I ride a 2013 street glide. I recently bought a set of top shop viper bags. From a cosmetic standpoint I would rather run the 4 1/2" standard flat bottom bags. I run floorboard extension up front which means they have been moved outward from the frame 1". Moving the floorboards outward also makes them more likely to drag. I have only drug the left floorboard one time ever and that was a slow speed tight corner leaving a parking lot. I know the viper bags are not a problem but if I return them for flat bottom 4 1/2" bags will the flat bags drag before the floorboards? I'm asking for a comparison on dragging the bags before normal floorboard position, I don't care about the extensions on my floorboards those are just an insurance policy. If Normal boards drag before the bags I should be fine. I run the HD 12" premium rear shocks and don't plan to go to an air ride setup. If anything I may go to a set of ohlins shocks some day.

 

i know this might be nuts why not get some help and lower bike till it just touch ground put carpet down to stop any damage to chrome then have another take picture least that way you will see what will ground 1st i did this too see how far it would lean b4 it ground on me

 

In every thread I've read this seems to be a tough question to get a straight answer on.

 

So you have 6" extended or 4.5". My 6" haven't scraped yet although I do have 13" legend aero suspension. But with sag set and at times running lower than full height I never have drug them. Get some skid plates if your that worried about them.

 

I put on 4.5" bags from bad dad last year and have never scraped them. Im am not a hard corner rider, but I never rode my ultra like that.

Kevin

 

I also threw on 4.5" extended bags from Bad Dad along with 13" JRI shocks - and I have not had an issue with scraping bags riding the twisty's here in Colorado.....

 

If you ride hard extended bags will hit! Yes, before the boards hit! I put ness 4" extendions on my new RG back in '99. They hit all the time! Arlen couldn't believe they stayed together?? I will never have extended bags again! Yes they do look Kool... PS I don't lower my bikes either...

 

The bags I'm concerned with scraping are 4.5" bags. I actually cut some 2"x4.5" blocks out of styrofoam and wrapped them in duct tape. Then I took some two sided tape and stuck them to the bottom of my stock bags. I went for a short ride trying to scrape the styrofoam blocks. I was able to scrape the left side block on my short ride but I have to admit I was trying to do it. I will make some more time tomorrow to go for a longer ride and get a better idea of how easily scraping happens.

 

I have the Top Shop 4" extended bags on my FLHT,and yes they scrape.

You will also scrape considering your SG is 1" lower than my bike.

 

I've always worried about dragging extended bags. I ride The Dragon ever year and it's the one place I worry about. I run the 3" TopShop bags presently and never had problem with 12" shocks. I think anything after that could be problem. I've wondered if I'd scrape the Vipers on Dragon? One of my riding buddies has extended floorboards with stock bags and he's scraped the boards on Dragon.