Read Before Installation | Required Tools | Before You Begin | General Installation | Front Drop Guards | Rear Drop Guards | Primary Guard | Installation Verification | Inspection and Maintenance | Installation Videos | Rider Responsibility | Disclaimer | Terms and Conditions | Refund Policy

Read Before Installation

Please read all instructions and safety information before beginning installation.

Failure to read and follow these instructions may result in improper installation, equipment damage, serious personal injury, or death.

Motorcycle Drop Guards and the Primary Guard are aftermarket accessories and must be installed correctly. The installer and motorcycle operator assume responsibility for the installation, inspection, maintenance, and use of these products.

If you are uncertain about any part of the installation process, stop the installation and refer to the installation video located on the website, photos in the gallery, or email us for assistance at info@motorcycledropguards.com

Required Tools

• 3/16 Allen wrench
• 1/2" open-end wrench
• 3/16" T-Allen Wrench to install the Primary Guard (3/16" Allen also works)
• A clean work surface
  

Before You Begin

Before beginning installation:

• Confirm that all components and hardware have been received.
• Inspect all guards, fasteners, washers, and gaskets.
• Confirm that all screws and nuts thread together freely before installation.
• It is advised to chase the threads first with the nuts first, prior to installation to clear any chrome burrs, debris, or other interference that could prevent proper thread engagement. (This is just precautionary good measure)
• Inspect the rubber gaskets. Because the gaskets are stamped during manufacturing, minor trimming may be needed so they fit completely inside the guard body without protruding.

Do not force any component into place.

Motorcycle Drop Guards are designed to fit the Standard Harley OEM parts listed on the applicable product page. If the guards do not install easily, stop immediately and determine the cause before continuing.

Forcing the installation may damage the guards, motorcycle, or fasteners and may prevent the product from performing as intended.

Install the guards evenly on both sides of the motorcycle to support proper function, appearance, and contact positioning.

General Installation Information

Use only correctly sized tools during installation.

Improper installation, over-tightening, under-tightening, cross-threading, or using incorrect tools may damage motorcycle components, strip or break fasteners, reduce the effectiveness of the product, or create a safety hazard.

Torque is an indirect indication of fastener tension. Under-tightening or over-tightening fasteners may result in equipment damage, fastener failure, product failure, loss of motorcycle control, serious injury, or death.

Proper fastener tension is the responsibility of the installer.  Some use thread lock, we don't.

Front Drop Guards

1. Place the Front Drop Guards onto the compatible OEM front engine or highway guard.
2. Hand-tighten all fasteners evenly until the guards are properly seated.
3. Confirm that all rubber gaskets remain fully inside the guard body.
   
4. Evenly tension all fasteners using the correct Allen wrench and open-end wrench.
5. Do not over-tighten the fasteners.

Rear Drop Guards

1. Place the Rear Drop Guards onto the compatible OEM rear saddlebag protection bars. Please refer to installation video or photo gallery for correct placement
2. Hand-tighten all fasteners evenly until the guards are properly seated.
3. Confirm that all rubber gaskets remain fully inside the guard body.
4. Trim the gaskets when necessary.
5. Evenly tension all fasteners using the correct Allen wrench and open-end wrench.

Primary Guard

Primary Guard Fitment

The MDG Primary Guard is an aftermarket accessory intended for compatible Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycles manufactured from 2016 and newer, including:

• Road King
• Street Glide
• Road Glide
• Other compatible Harley-Davidson Touring models using the applicable primary-cover design

The Primary Guard is not designed for Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycles manufactured before 2016, or for the Heritage or Dyna or any other Non-Touring Model.

The Primary Guard is included with qualifying Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Drop Guard full kits at no additional charge.

Although testing and demonstrations have shown no interference during lean angles equivalent to or less than 18-foot turns, any aftermarket accessory may affect motorcycle lean angle or ground clearance.

Although experienced motorcycle operators have demonstrated tighter turns with the Primary Guard installed, MDG Products recommends removing the Primary Guard after training and before operating the motorcycle on public roadways. Any Primary Guard purchased after 2021, should not be at risk, unless due to rider error.

The decision to operate the motorcycle with the Primary Guard installed remains the responsibility of the motorcycle owner and operator.

Primary Guard Installation

1. Locate the two lower screws beneath the Derby Cover on the Primary Cover.
2. Remove the two lower screws from the Primary Cover.

Do not remove the screws from the Derby Cover itself.

Position the Primary Guard so its mounting holes align with:

• The two lower mounting holes beneath the Derby Cover
• The mounting hole are located at approximately the five and seven o’clock position on the Primary Cover.
• Install the supplied Grade 8 black-oxide screws using one supplied flat washer beneath each screw head. The washers must be installed between the screw heads and the Primary Guard.
• Hold the Primary Guard up against the 2 aligned holes on the Primary Cover
• Insert the 2 Black Oxide screws into the 2 Primary Cover holes the OEM screws were removed from. Evenly tension both fasteners and ensure to not cross thread the fasteners.
• Hand Tighten with a 3/16" T-Wrench for ease.

Grade 8 black-oxide fasteners are supplied because stainless-steel fasteners installed directly into cast aluminum may be susceptible to galvanic corrosion. Surface rust may develop over time on black-oxide fasteners. The motorcycle owner may maintain the fasteners or replace them with equivalent fasteners of the correct specifications.

The original Harley-Davidson torque specifications apply to the original factory fasteners. Because different fasteners are supplied with the Primary Guard, the installer is responsible for confirming proper installation and fastener tension.

Installation Verification

After installing the Front Drop Guards, Rear Drop Guards, and applicable Primary Guard, carefully verify the installation under controlled conditions.

The motorcycle should be carefully and slowly lowered onto each side to confirm that:

• Contact occurs in the intended areas.
• The guards are positioned correctly.
• The fasteners do not contact the ground.
• The guards provide the intended contact points.
• No guard shifts or rotates under the weight of the motorcycle.

Perform this procedure only in a controlled environment using proper safety precautions and adequate assistance when necessary.

Inspection and Maintenance

Before every ride and after every motorcycle drop:

• Inspect all guards.
• Inspect all fasteners.
• Inspect all mounting locations.
• Confirm that all fasteners remain properly tensioned.
• Confirm that no guard has shifted position, if so, then replace the fastener and reposition the guard to the correct location to ensure the fasteners do no hit.
• Inspect gaskets and protective contact surfaces.
• Replace damaged fasteners or components before operating the motorcycle.

Do not continue using loose, misaligned, bent, cracked, stripped, or otherwise damaged components.

Motorcycles create vibration that may loosen fasteners over time. Fastener inspection should be treated as a regular motorcycle safety check, similar to checking tire pressure and other critical components.

The use of threadlocker is at the motorcycle owner’s discretion unless otherwise stated in the applicable installation instructions.

Motorcycle Lifting

If the motorcycle is dropped, use proper motorcycle-lifting techniques to return it to the upright position.

After any drop, inspect the guards, fasteners, mounting locations, and surrounding motorcycle components before operating the motorcycle.

Installation Demonstration Videos

Threadlocker was not used during the installation demonstrations.

Always inspect fastener tension, tire pressure, and other motorcycle components as part of routine safe-riding maintenance.

Rider Responsibility

Motorcycle operation is inherently dangerous.

Motorcycle Drop Guards and the Primary Guard are intended to help reduce damage under certain low-speed conditions and are not made for crashes. 

MDG Products does not represent or guarantee that these products will prevent damage, under every circumstance.

MDG Products are not made, intended, and will not prevent injury, or death.

Motorcycle operators should obtain professional rider training and operate only within their individual experience and skill level.

MDG Products recommends removing both saddlebags while practicing low-speed motorcycle skills. Removing the saddlebags reduces the possibility of damage if the motorcycle continues beyond its intended resting position during a training exercise.

 The motorcycle operator is responsible for:

• Correct product selection and fitment
• Proper installation
• Proper inspection
• Proper maintenance
• Safe motorcycle operation
• Determining whether the motorcycle is safe to operate

Disclaimer

Motorcycle Drop Guards and the Primary Guard are aftermarket accessories intended to assist in protecting the specific motorcycle components they are attached to during specific low-speed conditions.

Actual performance will vary depending on the motorcycle model, installation, riding conditions, impact angle, speed, surface conditions, motorcycle modifications, and other variables outside the control of MDG Products.

By installing or using these products, the purchaser, installer, and operator acknowledge that they have read and understood these instructions and assume the risks associated with installation, inspection, maintenance, and use.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, MDG Products is not responsible for improper installation, misuse, unauthorized modification, lack of inspection, failure to properly maintain the product, or use while training our outside its intended purpose.

Related Policies

Read the complete Terms and Conditions
Read the complete Refund Policy