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Handguards with or without aluminium bar? Handguards with or without aluminium bar?
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Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? Anything to do with the bikes equipment, saddlebags, etc. Questions on repairs and maintenance of the bike itself belong in the Brand Specific Tech Forums.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #16  
Old 24 Jan 2014
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Thanks everyone, for giving me such good advice!!
Unfortunately Zen Overland haven't had something, which would have suited my needs.

I decided to go for the Barkbusters, after all! =)
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  #17  
Old 24 Jan 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post

Contact Gab at Zen Overland.
Gab is a great guy, i buy alot of bits from him and super service with great advice from a guy who has done a RTW trip so really knows what he is talking about
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  #18  
Old 24 Jan 2014
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Originally Posted by WesleyDRZ400 View Post
Gab is a great guy, i buy alot of bits from him and super service with great advice from a guy who has done a RTW trip so really knows what he is talking about
Yup.. Second that. I don't shop anywhere else now.
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  #19  
Old 1 Feb 2014
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Originally Posted by benniontour View Post
Thanks everyone, for giving me such good advice!!
Unfortunately Zen Overland haven't had something, which would have suited my needs.

I decided to go for the Barkbusters, after all! =)
If you're sold on the barkbusters and struggle to get them- PM me with your details and the model you want. I'll get you a pair and post them over.

Mine cost around AU$120
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  #20  
Old 1 Feb 2014
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Hi there Mate,

thanks for your offer! I really appreciate that! This is one of the reasons I love this forum so much, everyone is helping each other out!

Already got the Barkbusters by the German distributor, after I contacted them. Payed around 120 € for the guards and the plastic covers. Still haven't mounted them, cause I'm still studying for a test on Tuesday, but once the test is done, I'll get to that. =)

Best regards from Bonn!
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  #21  
Old 21 Feb 2014
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I've always used metal-reinforced handguards on my dirt bikes, so I have to admit I was a little skeptical about Touratech's plastic-only hand guards on my F800GS.

But after tens of thousands of miles, a couple of crashes and dozens of tip overs, they're still in good shape and continue to protect my controls.
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  #22  
Old 29 Mar 2014
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I prefer the NexGen Handguards from HDB.


I don't see them protecting me so much from as fall as from those nasty branches that sneak out and slap you on those tight twisty fire trails/roads.

I do not use the HDB mirrors as they limit my rear vision too much.
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  #23  
Old 30 Mar 2014
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Originally Posted by AdvMoto18 View Post
I prefer the NexGen Handguards from HDB.

I don't see them protecting me so much from as fall as from those nasty branches that sneak out and slap you on those tight twisty fire trails/roads.
I do not use the HDB mirrors as they limit my rear vision too much.
Good hand guards, properly installed, can protect your hands ... plus levers, lever perches, switches and controls. Not 100% sure ... but most times they really can help. Street bikes, dirt bikes, Adventure bikes ... hand guard good!

One of the biggest irritants when testing new dirt bikes was that press bikes never came with hand guards. Doing single track I wasn't worried about getting whacked by a branch. (happens anyway ... usually in the face or head ... DUCK!)

What's worse was having that nasty branch grab my front brake lever and toss me clean off the bike! Or stop you dead. Fairly common when running in tight woods and not using hand guards. Not good.

If you ride fire roads or a moto cross track ... you don't need hand guards so much. But as I said earlier, I've seen bikes made UNRIDEABLE just from a tip over when parked. (lever, perch and switch gear broken)
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