Hard Dog Extreme Roll Bar, Yay or Nay?
 

Just looking for a roll bar and kinda like this bar. I know selecting a bar greatly depends on my forcasted use for the car....so just to let everyone know, I plan to primarily just rip around back roads and very ocassionally go to a auto x. Do you like the looks? Think it will be safe enough for my application? Anyone have any good pics of it installed? (All I can find are the same pics over and over again online.....

http://www.flyinmiata.com/projects/i...s/Dscn7537.jpg

http://www.ravenwingperformance.net/...-Diag_Blk1.jpg

http://www.bethania-garage.com/images/ss_extreme.jpg

I like it too... my "duece" bar is no longer my favorite, might try to replace it later with this.

GAYSAUCE!

Get a hardcore.

Not enough(read any) rearward bracing. I will not rock a bar without it.

Looks like something an M.netter would rock.

i like my HDHCDD way better

Hmm, good point. I retract my previous liking of this bar.

Hmmm, good points. How bout the boss frog double hoop? If you can't tell, I like the "Double Hoop" look....don't know why, just partial to it.

http://www.teammiata.com/libs/Boss_F...ssembly-tn.jpg

While I have everyones attention...how do most roll bars bolt in. Do they need the sheet metal that is usually on the sides of the gas tank? My car has that cut out and I just was'nt sure if I'd run into problems since its cut out? The only reason I'm asking is because the Boss Frog Bar looks like it would mount to that sheetmetal. This is the only pic I had at the moment to show you what I mean.

Attachment 206687

as opposed to this

http://members.cox.net/mazdas/rb-05.jpg

you Trim the sheet metal and it bolts to the actual car. At least thats how the hard dog is.

Same here with the boss frog clearview maxx.

Hard dog bars with rear bracing go behind that sheet metal panel to the body next to the sheet metal that surrounds the gas tank. Its a 3 bolt flange with a backing plate. All hard dog bars (with or without rear bracing) bolt to an M14 (I think) bolt from the top and front of the seat belt tower, and another 3 bolt flange with backing plate right below the lower lip of that same sheet metal panel.

boss frog bar was badass! i loved it when i hade it. now with a cage so :P

I've got a Boss Frog double hoop and it's definitely strong. That was the main reason I bought it. It ties all the way to the floor (with backing plates). With a crane you could probably pick the car up by it. The ONLY thing I don't like is that it may or may not be legal at a track depending on who techs you. I've had no problems doing several track days, but the double hoop layout could be interpreted as non-compliant with the SCCA guidelines. If you aren't doing lots of track days, obviously that wouldn't matter.

I love the look of the Extreme bar, but there's no way that I'd actually install one. The only motivation for me to install a bar would be necessity for track use, and since the Extreme isn't (as far as I know) track legal, it'd just be something else to whack my head on. No thanks. Really, it's a shame. Oh well, I'll get over it.

that shit is fucking ugly. Single diagonal bars are ftw.

Ditto... The HD HardCore is SCCA approved and has the rearward bracing.


I don't know about the Boss Frog, however the Hard Dog uses backplates to create stronger mount points.

The HD Deuce is not tall enough for most competion requirement, whereas the Boss Frog Double is. However, the Boss Frog intrudes into the cabin more than the Hard Dog. - If you are a taller driver, you will bounce your skull off the bar. (Note the circled area on the attached diagram of the Boss Frog Double. The cross member identified sits over the lock for the center console. None of the HD bars are forward of the package shelf...)

Also attached are some pics of my HD bar, with padding.

- L

Do you have any pics of the bar installed on your car??

Here are a couple of old pics of my bar. I'm also not real sure it sits any farther forward than a Hard Dog. Both bars tie into the seatbelt mounts the same way and that determines how forward the bar is. The double hoop does come down in the middle above the console, but I'm guessing if you dropped a plumb line from the Hard Dog it would be in the same place. Just a guess though...

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/9849/20070714au.jpg

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/1017/20070714aq.jpg

It does...

Yes, they both tie into the seatbelt towers. However, the HD stays in line with the towers, the Boss Frog advances further into the seating area.


Unfortunately, I don't have pics of a Hard Dog Deuce installed. Since I can't post pics to show the differences, how about an install thread with good pics:
http://www.simon-fraser.com/images/m...og%20Deuce.htm

Based upon the pics you've posted, it is easy to see who someone would run a high risk of cracking their skull against the side bars, especially when wearing a helmet.

- L