[Juha]

Finally available, but no DCT-model until april!
Hardware Kit- Two Point Mount (BHG-061)

This bike really needs better hand guards than stock ones and from my experience, Barkbusters are bomb proof!

0:05

 

[FullThrottle]

Don't suppose someone has a set already installed?

 

[marekm]

There is debate what is better: broken gear / brake lever or broken wrist(s) ?

I prefer hand guards a'la Honda's and folding levers (in my case 1 lever), e.g. Titax

 

[Adventurer]

Same here, we can always replace parts on our bikes but not ourselves. And even though technology will pick up and come up with innovative ways for us to come back from a bad situation like this, increasing your safety should be #1.

 

[old punt]

I have had Barkbusters fitted to my last 3 bikes and have a set ordered for my Africa Twin, I would not ride in the bush without them.They have saved me countless bruised knuckles and fingers from encounters with trees and branches. Fitted with hand guards they offer good weather protection. I think you will find it is highly unlikely that your hands or arms could slip between the grips, levers and hand guards. They stop your hands slipping off the end of the grips in wet conditions. I have used them for well over 100,000 ks and have never had a broken lever or had my arm or hands slip through them.

 

[marekm]

I have been using hand guards (incl. Barkbusters) on all my "adventure" bikes, but I do acknowledge that off-road and highway riding environments pose different risks to the rider.

While in off-road situations, solid hand guards (e.g. Barkbusters) will protect your hands from branches, stones, etc., on the highway, in case of accident, they may be harmful.

There probably is a reason why sport bikes do not come equipped with hand guards. AT is not a sport bike, but is capable of travelling close to 200 km/h and that is sport bike territory.

Just a thought.

 

[old punt]

moto gp and superbikes use a cut down version to prevent fingers from being ground away

 

[old punt]

crashing at 200kph on the road will be harmfull

 

[marekm]

moto gp and superbikes use a cut down version...

Makes sense. They understand that in the event of crash, they need to be able to get off the bike, hands / wrists included :wink2:

 

[cadoganpier]

I've never heard of anyone actually breaking a wrist using bark busters save for internet scare mongering. The reason you don't get them on sports bikes is two fold, 1: you don't need them and 2: they create a lot of drag that you don't want and you especially don't want it on the end of the bars, just trying riding your bike on the motor way with one removed. The standard Honda ones are good for just about keeping the rain off and keeping up the sales of levers but not much else.

 

[acarrilho]

as far as I'm aware the cut down version in MotoGP and superbikes has to do with protection for levers when riders are very close and they even touch between them when they are striking for the best position and riding line. I remember some years ago when a rider (don't remember who) put another to the ground due when touching with break lever

 

[Rory]

as far as i'm aware the cut down version in motogp and superbikes has to do with protection for levers when riders are very close and they even touch between them when they are striking for the best position and riding line. I remember some years ago when a rider (don't remember who) put another to the ground due when touching with break lever

100% !!

 

[marekm]

We all agree, but this thread is about putting large, aluminium reinforced hand guards on a motorcycle, which will be used also on highways, i.e. travel at speeds, more attributed to sport bikes than off-road enduro bikes.

It appears that many believe that it is not a safety issue. I have my doubts.

 

[old punt]

no larger then a lot of farings and hand guards

 

[SkipD]

as far as I'm aware the cut down version in MotoGP and superbikes has to do with protection for levers when riders are very close and they even touch between them when they are striking for the best position and riding line. I remember some years ago when a rider (don't remember who) put another to the ground due when touching with break lever

Not the case they were introduced to stop riders loosing the ends of their fingers when the bike goes down and the brake or clutch lever cuts their fingers off when they are caught between the lever and the grip. Shake hands with any number of older GP riders to see what I mean.
or take a look at any number of incidents like this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no2QlSOCmTE

It certainly is possible to break a wrist if you manage to get caught in the hand guard but I would put that at about 100-1 odds compared to busting your hand if you smack something going past or going down. I would always use a strong hand guard if I was on a road bike or an off-road bike

 

[radekw]

I've already lost both of original handguards. One is completly destroyed. Second one damaged. I need to say that AT plastics are poor in comparison for that on BMW F800 GS (checked ) or KTM 990 (so it is said by friends of mine knowing both bikes). So waiting for ones from Barkbusters

 

[Juha]

They are available now for manual models in Rugged Roads: NON-DCT Barkbusters

 

[smudger]

Why would they break your wrists I've come off many a times on my GS 800 (Dibbs can vouch for that ) and I go one way and bike goes the other way and I had hand guards

 

[SkipD]

Why would they break your wrists I've come off many a times on my GS 800 (Dibbs can vouch for that ) and I go one way and bike goes the other way and I had hand guards

Almost always when you hit a car, bike stops, you keep going broken pelvis on the gas tank wrists can get caught in the hand guard because you had braced for impact and had the brakes on hard. As I say quite rare to happen unless the bike is stopping dead and you keep going. If bike slips from under you, or you hit something with the ends of the bars (think trees, car wing mirrors, bikes going the other way, power poles, road signs etc) thats when they provide (hand guards) a lot of protection (mashed fingers/hands broken levers other damage to bike) they are worth their weight in gold at that stage.

 

[marekm]

This is what I have been trying to say. :smile2:

Strong / large hand guards, while useful for off-road, are not necessarily good for road driving. And that is where many of these "enduro outfitted" bikes will be spending most of their time.