The rear crash bars offer some protection to the bags and other parts as well as the passenger.
What some have found is for the passenger, the bar seems to catch them in the bottom of the leg. Harley sells a reshaped version of the stock bar that lowers the top of the bar where it would contact your leg down at a steeper angle so it doesn't cause a problem for the passenger.
PN 49179-09 is for 09 and later but there is a part for the earlier models as well.
What some have found is for the passenger, the bar seems to catch them in the bottom of the leg. Harley sells a reshaped version of the stock bar that lowers the top of the bar where it would contact your leg down at a steeper angle so it doesn't cause a problem for the passenger.
PN 49179-09 is for 09 and later but there is a part for the earlier models as well.