safety bar

[exeric]

Always good information, Robbie. Thanks for sharing.

[sswaney]

As I said earlier, the rear safety guard was never part of a factory package, it was always an add on accessory. So they were installed by dealers or owners, not the factory. Same with buddy seats, added at the dealer level. So I don't believe anyone can claim originality of mounting. And Knuckles in particular as the hardware changed throughout the production years.

Robbie, I have been looking at the 51 Order Blanks (Thanks Chris Haynes) Wouldn't the rear safety bar and the Buddy Seat associated parts have been installed at the factory if ordered at that time by the dealer? Or were they supplied by the factory for installation by the dealer upon delivery?

[sswaney]

1951 A orderblank rear.jpg

[sswaney]

1951 A orderblank.jpg

[Rubone]

1951 A orderblank.jpg

For many years, safety bars, handlebars, seats, windshields, bumpers, spotlights,etc came boxed with the bike to be installed at the dealer level. I wasn't there in '51 but pics of bikes in crates from that era do not show any of those parts installed. All of those parts would make the standard shipping crate bigger, something they didn't want to do.
Working at a dealership in the '70s even the fender tips were added at the dealer level, holes drilled to a paper template. One reason there is no consistency in fender holes, different guys did it different ways.

[sswaney]

Always good information, Robbie. Thanks for sharing.

Yes, much appreciated Robbie.