Crash bars jut out of the side of the motorcycle. These protect your legs and the motorcycle itself during a crash, but you cannot rely on these crash bars totally they don't offer full protection.
Crash bars are steel tubing that usually mounts between the frame and front of the engine. The bars are for protection of legs, motor, and gas tank if laid over.
Well I believe what you are referring to are a series of bars installed around a bike that mount off the frame. The idea is that these bars will take any impact as the result of a crash. Keeping the bodywork intact.
