Hand guards

[ahebron]

What handguards do you have fitted to your R1150GS?
Do they protect the controls on the bike?
Do they protect your hands?

Thanks
Adrian

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

I have the standard BMW ones fitted - seem to protect hands and controls well enough. However, I also fitted the Touratech extra guards that screw into the TOP of the BMW guards - I think they give a little more protection from rain.

I think that fitting guards of any kind will reduce the wind chill effect in the cold PLUS offer more protection in the rain but sooner or later your hands will get cold / wet - they are certainly NOT a miracle solution to wind / rain! Coupled with heated grips, however, your hands will stay warmer for longer in the winter, IMHO.

A decent investment, that I would certainly miss on another bike.

Nick

 

[the_laughing_mole]

Yep, std + touratech extensions on my 1150GS - warmer and dryer.

 

[Hong Kong Nick]

A decent investment, that I would certainly miss on another bike.

Thinking about it, I certainly missed them when I was riding my R1100S BoxerCup!

Which is another of the [few] reasons why that is no longer with me and I dusted off the trusty GS!

Nick

 

[sethmopp]

I fitted the Wunderlich extenders, bigger than TT ones, but not as attractive. I think it makes a bit off difference, but if I still have the bike next winter I'll try a set of muffs.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

BMW ones, protect the levers if the bike is dropped statically, but, I'd say they make your hands colder. My hands have been colder on the GS with handguards than on my other bike with no handguards, I put this down to the aerodynamics and turbulence causing my fingertips to get reaaly cold........................ cured with muffs.

 

[Stewart H]

Barkbusters on mine with Acerbis shields, good protection for the levers, probably rugged in an offroad drop but they are not in the right place to protect hands from the airflow. In the winter I remove the shields and the Tucano Muffs fit over the frames.
Stewart

 

[bisbee]

Bmw ones plus touratw8t extenders warm hands but adds to the wind turbulance I think overall still a plus when it's cold

 

[denny]

Are the standard guards reinforced? I'm considering getting some Barkbusters to save the levers in a drop if they don't.

 

[gabriel_gs]

+1 for stock hand-guards with TT extenders on my last GS

Haven't felt compelled to buy a pair for my current GS though... perhaps that says something


And no, the stock ones are just plastic.

 

[warmshed]

I think they look right on the bike. I find they make the heated grips more efficient, the heat is blown away without them. So I am in favour of them. In the summer the hands can get too warm, I bought some GS summer gloves with air scoops in then, very effective in keeping hands cool. I have not fitted extenders yet, waiting for a set to come along cheap!

 

[Timolgra]

Are the standard guards reinforced? I'm considering getting some Barkbusters to save the levers in a drop if they don't.

The standard ones give a suprising amount of protection. I've never broken a lever on a GS!
I picked up a pair of cheap, 2nd hand TT ones, they're just plastic Acerbis and probably not as good as standard...tip, drill a small hole in the bottom of the standard guards to drain the water out

It's a heavy bike, if you fit alloy reinforced ones they'll bend when dropped and they're difficult to straighten without some decent tools....like a vice and big hammer!

 

[denny]

It's a heavy bike, if you fit alloy reinforced ones they'll bend when dropped and they're difficult to straighten without some decent tools....like a vice and big hammer!

I would have thought that they were made to stand up to minor accidents, probably wrong?

Bike looks awesome btw :cool