Why don't the pros run hand guards?

mxrider225
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mxrider225
Edited Date/Time 8/17/2014 5:08am
Wouldn't it help deflect the mud from your gloves?
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Grizz
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Grizz 8/16/2014 11:22am
8/16/2014 11:22am
They are just for rock protection. They would only add weight in a mud race, some guys are running them though.
motomike137
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motomike137 8/16/2014 11:26am
8/16/2014 11:26am
Grizz wrote:
They are just for rock protection. They would only add weight in a mud race, some guys are running them though.
I disagree on the added weight in the mud, they vibrate enough that it gets rattled off and you could stick some foam on them also. Some guys just don't like them though and won't run them except for really rocky races.
Grizz
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Grizz 8/16/2014 11:28am
8/16/2014 11:28am
They are also distracting.

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ML512
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ML512 8/16/2014 11:44am
8/16/2014 11:44am Edited Date/Time 8/16/2014 11:45am
"They make the bike feel like it's turning slower" Ricky Carmichael

A year or two ago when Ricky was in the booth, him and Jeff Emig had a conversation about hand guards. Jeff said he put them on anytime they would help out. Ricky started to say he never ran them because they made the bike feel like it turned slower. Part way through it, Ricky got quieter, like he realized how odd it sounded. Meanwhile, Jeff was chuckling. Laughing
FGR01
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FGR01 8/16/2014 12:01pm
8/16/2014 12:01pm
Grizz wrote:
They are just for rock protection. They would only add weight in a mud race, some guys are running them though.
No way. They help keep mud off your levers, grips, and gloves from roost.
JA946
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JA946 8/16/2014 12:03pm
8/16/2014 12:03pm
I really liked the renthal's that I had on the CRF - I actually will buy another set here soon. They don't hurt or get in the way at all.
jtiger12
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jtiger12 8/16/2014 12:03pm
8/16/2014 12:03pm
I use hand guards all summer long no matter what the track. I use then cause I am cheap. They save your grip ends from tearing on those stupid tip over crashes, and keeps dirt out of the controls. Plus, I think they look dope. Travis pastrami approved
steve_97060
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steve_97060 8/16/2014 12:22pm
8/16/2014 12:22pm Edited Date/Time 8/16/2014 12:23pm
but how do you guys use them without being distracted?
Excracingteam.com 8/16/2014 12:23pm
8/16/2014 12:23pm Edited Date/Time 8/16/2014 12:23pm
jtiger12 wrote:
I use hand guards all summer long no matter what the track. I use then cause I am cheap. They save your grip ends from tearing...
I use hand guards all summer long no matter what the track. I use then cause I am cheap. They save your grip ends from tearing on those stupid tip over crashes, and keeps dirt out of the controls. Plus, I think they look dope. Travis pastrami approved
Handguards wont help your grips in tip-overs.
Must be barkbusters your talking about, and thats just wrong!
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jtiger12 8/16/2014 1:05pm
8/16/2014 1:05pm
They sure do, I can take a couple pictures to prove it too. When you low Side in a corner they fold right up and over the bar ends and the levers. I ride at a really rocky practice track and it happens all the time.
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Racer92 8/16/2014 1:37pm
8/16/2014 1:37pm
Grizz wrote:
They are also distracting.
I cant remember a time when I rode without handguards, you never notice them.

The real question here is why would someone ride WITHOUT protection against rocks and broken fingers?
WeiserGuy
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WeiserGuy 8/16/2014 1:46pm
8/16/2014 1:46pm
I currently run barkbusters with hand guards. When I raced moto I always wore them for one reason. A nasty broken finger courtesy of a rock.
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jtiger12 8/16/2014 1:46pm
8/16/2014 1:46pm
I rode in mud 2 weeks ago. My gloves and grips were clean all day. I will say however, in that amount of mud at Indiana today, nothing is going to keep your gloves and grips free of mud except for an isolation chamber
BobPA
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BobPA 8/16/2014 2:15pm
8/16/2014 2:15pm
I've run run them since I was on minis, I feel weird without them....plus I think they look cool. It's hilly and rock up here in the northeast...shit hurts

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Grizz
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Grizz 8/16/2014 5:49pm
8/16/2014 5:49pm
Grizz wrote:
They are also distracting.
Racer92 wrote:
I cant remember a time when I rode without handguards, you never notice them. The real question here is why would someone ride WITHOUT protection against...
I cant remember a time when I rode without handguards, you never notice them.

The real question here is why would someone ride WITHOUT protection against rocks and broken fingers?
I only use them when rocks are really bad. Otherwise they are distracting to me.



The original post was asking why the pros don't use them, not just normal guys.

GuyB
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GuyB 8/16/2014 5:51pm
8/16/2014 5:51pm
Probably for the same reason many wear minimal protective gear.
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GuyB 8/16/2014 5:52pm
8/16/2014 5:52pm
Grizz wrote:
I only use them when rocks are really bad. Otherwise they are distracting to me. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2014/08/16/62533/s1200_image.jpg[/img] The original post was asking why the pros don't use...
I only use them when rocks are really bad. Otherwise they are distracting to me.



The original post was asking why the pros don't use them, not just normal guys.

Quit looking at your front fender.
Grizz
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Grizz 8/16/2014 5:52pm
8/16/2014 5:52pm
BobPA wrote:
I've run run them since I was on minis, I feel weird without them....plus I think they look cool. It's hilly and rock up here in...
I've run run them since I was on minis, I feel weird without them....plus I think they look cool. It's hilly and rock up here in the northeast...shit hurts
I think they look cool too, but I've never been able to use them long enough to get used to riding with them all the time. But I can confirm that northeast soil hurts like a bitch. I've busted my lip open twice this year! Damn 450's.
Grizz
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Grizz 8/16/2014 5:54pm
8/16/2014 5:54pm
GuyB wrote:
Quit looking at your front fender.
I was ducking roost PinchWink
JM485
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JM485 8/16/2014 5:58pm
8/16/2014 5:58pm
I think we are wrapping bark busters and hand guards into the same package. I don't have an issue with hand guards, I just have never ran them. I have run bark busters before though and I hate them. They make the bars feel rigid, and getting you wrist broken by them is a huge possibility for us hill climbers. If you hand gets caught in them while your bike loops out, things can go bad quickly.
smoothies862
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smoothies862 8/16/2014 7:00pm
8/16/2014 7:00pm
same reason i run a nose guard on all my goggles. rock to nose,rock to knuckle. hand guards or nose guard i dont notice,but bark busters always felt funny when i rode woods. i think canards bike looks better with them.
mmitoptech
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mmitoptech 8/16/2014 7:20pm
8/16/2014 7:20pm
A couple people I've talked to do find them distracting, especially in SX. Mostly California people though.Tongue
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Racer92 8/16/2014 7:46pm
8/16/2014 7:46pm
GuyB wrote:
Probably for the same reason many wear minimal protective gear.
Protective gear hangs on your body, can make you hotter, and limits your mobility at times.

Handguards are part of the bike and dont impede a persons riding at all.
motoarmageddon 8/16/2014 7:57pm
8/16/2014 7:57pm
I don't remember who it was but in a national a few years ago someone had a DNF or had to pull into the pits because their handguard broke and was in the way of the levers or hand or something
#991
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#991 8/16/2014 8:25pm
8/16/2014 8:25pm Edited Date/Time 4/2/2015 12:42pm
jtiger12 wrote:
I use hand guards all summer long no matter what the track. I use then cause I am cheap. They save your grip ends from tearing...
I use hand guards all summer long no matter what the track. I use then cause I am cheap. They save your grip ends from tearing on those stupid tip over crashes, and keeps dirt out of the controls. Plus, I think they look dope. Travis pastrami approved
Excracingteam.com wrote:
Handguards wont help your grips in tip-overs.
Must be barkbusters your talking about, and thats just wrong!
...
Flip109
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Flip109 8/16/2014 8:34pm
8/16/2014 8:34pm
They look retarded, but I don't ride at rocky tracks so... I could def see the need though at unadilla. I remember when kied got a broke finger in 95 or something and it knocked him out of the championship.

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