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Hand guard Opinions Anybody?


keiver12

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Now that march has hit I finally started thinking about getting the bike ready for spring. Decided I wanted some wind protection for my hands after a few very chilly evenings in the spring last season.

I have been searching around the forum here and haven't seen a whole lot of recent talk about the hand guards Im looking at. hoping I can get some input. I have found both the Barkbuster, Acerbis Xtarmac , and SW Motech options from a Canadian retailer and wanted to see if anybody has experience with any. I have a more traditional set of Barkbusters on my KLR and love how much of a difference it makes on the hands in some chilly winds.

 

 

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I've looked at the SW Motech's. They really match the style of the bike IMO, but BOY are they expensive!

I still can't over the others looking like the belong on a dirt bike ( lifetime of riding dirt bikes).

IIRC, there is a less expensive guard that looks very similar to the SWM's. PowerMadd or something like that?

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12 minutes ago, shinyribs said:

I've looked at the SW Motech's. They really match the style of the bike IMO, but BOY are they expensive!

I still can't over the others looking like the belong on a dirt bike ( lifetime of riding dirt bikes).

IIRC, there is a less expensive guard that looks very similar to the SWM's. PowerMadd or something like that?

Yes I have to agree with you on the looks department. The SW motechs will run me around 180 CAD so Ill look into the Powermadd option. Thanks!

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Bigturbomax

I have the SW motech hand guards. I ride year round (you can get away with that in Texas). I had the standard setup for one year and they look SICK, but they only took a little edge off the sting when its freezing out. So they do help some but not as much as i would have liked. However, they mount surprisingly sturdy despite a single mount point and have many other benefits. I have watched rocks ping off of them at highway speed that would have otherwise not felt pleasant to catch on the knuckles. So they serve more than one function. This winter (2nd winter I've had them) i purchased the optional extensions to try them out. They admittedly look less cool with the extensions on but cut wind WAY better. I like them alot actually and would still buy them if I had to do it over again despite how expensive they are. Eventually i may add my own integrated leds to the blank spot for turn signals. They have optional signals the fit in the guard.....but i spent $147 US on the guard kit, another $32 US on the extensions.....I'm not ready to give motech another $80 US for the turn signals lol! 

But honesty time, my bikemaster heated grips do a heck of a lot more good when its cold. The guards are a nice add on to have and do help, but my 2 cents to you....byu heated grips or gloves first and see if you still want handguards. I ride in freezing temps more than most people in my circle so to me it was worth the cost. YMMV.  

Edited by Bigturbomax
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Bigturbomax

This is a comparison shot, one side with extension and one without so you can see the difference. Hopefully this info will help with you decision. I can't really so anything on the other choices as i haven't tried them. Good luck with the decision. 

20191016_200134.jpg

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15 minutes ago, Bigturbomax said:

I have the SW motech hand guards. I ride year round (you can get away with that in Texas). I had the standard setup for one year and they look SICK, but they only took a little edge off the sting when its freezing out. So they do help some but not as much as i would have liked. However, they mount surprisingly sturdy despite a single mount point and have many other benefits. I have watched rocks ping off of them at highway speed that would have otherwise not felt pleasant to catch on the knuckles. So they serve more than one function. This winter (2nd winter I've had them) i purchased the optional extensions to try them out. They admittedly look less cool with the extensions on but cut wind WAY better. I like them alot actually and would still buy them if I had to do it over again despite how expensive they are. Eventually i may add my own integrated leds to the blank spot for turn signals. They have optional signals the fit in the guard.....but i spent $147 US on the guard kit, another $32 US on the extensions.....I'm not ready to give motech another $80 US for the turn signals lol! 

But honesty time, my bikemaster heated grips do a heck of a lot more good when its cold. The guards are a nice add on to have and do help, but my 2 cents to you....byu heated grips or gloves first and see if you still want handguards. I ride in freezing temps more than most people in my circle so to me it was worth the cost. YMMV.  

Thanks for the input! Really glad someone was able to comment on the SW Motech and I did see the extensions available so its good to hear they are worth it.

As for the heated grips I am really attached to the Pro taper pillow top grips I run so I am going to try the hand guards first, partly because I really like the look as well. I'm hoping they will be sufficient because most of the time I'm riding in the cold its only that last hour or first hour or so of the ride. Never a long run in too cold of temps. Definitely open to heated grips if I see necessary. Thanks!

 

 

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Bigturbomax

^^happy i could provide some input. For spring time i bet you might be happy with the standard Motechs, since you won't be in freezing temps or out for very long. I'm also a fan a keeping a 2nd set of gloves with me just in case. I got perf leather short cuff for good weather and water proof winter gauntlet gloves for bad weather. Both from Cortech. 

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3 hours ago, phanomenal07 said:

I had the acerbis. Looks great doesnt block wind at all

Good to know. They are kind of an odd design so I had my doubts

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14 hours ago, FZ07R WaNaB said:

Barkbuster Storm works fine for me

IMG_1301 (480x640).jpg

IMG_1303.JPG

I have the Storm on my KLR and love them for that. hoping for something slightly slimmer for the FZ but the Storm are what started this whole adventure into handguards for me

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15 hours ago, Bigturbomax said:

^^happy i could provide some input. For spring time i bet you might be happy with the standard Motechs, since you won't be in freezing temps or out for very long. I'm also a fan a keeping a 2nd set of gloves with me just in case. I got perf leather short cuff for good weather and water proof winter gauntlet gloves for bad weather. Both from Cortech. 

My thoughts as well. Not familiar with how chilly it gets in Texas but I dont start riding up here until the salt is off the roads and the majority of the snow is gone. This normally means pretty consistent double digit temps (Celsius of course) and the hand guards are really just to fight of the odd times it dips to 5 degrees or so (about 40 F)

I will admit it does suck having such a short riding season!

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16 minutes ago, robbo10 said:

😆
Those looked to be about has helpful at blocking wind as a Band-Aid would be for treating a shotgun wound. 
And for that price I'd expect it to moisturize my calluses while it massages my knuckles.
 

But I could be wrong. ✌️

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DewMan
 
Just shut up and ride.

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On 3/3/2020 at 8:28 PM, keiver12 said:

Thanks for the input! Really glad someone was able to comment on the SW Motech and I did see the extensions available so its good to hear they are worth it.

As for the heated grips I am really attached to the Pro taper pillow top grips I run so I am going to try the hand guards first, partly because I really like the look as well. I'm hoping they will be sufficient because most of the time I'm riding in the cold its only that last hour or first hour or so of the ride. Never a long run in too cold of temps. Definitely open to heated grips if I see necessary. Thanks!

 

 

You probably already know, but just in case, you can install grip heater pads under your existing grips. Usually they are pretty basic, but still get the job done. As stretchy as pillowtops are ( I like em too) they'd be a snap to install heater panels under. 

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14 hours ago, shinyribs said:

You probably already know, but just in case, you can install grip heater pads under your existing grips. Usually they are pretty basic, but still get the job done. As stretchy as pillowtops are ( I like em too) they'd be a snap to install heater panels under. 

I have heard about these only once before but never had much luck finding out anyhing about them. Although I didn't try very hard.  That would definitely be my preferred method as I like the pillow tops a lot but also like being able to replace them regularly, unlike being stuck with the expensive one piece heated grips.

 

I agree that fitting the pillow tops over the pads would not be an issue. Do you have any info on these heaters?

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11 hours ago, mickba said:

DSC_0016.thumb.jpg.32a0d370af7b93b4342ac177a3086545.jpg

50201.jpg.62e85b3eda0d8a19c90be6818d84a1d2.jpg60538.thumb.jpg.90f00ae4d203df619b74363c15b944cd.jpg

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Sweet looking build! I must say those dont look like they block much wind however. 

What are they?

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20 hours ago, DewMan said:

<img src=">
Those looked to be about has helpful at blocking wind as a Band-Aid would be for treating a shotgun wound. 
And for that price I'd expect it to moisturize my calluses while it massages my knuckles.
 

But I could be wrong. <img src=">

Holy sh*t! Im having a hard time that even Yamaha can charge that for some molded plastic!

They do look sweet but I must agree with you on the band-aid analogy.

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2 minutes ago, keiver12 said:

Sweet looking build! I must say those dont look like they block much wind however. 

What are they?

I'm in Thailand, so cold winds aren't an issue....more for hand protection lane splitting etc.
I think you can fit extension parts up top.

They are cheapo (multi colour) no brand copies from China, but very well made copies and strong.
I paid 70 GBP for Acerbis brand and these were 13.50 GBP and just as good.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-1-8-7-8-Hand-Guards-Handguards-for-KTM-EXC-EXCF-SX-SXF-XC-XCW-XCF-MX-Enduro/121666380341?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

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4 hours ago, keiver12 said:

I have heard about these only once before but never had much luck finding out anyhing about them. Although I didn't try very hard.  That would definitely be my preferred method as I like the pillow tops a lot but also like being able to replace them regularly, unlike being stuck with the expensive one piece heated grips.

 

I agree that fitting the pillow tops over the pads would not be an issue. Do you have any info on these heaters?

I have no first hand experience with them. But I'm planning to fit some to two different dirt bikes soon. I asked some guys that have used them and did some poking around over at thumpertalk forum. Lots of dirt bike guys run these style grip heaters. 

The general opinion is Symtec brand is the bees knees. They run about $50-60 while there are tons of $20-25 options out there. 

The advantage to these style heaters is you can actually see what you are buying vs the molded grips with their components hidden from view.

Electric heaters are just resistive strips of windings. The more windings you have the more heat you can get, so look for that. 

Kits with resistors used to give you low-high heat options are generally not the best. They are just dumping wattage through the resistor to create the  "low" setting. Look for heaters that have to separate circuits of windings through them. They will activate one set of winding for low, then kick on the second set for high. 

Probably the most important to look for is how the wires are attached to the heating elements for longevity. Symec heaters do seem to have a robust connection. Revzilla has some Trackside brand heaters.....regularly $45 on sale for $20 which look decently made. However, they look identical to the Tusk brand kits that sell for $25 year round. Both of those seem to use resistors. 

One thing to remember about any heated grip is the grip can only make heat if the bike is making power. None of them are going to produce full heat just turning the key on. You need the engine/stator pumping to feel the true effect. And our 07's don't pump out a ton of wattage at idle. My Oxford grips are much warmer at speed vs just tooling around town. 

All that said, since mine will be going on a dual sport that could get trashed at any moment, i'm planning on running the Tusks. From my research, the Tusks are listed to pull 20 watts. The Symtec's are also listed to pull 20 watts, however, some guys have reported calling up and Symtec and they will tell you how to rewire the heaters to pull 30 watts. So, I assuming the Tusks are running two 10 watt circuits and Symtec is running 10 watts for low and 20 for high, out of the box. 

Hope all that made sense? 

 

That white component on the lower right of the thumbnail, in the bundle of wires, I'm fairly certain that's a resistor housing, but I can't find any solid info on it. 

 

 

Edited by shinyribs
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Further reading, I do believe the Tusk/Trackside heaters are good for 20w and are using the resistor to dump voltage for "low". The Symtecs are running a 10w "low" and a 20w "hi", which can be ocmbined for 30W total. 

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18 hours ago, shinyribs said:

Further reading, I do believe the Tusk/Trackside heaters are good for 20w and are using the resistor to dump voltage for "low". The Symtecs are running a 10w "low" and a 20w "hi", which can be ocmbined for 30W total. 

This is all great info! Thank you.

Im going to look into trying to find the Symtecs from a Canadian retailer for hopefully around $80 CAD. I think running these with my pillow tops and hand guards on both bikes would be a great setup.

 

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