You now know such a motorcyclist. Adding crash bars can cause more damage than they prevent. Some after market bars are poorly engineered. Rather than absorb energy they transmit this force to the frame, causing damage.

"On May 30, 1995 in the United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, an appeal was heard in the case of James Satcher versus Honda Motor Company (No. 94-60492). In the written opinion of that court is found a summary which listed those facts."

This case was filed to gain money for the attorneys and the plaintiff. It was never a "safety" issue. The attorneys have a "stock" lawsuit they file in any leg injury case. They hope to settle out of court with a manufacturer who wishes to avoid the debacle of the three wheeled off road vehicles.

The AMA has spoken often on the tactics of these lawyers who claim to be for motorcyclists while lining their own pockets.

"Since I know no rider"

Yes, you do.

"At this point I should like to advise you that several motorcyclists have told me that their perception has always been that these guards are to protect the motorcycle, not the rider. They advise that 'only non-riders' think they are any good at protecting rider or passenger."

This is a bit of an overstatement. Current guards are designed to protect the bike. They have an ancillary function in that by protecting the bike, they sometimes protect the rider.

" Motorcycles that have larger/wider guards (where you tend to mount highway pegs), therefore, must do something more - at least one thing they do is provide a measure of leg protection".

An assumption on your part. What is intuitive may not be correct. Why "must" they do something more? The extra width maybe just a coincidence to mount highway pegs more comfortably.

"Once again you see a difference of opinion. A police chief says they reduce injuries, particularly on Harley Davidson's while Harley Davidson recommends against using them."

The police chief produced no data showing that there was a reduction of leg injuries on bikes which used crash bars.

"On the other hand, a very current study (February of 1995) performed in England by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) had very different conclusions:

Our research shows that properly designed leg protectors could reduce the severity of, or even eliminate, at least 25% of leg injuries without increasing injuries to other parts of the body. In some cases, they could save lives."

The TRL's study was dismissed as invalid in England. No recommendation has been made at this time to require the installation of leg protection. A review of this material lead the English to conclude that such protection would do more harm than good.

Properly designed "crash bars" give protection to the bike. They provide some protection to the rider as a side benefit. Current studies by manufactures and governments suggest that leg protection would do more harm than good. The AMA supports this stance.