Engine and sidebag guard interstate

[Headbanger02]

Curious question that I hope to not find out for myself.... A buddy of mine has a gold wing and he was telling me when he was at the gas station one day that he had the kick stand "almost" fully down on a slight incline, when he got off his bike it rolled forward and laid down, well almost, his guards on the  motor and side bags let it lean at about a 45 degree angle without any damage to his side bags minus a little scuffing to the guards, his side bag guards appear to stick out a little more then ours does, so my question is......is ours out far enough to keep from scratching or damaging my/our side bags if it was to fall over....?

[Jess from VA]

is ours out far enough to keep from scratching or damaging my/our side bags if it was to fall over....?

Yes.  In a tip-over or even a smooth slide, no body work will hit (you'll scrape the guards underneath, that's what they're for); it'll stop at about 45 degrees.  At higher speed, or a tumble, anything is possible.  If you feel up to it, or have a helper, just ease the bike over on the guards on either side.  It's not bad practice to see if you can pull it back up yourself.  I have, several times.  

Of course, it's better if you ease it over on the right, so you can extend the kickstand out, and when you heave it up you can set it over on the stand on the left, and not just up and over to the guards on the other side.  

There is a technique of turning your back on the bike and getting a good purchase with both hands fore and aft and sort of walking it up which is supposed to be easier (there's a Utube of a female doing it),  but I've just grabbed the bars and my bag guard rail and hauled it up.  Making a war face helps.

[Headbanger02]

is ours out far enough to keep from scratching or damaging my/our side bags if it was to fall over....?

Yes.  In a tip-over or even a smooth slide, no body work will hit (you'll scrape the guards underneath, that's what they're for); it'll stop at about 45 degrees.  At higher speed, or a tumble, anything is possible.  If you feel up to it, or have a helper, just ease the bike over on the guards on either side.  It's not bad practice to see if you can pull it back up yourself.  I have, several times.  

Of course, it's better if you ease it over on the right, so you can extend the kickstand out, and when you heave it up you can set it over on the stand on the left, and not just up and over to the guards on the other side.  

There is a technique of turning your back on the bike and getting a good purchase with both hands fore and aft and sort of walking it up which is supposed to be easier (there's a Utube of a female doing it),  but I've just grabbed the bars and my bag guard rail and hauled it up.  Making a war face helps.

Thanks Jess, I was just curious in a simple tip over scenario, it just didn't look like the side bag guards stuck out far enough, but maybe good enough to keep it off your leg in the event of a slide maybe, good to know, Yes I've seen that youtube video of a girl on how the proper way to pick your bike up, with my spinal issues I will just have to find some help to pick it back up should I need too. Thanks 

[Jess from VA]

The rear guard loop looks small, but works as advertised.  

Another way to visualize it is to (mostly) center up the bike with a piece of 2 X 6 under the kickstand, then slide a piece of plywood up to the rear tire and lift up the other end until it hits the guard.  It won't touch the bag.

Of course in a low-side slide, ideally you want to tuck in tight on the bike, hold on and let the bike take the hit(s).  Easier said than done.  I dumped my IS in the dealer lot on a brand new greasy (release agent) front tire, at about 3-4mph, and it went down so fast/hard it flung me off like a rag doll, and I slid backwards on my back, farther than the bike slid.  I had simply forgotten I had a new tire put on 15 minutes earlier.    Injury to pride was worse than bruise to hip.  Bottom of guards scraped was the only damage.  I scrub all release agent off new tires (delivered to house) with bleach and hot soapy water and a stiff bristle brush forever after.

Do stupid stuff, win stupid prizes. 

[Headbanger02]

I will try to learn from your mistakes when the time comes when I get new tires.....

[BF]

They saved my set of mustang bags.  I had a low speed oops from a low blood sugar incident a while back and the left side got scratched pretty good....but the bag was never touched.