I like the latest look, but I would like to see the top mount like Two Skies suggested with the top bracket engine bolt hidden in the tube as his picture on page 3 of this thread reply #30.
I think it would look good like that too but unfortunately it's just not possible due to the location of the vents in the fairing. I snapped a quick picture with the fairings installed so you can see what I mean. There's just not enough room there to flip that bracket around and have the bar coming out from above the mounting hardware because the hardware has to be in the position it currently is.
Yea, flipping that bracket around and having the bar come out from above the mounting hardware isn't possible anyhow (see above). As for that support bar, it isn't necessary but it would certainly add resistance to the bar bending backwards and wouldn't cost much to implement. So, as long as it looks okay I think it would be a worthy addition. We're going to tack one in place so we can see how it looks and I'll upload a picture for you guys.
Regarding peg position, if they were mounted any further in, your knees would probably constantly rub or bump against that black plastic wind-deflecting piece. I think pegs mounted to that outer bar would actually be an ideal position because the bar appears farther out that it really is. The next time we take the bike off the lift, I'll snap a picture from the rider point of view so you can get an idea of what position your legs would be in if there were highway pegs mounted to the outer bar.
You're correct. The mounts will surely hide much better once they're black but I think the purpose of flipping that bracket and having the bar come out from atop would be to hide the chrome hardware, not so much the brackets. That was just my understanding so I may be mistaken but I believe that was the intention. I personally like the look of the nice, chrome hardware against the black bars. It looks snazzy and adds some nice contrast, I think but that's just me.
I'm going to have to disagree strongly with you here. It is indeed possible to flip the bracket (and lengthen the guard in the process), and still clear the fairing. I've attached two photos below, showing how you'd design the guard bracket (note the slight rotation clockwise), by either using a spacer to clear the engine mount bolt, or perhaps using a step bracket design (not shown).
I used transparency so that you that could visualize where the guard tube would overlay the engine mount bolt if this were done.
I also attached another photochopped photo showing the guard at the full length, from the side, to help people visualize it.
I get that the angle of the engine mount bracket tab may be 'set', hence my suggestion of twisting the guard bracket tab slightly to compensate.
The REASON that I'm guessing a few of us here (myself included) are looking for more height out of the guard is to provide a more ideal height for a driving light mount, one that is closer to the height of the headlight.
http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/lighting_tech/techpage.jsp?techid=130of course, lengthening the guard will require more material, adding a small amount to the total cost. I'm guessing that labor will be the much more significant cost to factor in here.