Let's hear what handguards you have installed!!!

35354 Views 105 Replies 41 Participants Last post by GreatWhiteNorth, 6 d ago

TheMKoi

Discussion Starter · Mar 2, 2021 (Edited)

Hello ATF,

I have already searched the form for what handguards are compatible with the Africa Twin. Unfortunately the post I found was from 2017.

In that post it was stated that;

So far the only ones that I know that will fit our bikes are:

SW-MOTECH Kobra Handguard Kit Honda Africa Twin With DCT 2016-2017

Barkbusters Storm Handguard Kit Honda Africa Twin 2016-2017
Barkbusters VPS Handguard Kit Honda Africa Twin 2016-2017

Hepco & Becker Handguard Bar

ACERBIS X-FACTOR HANDGUARDS
ACERBIS MULTI CONCEPT X-PRO HANDGUARDS

Highway Dirtbikes Handguards
Highway Dirt Bikes - HDB

According to Rocky Mountain ATV & MC the AT's instrumentals prevent installation of the following handguards:
Cycra Ultra Probend CRM Wrap Around Handguards
Tusk D-Flex Pro Handguards

Please let me know if I'm missing any and/or above is incorrect.

I am hoping to see if anyone has had success with any other options out there? Procycle lists on their site, once filtered for Africa Twin, a couple other makes of handguards.

Moose Contour,
Cycra Probend (Maybe different from the Ultra)

I am wondering what everyone has installed and if they have had a good or bad experience with their product? I have had both Barkbusters and Moose Racing handguards in the past. Both were excellent with no discernable difference between them. This was about 5 years ago.

Please let me know what you have and hopefully we can create an up to date list of products that fit. Pics would be nice to help everyone see them on the bike.

Thanks

Tally so far...

Barkbuster Storm 9

Barkbuster VPS 6

Barkbuster Jet 1 (Consensus is that they are ugly, )

Barkbuster with Moose Shields1 1

Barkbusters with OEM Shields 1

SW-Motech (Not confirmed fitment on Africa Twin, made by Barkbusters apparently)

Highway Dirt Bikes- Ultimate Handguard Kit (Fitment unconfirmed)

Zeta Armor Pro Bend Handguards 3 (Officially licensed Cycra Pro-Bend shape, means Cycra components will fit)

Acerbis Handguards 1 (Plastics can be interchanged, like the Barkbusters)

Machine Art Moto 2

Touratech Handguards 1

Cycra Ultra Probend CRM 1 (with effort)

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seventyone

· #2 · Mar 2, 2021

I have just had barkbusters VPS arrive today . Install will be at weekend.

Reactions: 2

Cuchulainn

· #3 · Mar 2, 2021

My wife and I both have the Barkbusters Storms on our Africa Twins 2017 AT for her, 2019 ATAS for me.

I have the Barkbusters VPS on my KTM 690 Enduro R.

Both are good options. The VPS has an adjustable flange that makes it a little nicer than the Storm for warm weather, the Storm has a little better coverage for colder weather but it can't be adjusted for warm.

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Nomadic_adv

· #4 · Mar 2, 2021

I have Barkbusters with VPS covers for warmer weather and Storm covers for winter.

rider_marc

· #5 · Mar 2, 2021

Barkbusters!

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Ponzan

· #6 · Mar 3, 2021

Barkbusters Storm AT 2021

TheMKoi

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 3, 2021

Thanks for the post so far everyone. I am sure getting the impression that barkbusters are going to be the most common. They have a great product and a great reputation. I am going to edit my original post to keep a tally for anyone looking for the results.

Thanks,
Matt

Reactions: 2

Cuchulainn

· #8 · Mar 3, 2021

The SW-Motech is a Barkbuster spine with a custom plastic. I believe that they charge more for it than either the VPS or Storm. I have a friend that has them on his Triumph Tiger because he prefered the look. But unless your in love the look of the platic, your probably better off with the Barkbusters. I seem to recall the SW-Motech plastics not being as flexible as well and cracking on impact.

Highway Dirtbikes makes an excellent product, but they aren't as well known as Barkbusters and I think maybe you had to make some modifications to get them to work on the AT. But I haven't looked in a couple of years and that may have been addressed by now.

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Amphib

· #9 · Mar 3, 2021

BB storms on my '17. Love em. Shocked I haven't had to replace the plastics on them yet.

11674

· #10 · Mar 3, 2021

TheMKoi said:
Thanks for the post so far everyone. I am sure getting the impression that barkbusters are going to be the most common. They have a great product and a great reputation. I am going to edit my original post to keep a tally for anyone looking for the results.

Thanks,
Matt

BBuster Storms and VPS use the same frame and mount hardware. The only difference is the plastics.
Storm plastics are bigger and offer more weather protection.
VPS (Variable Protection System) plastics are smaller with a second plastic piece that can the mounted in two positions or left off.

seano

· #11 · Mar 3, 2021

Considering I'm Australian ..Bark Busters there is no substitute

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TheMKoi

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 3, 2021

Cuchulainn said:
The SW-Motech is a Barkbuster spine with a custom plastic. I believe that they charge more for it than either the VPS or Storm. I have a friend that has them on his Triumph Tiger because he prefered the look. But unless your in love the look of the platic, your probably better off with the Barkbusters. I seem to recall the SW-Motech plastics not being as flexible as well and cracking on impact.

Highway Dirtbikes makes an excellent product, but they aren't as well known as Barkbusters and I think maybe you had to make some modifications to get them to work on the AT. But I haven't looked in a couple of years and that may have been addressed by now.

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I am pretty sure I have witnessed the SW-Motch on the Africa Twin and I have read in a couple spots that they were built by Barkbusters as well, just like you said. I added up on the tally section but with no count yet.

Same goes for the HDB Ultimate Handguard kit, it looks pretty bullet proof. I love how they tie back into the top clamp for the bar. I am sure that would firm up the bars quite a bit. There would probably be some pros and cons for the extra stiffness.

black99S said:
BBuster Storms and VPS use the same frame and mount hardware. The only difference is the plastics.
Storm plastics are bigger and offer more weather protection.
VPS (Variable Protection System) plastics are smaller with a second plastic piece that can the mounted in two positions or left off.

Thank you Black99S for sorting that out about the Barkbuster frame. Like some of the other mentioned you can swap out all the different plastics depending on the weather or your riding environment.

seano said:
Considering I'm Australian ..Bark Busters there is no substitute

Thank you seano for the pic. Those look great and always nice to support your local Australian company. BarkBuster have built quite a great product and they have a world-wide reputation for being excellent and very durable.

Thanks for the input and pics guys, lets keep them coming!!!

Reactions: 1

jondotcom

· #13 · Mar 4, 2021 (Edited)

ZETA!!! They mount to the OEM factory bar weight, too. That’s why I went with them. I use them with the scudo large plastics but there are several options. I’d call these the more OEM-like bark buster.

DRC ZE72-6011

Tire Automotive lighting Automotive tire Motorcycle Vehicle

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Cuchulainn

· #14 · Mar 4, 2021

TheMKoi said:
Like some of the other mentioned you can swap out all the different plastics depending on the weather or your riding environment.

Barkbusters Jet will also mount to that frame, but the Jet doesn't seem to get much love

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Eric2019ATAS

· #15 · Mar 4, 2021

I also mounted the Barbuster VPS to my 2019 ATAS. I like the ability to remove some or all of the plastics depending on time of year/temp. Easy install and look good on the bike. Have not had to "test" them yet but they sure look like they will perform as expected.

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jondotcom

· #16 · Mar 4, 2021

Does the bark buster VPS retain the factory bar anti-vibration hardware and hook to the inner bar weight?

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Moped-AT

· #17 · Mar 4, 2021

My bike came with Acerbis handguards already installed when I bought it. I actually really like them and they came with some spare wind protectors in different sizes. So currently I have the bigger ones installed and in the spring will change them to the smaller one to keep more air flowing around my hands. Just unbolt two screws attached to the aluminum frame and you are done.

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Cuchulainn

· #18 · Mar 4, 2021

2

jondotcom said:
Does the bark buster VPS retain the factory bar anti-vibration hardware and hook to the inner bar weight?

The Storm/VPS use the same mounting kit, so it's not so much the VPS plastics. For the AT the mounting kit makes use of inner bar weight.

On my KTM the kit is different and makes use of external.

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TheMKoi

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 5, 2021

Good morning ATF,

Thank you all for contributing and adding pics to clarify and highlight the details between the different options!!!

jondotcom said:
ZETA!!! They mount to the OEM factory bar weight, too. That’s why I went with them. I use them with the scudo large plastics but there are several options. I’d call these the more OEM-like bark buster.

DRC ZE72-6011
View attachment 60727 View attachment 60727

The Zeta Handguards have been added to the list. This is the first I have heard of this brand. It looks like they have a few plastics available, some have integrated turn signals as well!!!
Thanks for sharing!

Cuchulainn said:
Barkbusters Jet will also mount to that frame, but the Jet doesn't seem to get much love

I added the Jet to the list... but I doubt anyone will actually admit to buying them

. They are ugly. But I am one to talk I currently have muffs installed on my bike. Function over Form.

Moped-AT said:
My bike came with Acerbis handguards already installed when I bought it. I actually really like them and they came with some spare wind protectors in different sizes. So currently I have the bigger ones installed and in the spring will change them to the smaller one to keep more air flowing around my hands. Just unbolt two screws attached to the aluminum frame and you are done. View attachment 60737

Acerbis added to the list as well. As you mentioned there are multiple plastics available. Lots of colour options

And thanks for helping each other out with retaining bar end weights!!

Let's keep them coming guys!!

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cdjones

· #20 · Mar 9, 2021

Looks like the ZETA ZE72-6011 will also work with a DCT model where the parking brake handle is a bit more forward than a Manual clutch lever. Already had to return a set of TUSK Handguards because they would not work with the parking brake lever.

Are there any other Handguard setups that will work on a DCT model?

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