Best handguard?Bark busters on the market?

[Bandit9]

I have always stayed away from the Bonz type and threaded bar ends b/c I want the handguards to absorb the impact and bend or rotate, instead of breaking my bar clamp or bending/breaking the bars. I can still finish the race that way. Something has to give you know, I figure the cheap aluminum bark buster is what I want giving out, not other more important stuff. Just me.

[WTEC]

I've had a set of Hyde hand guards on my bike since new, so one winter and one summer season on them, and they haven't bent or moved yet. They come with both the tapped and the flare style bar end insert and cost less than a $100. The plastic is replaceable, and big enough to keep the winter wind and the summer branches off my hands. I highly recommend them.

Wes.

[swazi_matt]

I also have the hydes and they are the older generation (they now have the stronger x-series) and they pretty good and much cheaper than cycras - and to be honest they are basically a copy of cycras!

[eff]

FYI, Moose and Enduro Engineering parts (handguards) are identical.

[GMP]

Originally Posted by Bandit9

I have always stayed away from the Bonz type and threaded bar ends b/c I want the handguards to absorb the impact and bend or rotate, instead of breaking my bar clamp or bending/breaking the bars. I can still finish the race that way. Something has to give you know, I figure the cheap aluminum bark buster is what I want giving out, not other more important stuff. Just me.

M8 brass bolts on the bar clamp side solve that problem. They will bend in a major crash before bending or breaking the bike Bonz clamps, but not in typical tree hits. I crashed big time when I broke my clavicle three yrs ago. Handguard was bent down slightly, brass bolt bent, everything else fine. I carry a few in my fanny pack.

[ScottyR]

I use the EE guards but I change the bolts that hold that clamp onto the mounts with an M8 as mentioned.

If you take a good look at the Cycras, they add over an inch of bar width as the bend outwards from the handlebars.

[blanc]

I think I will just spend the money on the Fastways, what are the differences in the two fastway busters??

[Bandit9]

Originally Posted by ScottyR

I use the EE guards but I change the bolts that hold that clamp onto the mounts with an M8 as mentioned.

If you take a good look at the Cycras, they add over an inch of bar width as the bend outwards from the handlebars.

Scotty, do you mean the clamp that goes around the handle bars where they angle up or the actual clamp that holds the bars to the top triple clamp?

[Bandit9]

Originally Posted by eff

FYI, Moose and Enduro Engineering parts (handguards) are identical.

Add MSR to that list too.

[REVERUP]

Not sure what the best is... that is really based on opinion.

I run the Cycras Modded, have on my last three bikes. They work very well for me but there is some work involved in set up.I cut my bars down, so I also cut the guards down.

I cut the bar clamp routered adjustable hole off the end of the aluminum guard, smooth and reshape end.
Then I drill a new hole about an inch from the end, very close to the same diameter of the bar clamp bolt. I then bend the aluminum guard in toward the center of the bars so the bend does not hang out past the bar ends any more than the aluminums width.

Typically people cut their bars down then just throw the guards on and thats probably why as ScottyR mentioned he's noticed peoples stick out farther than the bar end. The guards are forced too as the Cycras I believe are to long in the first place for guys that are gonna use wrap around style guards. We like short bars.

I use, and swear by the metal threaded bar inserts. I do also however use the stock Cycra clamps to allow some spin and flex in the most violent of crashes. They usually still don't move in a crash. I have yet to bend a set of bars or break bar clamps. I believe shortening the aluminum guard also makes it less likely to twist and bend.


Here are my 2011's from the seat. See how they taper in toward the bars center.


Good luck!
Roscoe