Horses for courses.

I've ditched my bike a few times off-road, I don't have any crash bars and apart from one or two scratches it's fine.

On the plus side, they do give you protection on the road, and something to hold the bike by to lift it.

dowside, they are heavy

upside, you can attach things to them,

There are so many opposing reasons for and against, it really does come down to where you ride, what you want and how you fel about them.

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Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.