Which are the best handguards for your motorbike?
Will full handguards break your wrists? And what are the
different types? What are the pros and cons? Let's start
with the three main types of handguards. The strongest ones
are the full wrap design, using two mounting points.... often
called bark Busters. as that was the Australian brand which
invented them in 1984. These do the best job when
protecting your hands, levers and master cylinders for your
clutch and front brake, Next is the ;half wrap; design There is
only one mounting point, but there's still a reasonable
amount of protection as the metal bar extends far enough to
cover the hands. Finally the open style of handguards. These
are just plastic so are only designed to protect your hands
from roost and very minor impacts. Advantages of the full
wrap handguards? Obviously the best protection, they are the least
likely to break, and very durable. And if you land on the
end of your handle bars in an accident, it spreads the impact
so less chance of bruising or busted ribs. This happened to
me 3 weeks ago. when my bars punched me in the stomach!
So glad I had bark busters fitted. Disadvantages? They cost more.
They are the heaviest option, and it does slow your steering
down a little. It's also weight placed up high where you don't
want it, and there's the small risk of fractures in an
accident. We'll discuss that shortly. Advantages of open hand
guards? Cheap, light and very unlikely to cause fractures.
But they provide the least protection, and are easily
broken. The half wrap hand guards are obviously a
compromise between the other two. Now to the big question!
Can full wrap handguards cause fractures? And if so, how often?
The main concern - going over the handle bars. If you don't
let go of the bars, there's a good chance you could break
your wrists. Second. There's a small chance in a crash that
your hand will come off the hand grip and your forearm
could slide down into the hand guard and result in a fracture.
Does this happen? Yes Google around and you will find
accounts of this. The big question, though, is how often
does it happen. Most riders with years of experience agree
it's very rare, and the chances of breaking your
knuckles, fingers or hands are much higher for Enduro riding.
After spending hours searching the forums and using my own
personal experience, I would agree. I have rammed trees
countless times. or hit the dirt while still holding on to the
bars. I am sure I would have broken bones quite a few times
with open handguards. And yes I have been over the handle
bars half a dozen times, but I've always let go
instinctively... no fractures. Even if the chance of fractures
is low, what can we do to lessen the chances further?
Well, some riders trim the highest section of the plastic
guard, or even remove it. Some handguards already have a low
profile for this reason. Others actually twist the handguards
down, so they sit lower. All of these are possible solutions,
but of course too low and you can expose your knuckles to
impacts from branches or roost. Also, some handguards have a
lower section of the side in case your wrist makes contact
there in an accident. Others say just tell yourself to let
go if you're going over the bars... easier said than done!
Look, possibly the urge to hang on is stronger in some
riders than others. It's very hard to override your instincts
when the feces hits the fan. Use logic when assessing the small
risk of fractures from full wrap and guards. On some forums
guys have posted gory pictures of their broken wrists and
automatically you get certain guys saying "well, that's it.
I'm taking my handguards off tomorrow!" Don't let your
emotions take over. Do your own research, try to assess the
benefits and potential risks of each hand guard, and makes your
choice! Personally, I think Enduro riders will almost
always be better off with the full wrap, handguards...
motocross riders will probably be better off with the open and
style. And there's always the half wrap design If you can't
make up your mind. So what do you guys use? Have you ever had
injuries that changed your mind? Heard stories that did?
I'm keen to hear your thoughts and experiences, let us know in
the comments.