Highway Bars - Pros and Cons

I'm considering putting highway bars on my V-Star 1100 Classic.  What are the advantages and/or disadvantages?  What's the "best" manufacturer for this bike?  What's been your experience with these things?  Any suggestions?  Thanks  

IMO, adding hiway bars is one of the first things you should do to a cruiser.  Sooner or later, you'll most likely drop your ride (it happens to practically everybody) and those bars will not only protect your ride's finish but will help you get it back upright.  Just read a thread this AM from a rider who got sideswiped by a cager, and his bars prevented his foot/leg from getting pinned against the car.  There are the OEM bars, Cobra, MC Enterprises, Baron, and several others who offer hiway bars.  

Thanks for this.  The reason I'm asking the question in the first place is that someone tells me that they're more trouble that they're worth (getting in the way of maintenance and stuff) and can even cause an accident.  He tells me of catching a bar on a curbside lump of something and hooking the bike into the curb with the front wheel.  Having said that, I sure see the wisdom of having a strong handle if, and when, I drop it.  Thanks again.  

I got hwy bars last year and love them.  I haven't dragged them or caught them on anything.  I don't think they would help in a high speed crash but work ok at low speeds.  They will protect your bike from a lot of damage.  You can mount pegs on them to stretch your legs on longer rides.  

I suppose it is possible to catch them on a curb or something, but I have never known anyone to do it.  

I tried getting highway bars for my cruiser, but they got in the way of the brake pedal, and I eventually installed a forward control kit to move the foot controls to a more comfortable position.  In my opinion, the biggest advantage is being to put your legs in another position on long trips to be more comfortable.  The protection they offer really aren't usually necessary on a cruiser.  Between the handle bars and rigid saddle bags for touring, the body of the bike is already pretty well protected when the bike goes down.  Highway bars always come with a disclaimer that says they are not designed to offer the rider any protection.  They look nice and they offer you an alternative position for your legs on long rides.