On Tue, 06 Feb 2007 08:04:00 -0700 Bogdan Swider
writes:
Tom,
If you are asking about metal barkbusters with metal shields may I
suggest you think about it just a little more. I put metal handguard
shields in the same category as wearing a ring when working in the shop.
If either gets squished around a finger or hand it won't be likely to
return to a shape that allows for easy extraction of the damaged part.
I'm thinking metal handguards would really fit well in this category.
I disagree with you on this one, Jeff. I had plastic only Acerbis
busters on my ride when I first got it. I found them to be pretty much
useless. They didn t protect the levers from breaking when the bike went
down. I then bought a set of Moose aluminum guards from our old
listmeister. ( Anyone remember Kurt S.? ) They worked better but they
were a bit small, too close to the levers. They finally were put aside
when they couldn t take bending back anymore. Then I had my machinist
friend fabricate a pair to my specs from aluminum stock, a bit longer and
a rounder/better shape than the Moosies. I put the Moose plastic
deflectors on them; at some point I should clean of the bugs, oh well.
Bogdan
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Bogdan,
It's good to have choices isn't it. : ) The barkbusters I have are
solid aluminum and didn't bend even a little when I highside on the left
side during the GDR in Del Norte,CO. The asphalt did rub a bit of metal
off the left buster. During the De Tour when I dropped the bike on the
right side twice at the fuel station without moving the bike... yeah, I
know, : ) ... the right buster didn't bend either although I did take
Steve's leatherman file to it to remove a couple of nicks. I find I have
plenty of room for my hands even with heavy winter gloves on. The
plastic handguards I'm now trying are the stock guards with a bit of the
inboard end cut off so they fit pretty cleanly over the aluminum
barkbusters. They work pretty good so far at keeping the winter air off
my fingers and I'm hoping they'll also work well keeping me from getting
slapped too much from branches and tree limbs etc.
I just can't see putting a bunch of say 1/8" aluminum sheetmetal on the
buster for brush type guards as if they get bent onto my hands they
probably aren't going to unbend. I'm thinking the plastic will deflect
the offending object enough to do it's job and keep my hand from getting
too damaged.
Best,
Jeff Saline
ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal
Airheads Beemer Club
www.airheads.org
The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota
75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT
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