Engine Guard

What Are Motorcycle Engine Guards?

An engine guard — also called a crash bar or highway bar — is one of the most practical protective accessories a motorcycle owner can add to their bike. Mounted to the frame and positioned alongside the engine, these sturdy tubular structures act as a sacrificial barrier between your motorcycle's most vulnerable components and the ground in the event of a tip-over, low-speed drop, or side slide.

Originally developed for off-road and trail riding, engine guards are now recognized as essential accessories across virtually every motorcycle segment. Whether you ride an adventure tourer through mountain passes, a naked streetfighter through city traffic, or a custom cruiser on weekend highways, a well-fitted engine guard can mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a costly repair bill. Beyond the engine cases themselves, these guards also help shield the fairing panels, exhaust headers, fuel tank, radiator, and frame rails from contact with the pavement.

Why Engine Guards Matter

Even experienced riders drop their bikes — on a slippery driveway, while maneuvering in a tight parking lot, or after a slow-speed tip-over on the side stand. Without protection, a single fall can crack an engine case, shatter a fairing, or damage an exhaust header. Engine guards absorb and redistribute that impact energy through robust steel or aluminum tubing, dramatically reducing repair costs. They also provide a useful secondary benefit on larger adventure and touring bikes: auxiliary footpeg mount points and a convenient anchor for accessories like driving lights.

What to Look for When Shopping Engine Guards

• Material & Construction: Most engine guards use heavy-wall steel tubing, commonly ranging from 22 mm to 27 mm in diameter, finished with a corrosion-resistant powder coat. Some premium options use stainless steel for added weather resistance.
• Model-Specific Fit: The best engine guards are designed around precise measurements for your exact make and model, ensuring proper clearance for oil changes, valve covers, and cornering lean angles — with no drilling, cutting, or welding required.
• Mounting Strength: Look for guards that use high-strength frame mounting points and upgraded hardware, since the energy of a fall is transferred directly through these connection points.
• Compatibility with Other Accessories: If you run a skid plate, auxiliary lights, or luggage, verify that your chosen engine guard is designed to integrate with those systems.
• Finish & Aesthetics: Engine guards are visible from every angle, so finish matters. Choose from powder-coated black for an aggressive or stealth look, polished chrome for classic cruiser style, or raw stainless for a modern touring aesthetic.

Top Engine Guard Brands

Givi is one of the most widely recognized names in motorcycle protection accessories worldwide. With a deep catalog of model-specific kits — particularly for enduro and touring motorcycles — Givi engine guards are built to provide reliable lateral protection with materials that deliver excellent long-term performance. Their range even includes chromed versions tailored for custom motorcycles.

SW-Motech brings German engineering precision to engine guard design. Each SW-Motech crash bar is based on precise 3D scans of the target motorcycle, ensuring an exact fit that preserves cornering clearance and integrates cleanly with the bike's lines. Their guards are constructed from heavy-duty powder-coated steel and are designed to work seamlessly with other SW-Motech protection products.

Baron Custom Accessories is a well-regarded name in the cruiser and V-twin motorcycle community, offering engine guards and highway bars that combine solid protection with the bold, chrome-forward styling that custom bike owners expect.

Lindby has built a loyal following among touring and cruiser riders for their highway bars and engine guards, which are known for their solid construction, practical design, and compatibility with popular American V-twin platforms.

Trask rounds out the category with performance-oriented accessories designed for Harley-Davidson riders who demand both protection and premium aesthetics, making their engine guard offerings a natural fit for custom and performance builds alike.