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What handguards are installed on your bike?

  • Stock

    Votes: 11 27.5%

  • Barkbusters

    Votes: 18 45.0%

  • Zeta

    Votes: 2 5.0%

  • SW-Motech

    Votes: 2 5.0%

  • Acerbis

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Touratech

    Votes: 2 5.0%

  • Machine Art Moto

    Votes: 3 7.5%

  • Cycra

    Votes: 1 2.5%

  • Other (please let us know)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Hepco and Becker

    Votes: 1 2.5%
  • Total voters
    40

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

35304 Views 105 Replies 41 Participants Last post by  GreatWhiteNorth, 
TheMKoi
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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TheMKoi
Fuzzcat said:
@TheMKoi ... my install resulted in a tight fit but don't believe there is meaningful pinching or binding ... I guess I wish the backbone could be rotated ever-so-slightly higher, like only a degree or two, but I'm sure it's fine ... thanks for creating this thread -
View attachment 70130
View attachment 70131
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Yours definitely looks like the wire loom is more "relaxed". I have the levers also tilted down due to my longer fingers and I try to stand up as often as needed. With the stock lever angle my wrists were taking a beating.

My main worry was the brake switch terminals. I am sure it would be fine for many kms but I just wanted to be sure.(y)

And it is my pleasure to try and make good content for the forum. I am hopeful that we can make an Africa Twin Encyclopedia here for all riders to find tips and tricks.
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Trek Moto
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Today I installed Zeta’s on my ‘17. I’ve had Zeta on my DRZ for close to 15 years now and they’ve taken a beating and held up well. Couldn’t decide on shields so I grabbed both the XC Pro and Scudo, thinking I’d like one more than the other and would return one but I like them both, so I’m going to keep the Scudo for the colder weather and the XC Pro for when it warms up. The angle adjustability of the Scudo is pretty slick.
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N
3
Wow! Been a long time since I've signed on. Let alone ride the AT. Been sitting in my garage collecting dust. I still have a lot of upgrades I'd like to install before I ride the beast.

Anyhow, here's mine: BB w/stock handguards mod. Bar-ends are Titanium. In fact, a good number of stock bolts/screws were replaced with Titanium.

I'm a huge fan of the stock handguard look. So, I may be looking to trade my BB shields for stock white shields or possibly just sell them.

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TheMKoi
Nemesis said:
Wow! Been a long time since I've signed on. Let alone ride the AT. Been sitting in my garage collecting dust. I still have a lot of upgrades I'd like to install before I ride the beast.

Anyhow, here's mine: BB w/stock handguards mod. Bar-ends are Titanium. In fact, a good number of stock bolts/screws were replaced with Titanium.

I'm a huge fan of the stock handguard look. So, I may be looking to trade my BB shields for stock white shields or possibly just sell them.
Click to expand...
Woo, that is a new option I haven't seen installed before. Looks great!!
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J
Hi guys, I just wanted to leave you with the latest news. Have I found a bug on SW Motech specifications?

So.... I've bought the SW-Motech Kobra handguards 2020, asked Honda mechanics to mount it on and...

and apprarently, this model doesn't fit in Africa Twin 2020 DCT version.... :eek:
There's an issue with the "area" necessary to actuate the parking brake lever. The parking brake lever "travel" is higher than the clutch lever, and it hits the protection bar of the handguards.

I'm checking with the shop were I bought the handguards and I will contact SW Motech to clarify this issue. I'm a bit surprised no one had this issue before. I'll keep you posted.
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J
Nemesis said:
Wow! Been a long time since I've signed on. Let alone ride the AT. Been sitting in my garage collecting dust. I still have a lot of upgrades I'd like to install before I ride the beast.

Anyhow, here's mine: BB w/stock handguards mod. Bar-ends are Titanium. In fact, a good number of stock bolts/screws were replaced with Titanium.

I'm a huge fan of the stock handguard look. So, I may be looking to trade my BB shields for stock white shields or possibly just sell them.
Click to expand...
This looks great and original, by all meanings ;) !!
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RagnarofBallard
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
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I had Acerbis on my KLR and was very happy with them. So I was leaning towards those for my ATAS, but the BarkBusters seem to be real popular on here
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TheMKoi
RagnarofBallard said:
I had Acerbis on my KLR and was very happy with them. So I was leaning towards those for my ATAS, but the BarkBusters seem to be real popular on here
Click to expand...
Barkbusters are the brand of choice most likely due to them being very well made and they have a kit that is specifically designed to fit the Africa Twin bars, which reuses the stock bar end weights.

Some of the other brands do this as well, however the universal kits often need to be tweaked and re-drilled/tapped if you want to maintain the bar end weights. If you are fine with removing them then it usually comes down to having enough room to clear the AT's switch housing and levers. The DCT complicates this whole process with it's parking brake.

Good luck and post a pic of yours once you have installed them. (y)
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AT-Dragon
Stock , they are cheap , work excellent for what they are intended to do. I did add extensions on the top and bottom of them to deflect more air for winter riding..
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DoubleThumper
Stock. Thinking of just removing them and replacing with nothing.
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TwinWrangler
AT-Dragon said:
Stock , they are cheap , work excellent for what they are intended to do. I did add extensions on the top and bottom of them to deflect more air for winter riding..
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I thought I saw a pic of your bike with what looked like the Hepco guards on there???
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TwinWrangler
DoubleThumper said:
Stock. Thinking of just removing them and replacing with nothing.
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That's a great plan 'til it takes a nap and you bust a clutch lever (not that the stock plastic ones will do much for that anyway....)
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AT-Dragon
TwinWrangler said:
I thought I saw a pic of your bike with what looked like the Hepco guards on there???
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Yep, you’re right, ROFL, I constantly forget about those, I put them on for a place for mounts for some trail lights, on my old KLR I just reinforced the plastic, but the AT brush gareds are smaller so I couldn’t do the same as easily and too for aesthetic reasons I prefer them but I do get the benefit of some hard protection.
Unfortunately, the cheap lights I used had terrible mounting brackets and one broke, so I’m currently not running any … LOL not like I’m lacking in the illumination department..
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AT-Dragon
TwinWrangler said:
That's a great plan 'til it takes a nap and you bust a clutch lever (not that the stock plastic ones will do much for that anyway....)
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If they break as designed (clutch or front brake lever), the end will just bust off and the lever will still work. On that note, I’ve spent well over a hour on the trail, trying to bend back the aluminum piece that’s got the clutch lever pressed against the bar, I’ve also seen the front brake lever pressed like that too, on the Barkbuster’s.. Hoonigan’s tight wooded trails and excessive speed, makes aluminum more pliable then you’d think…
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DoubleThumper
TwinWrangler said:
That's a great plan 'til it takes a nap and you bust a clutch lever (not that the stock plastic ones will do much for that anyway....)
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Yes. The intent is to not let it nap. :rolleyes:
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AT-Dragon
DoubleThumper said:
Yes. The intent is to not let it nap. :rolleyes:
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But EVERYONE feels better after a good nap..:ROFLMAO:
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Hood
3
MachineArt Moto Advance guards, love them, Can be configured 3 (actually 4) ways within seconds.
First is just the frame.
Second frame with insert.
Third and fourth is with deflector which can be either lowered or raised.

Frame only for summer.
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Frame with insert for Autumn.

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Deflector raised for winter, don't have a pic with it lowered but it just looks similar but with the upturned edge next to the frame.



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RagnarofBallard
3
I got my BarkBusters on a few weeks back. Did a cold weather ride a few days ago and definitely need to see about adjusting them upwards a bit.
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TheMKoi
Thanks for the updates guys.

Those MachineArt look great. Has anyone really field tested them? My brain still thinks that the plastic guards like them won't be as strong as the aluminum ones.
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Hood
I have dropped 3 times with them on, all at more or less of a standstill, once on earth, once in the wooden garage and the third time onto tarmac, they are scratched but that is all.
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