Thanks for your responses guys. I took my "spill guards" off shortly after I bought my than new 2009 FLHX. Just a personal thing but it felt strange having those things sticking out the sides in front of me. I never had them on any of my prior bikes and had a hard time getting use to them. I have had two tip over’s and fortunately on both occasions the floor boards contacted the ground and took the weight off while I supported the bike from going all the way over. I’ve been contemplating putting them back on for their intended purpose, but I guess I was looking to see if there was more to their functionality. (my legs are to short for highway pegs, lol…)