Direct Mount Highway Pegs

[Bill Lumberg]

I have a question about mounting highway pegs directly to the engine, as Garaulds do (not to canyon cages). After a long ride recently, my interest in highway pegs is piqued. I have an abiding concern that that much weight, for that much time, on bolts that are only designed to hold covers on may cause a bend or leak. Am I crazy? Are these types of pegs/mounting common among LD riders? Are my fears founded? Thanks for your experiences.

 

[RossKean]

These things have been around for many years and I have never seen any issues under normal circumstances. Having said that, I believe case damage is far more likely in the event of a lay-down. I probably would avoid putting all my weight on them.

 

[XWinger]

Had a set in my 04. Cant see how just the weight applied to them resting your legs could bend or distort anything. My bigger concern was damage to engine during a drop or low speed tip over if the brackets hit the ground. Ended up removing mine and selling them as i didnt really use them

 

[Bill Lumberg]

Excellent input. I did a long trip this weekend and its the first one Ive done without my MCL lowering brackets. That was a mistake.

 

[YummYam]

Had a zero mph tip over and the left hand hi way peg mount that it pivots on took a lot of weight, enough to slightly twist the mounting plate. This happened prob two years ago and have had no issues with leaks or anything else, in fact I reckon the peg pivot and frame slider saved a lot of other damage being caused.

Thanks Garauld for a double duty quality product!

 

[garauld]

Mine have survived a couple tip-overs that bent the mounting screws and plates but no damage to the engine cases was noticed.

 

[Bill Lumberg]

No higher authority. Thanks.

 

[escapefjrtist]

There's been a couple instances of zero speed drops that punched / cracked the LH cover and let the oil out. IIRC, both resulted in a U-Haul ride back to the barn as no parts were immediately available.

I removed mine and sold them...for me, it's not worth the risk of spoiling a trip or being stranded in BFE Montana.

YMMV

--G

 

[HotRodZilla]

Years ago, I had the MCL highway pegs. Maybe it was suspension issues along with the way I ride, but I got to the point that I was dragging the bases, on both sides. Basically, the little knuckle that the pegs pivot on were grinding down. More on the right than the left.

On the way back from EOM, I was getting into Nashville when a 3/4 ton Chevy Truck in front of me skimmed a pretty large road 'gator and sent it spinning. I hit that at about 70mph. It slammed the bottom of my bike, and my right foot. I don't remember if my foot was on the highway peg, but I know it was open, and I remember thinking that peg saved my foot from some decent damage. At the next gas stop, the fairing was loose, and I had to pop it back into its grommet.

A few days later, I noticed an oil leak coming from the right side clutch cover. I removed the highway peg mount and the bolts were twisted pretty good. Yamaha fixed the leak, saying the gasket had shrunk, letting oil escape. Maybe it was coincidence, but I'm not sure that leak wasn't caused by the force being placed on them by the pegs. Now, tons of people have used them without problems, so I'm sure the base dragging and the tire 'gator didn't help.

I took the mounts off and sold them, cheap, to some guy here. The right mount plate was bent and I had to buy new bolts because the ones I took out were way to bent to try to use again. I have had no leak issues since taking those pegs off, and I'll never put them on again. I have found I have plenty of movement without going all HD style.

Just MY experience, and mine only!

 

[900gc]

Had a zero mph tip over and the left hand hi way peg mount that it pivots on took a lot of weight, enough to slightly twist the mounting plate. This happened prob two years ago and have had no issues with leaks or anything else, in fact I reckon the peg pivot and frame slider saved a lot of other damage being caused. Thanks Garauld for a double duty quality product!

Same with mine on the right side. Tweaked the plate a little but no damage to the engine cover or and leaking/weeping. Well, I did some weeping...

 

[Gurock]

Same for me. I've had highway pegs on several FJRs over the years with both slow speed drops and two high speed wipe outs and there was never damage to the engine from the highway pegs. One thing that I've noticed is that the right highway peg is at a somewhat different height then the left highway peg. One side can scrape a little easier then the other. Also I use to be a really big boy. I topped out at 315 lbs about two years ago. I'm now down to about 230 lbs. I've put all my weight on the highway pegs and didn't do any harm. I just did that on Sunday night. I was coming home from Kentucky to Chicago and there was a very bad pothole on the interstate that I didn't see in the dark. The bike really kind of flew for a second in the event and I did the dirt rider natural reaction, stood on the pegs, only I was on the highway pegs. No damage or bad effect, but it was Sunday when I was no longer as gynomous as back then.

I use to scrape the highway pegs a fair amount, but don't seem to much anymore. I'm not sure if I'm riding slower or if I've gotten better at going through turns just as fast with a little less lean on the bike using better strategy.

Oh, and also I've had both Garauld's and Motorcycle Larry's HWP and they are basically the same except Gerald is more reliable and less expensive. If buying a set and having a choice go to Garauld. Plus he's one of the nicest guys.