Brush/Crash Gaurds???
- Thread starter Buddy
- Start date
dirt bike dave
Sponsoring Member
- May 3, 2000
- 5,348
- 3
Cycra 'pro bend' guards mounted to the fork pinch bolts on the upper triple clamp are the best, IMO. Won't spin on impact like systems mounted to the bar only, and provide more clearance w/narrow bars and full size levers. You may need to fabricate a custom mount and use longer bolts for the fork pinch bolts. The Fredette 'hand savers' also work well and the plastic guards are more flexible than most, which is a plus for woods work.
There are plenty of guards out there. Try Dennis Kirk or Chaparral on the web. I've got simple Moose guards on mine. I ran those plain for a while then got a pair of FRP plastic guards for them. They take alot of abuse. I had a pair of Acerbis Rallies before these, and I know what you mean. JMO..........Good Luck.
:yeehaw: :yeehaw: :yeehaw: :yeehaw:
:yeehaw: :yeehaw: :yeehaw: :yeehaw:
canyncarvr
~SPONSOR~
- Oct 14, 1999
- 4,005
- 0
Polisports are my choice. I didn't care for acerbis units. The polisports aren't too good in the 'brush guard' area, cuz they are narrow. BUT..they protect the levers very well. I've bent mine over-double more than once..and they are still hanging in there. Not quite sure how they've been bent so bad..and I still have my levers....but that's the way it is!
AND...the green matches!!
AND...the green matches!!
Reesknight
~SPONSOR~
- Oct 31, 2002
- 942
- 0
I use Enduro Engineering guards and Fredette covers. Dirt Bike Dave has the best setup IMO. I seen many of the Acerbis guards totally destroyed. They look more like lever guards than hand guards. :silly:
Cycra pro bends are nice, little expensive. I'm using FRP guards and deflectors, they have held well so far. www.frpoffroad.com
- Thread starter
- #9
I've used the EE gaurds on my EXC 450 and still have them on. But on Firelily's KDX? No way-she ground them into pretzels afer one outing riding in Oregon. The Acerbis Rally Pros lasted 4 or 5 outings.She needs PROTECTION with a capital "P". Yes, she is tuff on them. She auggers in at times in a big way!
Help!
Help!
This is Buddy's girlfriend who keeps destroying Acerbis! Both the right and the left guards came off after a couple of crashes during a Enduro last Saturday. Then I broke my brake lever and quit racing at 37 miles.
I have used Enduro Engineering one before, but the brush guards were ripped off after a while. I wouldn't mind paying more, if it's for a good one. I have an unbreakable clutch lever, and it has been working great so far. Does any company sell unbreakable brush guards or unbreakable brake lever?
I know the best way to stop destroying the guards.....don't crash.....but I can't help it. :)
Mini :moon:
Reesknight
~SPONSOR~
- Oct 31, 2002
- 942
- 0
Sounds like you need some made of steel or kevlar!! :eek:
John
Reesknight
~SPONSOR~
- Oct 31, 2002
- 942
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I think FireLily is talking about the plastic covers.
Ok, lets see if we can take care of all of these once and for all:
rethnal- The Cycra Pro bends are Aluminum Alloy not SS. The Acerbis Ralley Pros are Aluminum with a plastic covering.
firelily-I can understand the Ascerbis ones getting mashed(they use a softer grade of Aluminum)but, the EE's. If the brush guards came off, no problem. If they are rotating then you need to look into the Cycra Pro Bends w/Triple Clamp Mounts. You pay more but you get whole lot more. Or you need to tighten down the bolts more.
Enduro Engineering's Hand Guards are just one of many guards out there that look alike, example: Answer Bark Busters; Answer Protaper Lever Guards; Maier Deluxe Woods Pro Aluminum Handguards; Moose Aluminum Handguards; MSR Lever Guards; and MSR Aluminum Derbis Deflectors. Not to mention FRP's.
Now I am sure I left a few out, but these are the ones that I pulled out of Chaparral and Dennis Kirk that are the same style.
A piece of Aluminum bar bent to look sorta like a "J". One end mounts into the bar end with compression hardware and the other end mounts onto the bar close to the handlebar clamp.
Now the only ones that have changed the design is Cycra. They added a bend downward at the outward bar radius. This gives more hand room and adds a little more strength to the bend. The other option is to mount on end to the upper triple clamp. And BAM! No more rotation. If your bike is one they make them for.
All of these have a plastic brush deflector that you can add to them. Most mount on the inside. Cycra mounts on the outside.
In the end it really comes down to what your wallet will allow you to spend. I anded up buying the Ascerbis's and dropping about $90 from a shop. After those exploded I spent $40 for the Moose pair then $25 for thre FRP brush guards.
Since I've put these on, no broken or bent levers. The secret is to have the guards inline with your levers. I see people all the time with the guards rotated higher than their levers. What happens in a crash. You guessed it, a bent or broken lever.
I will stop rambling now, sorry for the intrusion. :think:
p.s. carver- haven't heard of polisport, but I think you have it under control.
rethnal- The Cycra Pro bends are Aluminum Alloy not SS. The Acerbis Ralley Pros are Aluminum with a plastic covering.
firelily-I can understand the Ascerbis ones getting mashed(they use a softer grade of Aluminum)but, the EE's. If the brush guards came off, no problem. If they are rotating then you need to look into the Cycra Pro Bends w/Triple Clamp Mounts. You pay more but you get whole lot more. Or you need to tighten down the bolts more.
Enduro Engineering's Hand Guards are just one of many guards out there that look alike, example: Answer Bark Busters; Answer Protaper Lever Guards; Maier Deluxe Woods Pro Aluminum Handguards; Moose Aluminum Handguards; MSR Lever Guards; and MSR Aluminum Derbis Deflectors. Not to mention FRP's.
Now I am sure I left a few out, but these are the ones that I pulled out of Chaparral and Dennis Kirk that are the same style.
A piece of Aluminum bar bent to look sorta like a "J". One end mounts into the bar end with compression hardware and the other end mounts onto the bar close to the handlebar clamp.
Now the only ones that have changed the design is Cycra. They added a bend downward at the outward bar radius. This gives more hand room and adds a little more strength to the bend. The other option is to mount on end to the upper triple clamp. And BAM! No more rotation. If your bike is one they make them for.
All of these have a plastic brush deflector that you can add to them. Most mount on the inside. Cycra mounts on the outside.
In the end it really comes down to what your wallet will allow you to spend. I anded up buying the Ascerbis's and dropping about $90 from a shop. After those exploded I spent $40 for the Moose pair then $25 for thre FRP brush guards.
Since I've put these on, no broken or bent levers. The secret is to have the guards inline with your levers. I see people all the time with the guards rotated higher than their levers. What happens in a crash. You guessed it, a bent or broken lever.
I will stop rambling now, sorry for the intrusion. :think:
p.s. carver- haven't heard of polisport, but I think you have it under control.
Last edited:
O.K. Here is my mid report.....
I am riding in Elsinore GP (Southern California) on this weekend.
So I needed to put something on to protect my levers.
Buddy tried to put the damaged handguards on, but they were so bent up and difficult to put back on. After working on it for a while, he got stressed out, mad at me and said "I'm tired of this!" So I said "Fine, I will go and buy a new one!" Then I went to a nearby bike shop and bought Enduro Engineering handguards for $36 (a manager gave me 10% discount!) This pair was the cheapest in the shop. And I thought I could use it just to get over this weekend.
And then I saw an UNBREAKABLE brake lever displayed in a glass cabinet. Yeah! This is what I needed! I bought it for $75. So now I have unbreakable clutch lever and unbreakable brake lever. They both have 5 year warranty!!!
I'm so happy! :yeehaw:
Well, I'm still going to shop better handguards and hand deflectors for tough trail riding. So I will read everyone's posts again and do more research, and hopefully I can get the best one!!!
Thank you for all the information. I'm also happy to know that I'm not the only one who went through a couple of pairs of handguards!
RJ-KDX, I saw Cycra Pro Bend at the shop. I wanted to get it, but it was for a fat handlebar, so I didn't get it this time.....maybe when I buy a pro TAPER handlebar.....
Mini :thumb:
I am riding in Elsinore GP (Southern California) on this weekend.
So I needed to put something on to protect my levers.
Buddy tried to put the damaged handguards on, but they were so bent up and difficult to put back on. After working on it for a while, he got stressed out, mad at me and said "I'm tired of this!" So I said "Fine, I will go and buy a new one!" Then I went to a nearby bike shop and bought Enduro Engineering handguards for $36 (a manager gave me 10% discount!) This pair was the cheapest in the shop. And I thought I could use it just to get over this weekend.
And then I saw an UNBREAKABLE brake lever displayed in a glass cabinet. Yeah! This is what I needed! I bought it for $75. So now I have unbreakable clutch lever and unbreakable brake lever. They both have 5 year warranty!!!
I'm so happy! :yeehaw:
Well, I'm still going to shop better handguards and hand deflectors for tough trail riding. So I will read everyone's posts again and do more research, and hopefully I can get the best one!!!
Thank you for all the information. I'm also happy to know that I'm not the only one who went through a couple of pairs of handguards!
RJ-KDX, I saw Cycra Pro Bend at the shop. I wanted to get it, but it was for a fat handlebar, so I didn't get it this time.....maybe when I buy a pro TAPER handlebar.....
Mini :thumb:
Firelily, Sounds like your on your way. Since you live in CA try Chaparral Racing's website. You should be able to get them in a day. I buy most of my stuff from catalogs. Most of the time it's cheaper. The shops around here are pretty lacking in good parts.
Good luck and good riding! :thumb:
Good luck and good riding! :thumb:
woods_rider1
Member
- Sep 27, 2001
- 355
- 0
I had the Acerbis rally brush guards and they never stayed in one place even in small crashes. The Enduro Engineering guards are far superior, I have never had them spin or move in a crash. I would recommend the EE or Cycra pro bend. The Maier plastic units suck too, my daughter broke a set on her bike... and she rides like a girl! :)
canyncarvr
~SPONSOR~
- Oct 14, 1999
- 4,005
- 0
Yeah...my wife rides like a girl, too.
Problem with THAT is....I CAN'T KEEP UP!!!
;)
Problem with THAT is....I CAN'T KEEP UP!!!
;)
According to Buddy, I'm supposed to PUT the bike DOWN when I fall or crash, so I don't break anything. Can you guys all do that? :eek:
But the other day, I was talking to Buddy's son (14), and we both agreed that we ride pretty fast, and that's why we destroy things on the bikes when we crash. It doesn't usually happen when I go slow on single track so.... :whiner:
Mini
But the other day, I was talking to Buddy's son (14), and we both agreed that we ride pretty fast, and that's why we destroy things on the bikes when we crash. It doesn't usually happen when I go slow on single track so.... :whiner:
Mini
