do you ride with crash bars?

yes. lots of offroad spills and the occasional getting rear ended and totalling the bike. but the crash bars saved everything....other than the fancy orange paint.

I only had crash bars when I started. Crashed lightly once, saw a dent in my frame where the bars pinch/mount. Removed them.
Since, I have tested the tanks/covers with many crashes and spills and they have been ok so far so I don't seem to miss the bars.
I also like that the bike is skinnier on single track so I'm not clipping trees and rocks.

I crashed once on snow covered tarmac in about 50km/h with oem crashbars on and my left tank obtained a little crack around the lower bolt hole (thru which the bars are mounted). The bolt was bent by the impact and caused the tank to crack. I believe it was partially due to the low temperature (-5C or so), which could have effect on the plastic's fragility.

I guess this wouldn't happen without the bars on...

sometimes my bike likes to take a nap, Ill be leaving my crash bars on

Needs more lights to keep it upright.

Would you expect anything else?

I like mine, they hold my Adventures Parts bags full of tubes and tools. Plus their the cool orange color.

It is, after all, the holiday season.

Im glad you are amused. I was also amused that this bike ran the 10th fastest lap time during my night stage at our recent 24hr. 10th out of 96 teams, all riding real dirt bikes isn't so bad.. Lights are a good thing.

Maybe 9th if they were off....the crash bars that is. Lights are good.

I like amsoil

thanks for all your comments....... which are very clear! but somehow I am not convinced to put them on again..

for now, I ride without! and 'I like'!

enjoy your weekend

Seems like you can go either way and you'll be fine. There's always the danger of crashing just the right way and taking something out, with or without bars.

^THIS....is why I cannot seem to get off the fence about crashbars! After going through this thread it seems to me that its close to a 50/50 split. My dilema is that I'll be doing a few events where there will be plenty of big rocks to bash my pretty bike and well....aw screw it...I'll get the bars. If I hate em I'll take em off and put em up in the flea market.....Problem Solved

No.

NO......the bike is heavy enough.

ps: Black Sharpie Marker hides many sins.