I am away from my computer, and for some reason can not search the forum for a specific topic on my cell.

I fitted my 2000 RK with Rushmore bags, and the guards no longer protect the bags on the top portion.

Has anyone been able to fit Rushmore rear crash bars on a pre Rushmore bike?

I tried google but only got 1 hit from 2013. I guess they can be tweaked enough but, I don't want to cut and weld because I need the chrome intact.

 

Ive got later Rushmore style on my 2013. Unsure if any changes from your year to mine in mounting but for me the later was direct bolt on, I like the later style angles better for passenger clearance. There are aftermarket units on Amazon.
Edit. Im still using the earlier 2013 style bags. The newer style bars do protect as I have dropped and didn't have any issues

 

IMHO the bag bars won't go above the lid of the hard bags because of the passenger comfort reason, that's the primary reason for the new design of the bars from say 7 years ago.

 

Thanks, that's interesting news. I will research that. AFAIK 09 is when the frame changed before Rushmore so, yeah, I'll find out.

 

Problem is the width, not the height. Rushmore bags are wider so they protude past the top portion of the 13 and down guards .

 

This is the units I used. Very good quality and chrome. The lower receiver unit where bag sits is where I had to cut my original brace to fit into these; stock bar was an inch or so too long. Somewhere in this forum is my original write up.

 

I have not done/attempted what you want to do, but I went and took a couple pics from my '16 FLHTCU.

In the first pic, it shows what you are talking about, in terms of it's the width/not the height of the guard you are concerned about....




Obviously, you won't be able to judge the exact angles and distances of the top and bottom mounts from a pic, but I took a slightly more sideways pic of the guard, so it may help you decide if the mounting locations are close enough that you may want to try to get a set of Rushmore guards and "adapt" them to your bike. I do all my mechanical work, but am ignorant about metal work. Other than some header exhausts in the '70s, I've never bent pipe, especially chrome pipe, so I don't know if it's possible. I just thought I'd post the pic to help you decide if someone doesn't post up with the exact experience you are looking for...




Good luck with your mod/decision.....

 

Very confusing wording. You are saying that the upper portion of the saddlebag guard is not wide enough to protect the upper portion of the saddlebag, correct? By the picture you posted, it looks like the saddlebag and saddlebag guard stick out the same amount.

 

I would almost bet that the rushmore crash bars will work on your sled. When MoCo changed the frames they only did it rear of where those bars mount under the seat. I personally eliminate them bars from day 1.

 

I replaced a set of '09-'13 bags with a '17 set but reused the older crash bars. But are you saying I can also replace the crash bars with the Rushmore bolt-on? Did you use the older saddlebag support bar or did you have to fit the newer one?