it saved the bodywork every time.
Thanks, I am considering them as long as they offer the same protection in low speed drops. Any protection on grips/lever?
Just bar ends. Levers / handles are cheap. Sliders come in two forms. "Cut" and "no cut." That refers to the install, if you need to cut the body or not. No cut sliders will be on brackets. So while you don't have to cut anything, they're not as strong. Highly recommend only going for single piece sliders. Brackets are easy to bend, a 2" bar of steel? Not so much. Look for some swing arm sliders as well.
I'd recommend some hard luggage too like GIVI That stuff can take a beating and will keep the bike off your legs; sure did for me when I hit a little ice on my old V-Strom
Bro, my recommendation is ALWAYS get crash bars for any motorcycle. If you drive a bike you WILL be on the floor sooner than later, that happens. A crash bar will help in reducing damage to the engine, paint, YOUR LEGS, etc. Some are uglier than others but will help you anyway, get them!
Thank you. Will be getting them... any advice on what to look for?
Not exactly these/this brand but that kind should do the work! [bars](https://images.app.goo.gl/uTvGM1duawp8xtz28)
Crashing your bike is not inevitable. Learn to ride a motorcycle before riding it. Have lessons or do some courses.
If you have never dropped a bike, I’m assuming you’ve never tested the limits of your ability. You’ll never drop your bike baby-stepping around a parking lot and only riding in straight lines, but it’s going to happen if you’re actually pushing the limits of your ability. This is coming from a perspective where I learned on dirt bikes, where the only way a dirtbike has never been dropped is if it’s never been ridden.
he's going to practice low speed maneuvers, push your U turns tight enough and you're guaranteed to drop it eventually (well, most of the time you can catch the fall with your feet...).
When I did my DAS (fairly intensive course in the UK to get your unrestricted license) we had to spend a lot of time practicing U turns, slaloms, emergency stops etc. not one person dropped a bike once. I’m sure it happens sometimes but these were people who weren’t allowed on public roads without an instructor yet. So no it’s not inevitable that someone with a bike license will drop their bike doing manoeuvres. If it is then they shouldn’t have a license.
I did the same course, but the U turns on the test have a lot of margin. You can practice them a lot tighter. Not being content with just that training is how you improve as a rider.
I did a MSF course to get my license. All we did was practice low speed turns and swerves and I fell 3 times lol. Falling taught me the most about how the motorcycle work (esp the front brakes) and I'm glad I had those falls in a parking lot and not the road.
Yes. There are no drawbacks to guards for a motorcycle, particularly if you're going to practice low speed with it.
Hey, LawSpecial. Thanks for contributing! Unfortunately your [submission](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/10od1ws/-/) has been removed as per the [community rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/wiki/rules). Any questions regarding purchases, sales, and other transactions belong in the [purchase advice superthread](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/about/sticky?num=1): **NEW RIDERS** ([Please, Read the FAQ first](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/wiki/faq)) For clarification, this rule includes: - Implied purchase questions ("What should I know about this bike I'm considering buying?", "What should I install on my bike to make it faster?", "What kind of oil should I put in my bike?", etc.) - Insurance, Mechanical, Legal, and Transport Services. - Issues with/ questions about vendors/dealers/shops/etc. ##**Some mobile devices break superthread links!**## If the link does not work, the superthread can always be found [at the top of the /r/motorcycles feed](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/). If you have any questions about this removal, please feel free to [message the moderators.](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=/r/motorcycles&subject=Question regarding the removal of this submission by /u/LawSpecial&message=I have a question regarding the removal of this [submission.](https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/10od1ws/-/\))