Frame sliders/engine guards

[Bazbro_imp]

In the 1960s, all 'bikes here in the UK came with solid, rigid footrests (my 250 Ysmaha's were the rigid type) and I remember a bit of discussion in the publications about "folding footrests" for the American market. I think the discussion ranged on, in an accident, did footrests protect/shield feet/legs from the road or did they trap/injure feet/legs in an accident? The American market obviously decided that feet were injured by rigid footrests, and so folding footrests became the norm. Meanwhile, I'd had a few minor tumbles on my Yamaha, where the footrests, although getting slightly bent, also acted as a sort of mini-crashbar/slider, stopping my leg/foot being crushed by the sliding 'bike.

My first 'folding footrest' 'bike was my K2 CB750 in 1972. The first thing I fitted was crashbars.

Fast forward to 2020 and my latest acquisition is the 250 Yamaha YDS3, identical to the one I bought in 1965 here in the UK (with rigid footrests), EXCEPT... this one has FOLDING footrests (it's an American market one). So... onto eBay and I've sourced two NOS rigid footrests, which are on their way to me now, even as we speak!