I agree! The bike feels completly different with out them. It's really weird, but we will see. I will have to take a few rides with them on and take them off again and just compair till I find what's comfy

In the summer I love the freedom of nothing there.  When it is colder I really like having something in front of my hands.

I think that if I'm going to go over the handlebars, I wont be holding on-whats the point ...
They've saved my fingers from countless tree's and also rocks that get kicked up on the road.

Yeah I sure as he'll won't be hanging on to feel the crunch

i say get em on before you regret not getting em on
just like rad guards case guards or mcct

Protection is key but at what cost? How about another argument? Would you say they make this drz less aerodinamic to the point of bad handling?

707drz said:

Absolutely not. I couldn't feel a difference in handling before vs. after installing the guards, and I've used two different style shield.

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well when my wife gets home today and takes the curtain climbing rug rats i'll put'em back on and go for a test ride through traffic and test the possible threats.

Hey 707,

I believe any amount of protection you can put on these bikes is a good thing. One guy from TT was on a ride with us, had an unfortunate spill (D208 related) and he wasn't running handguards on his bike. His bike sustained a bit of damage to the throttle/cable housing. Almost enough to the point where he couldn't ride it home. I can't say for sure, but I think if he had handguards installed, they would have protected it quite a bit more. He was able to ride it home, but he had to be wary of throttle control since he had to manually return the throttle the whole ride home. I run them on my bike, and I ride 100% street. Put them back on and don't think twice about it.



PS plus if you're splitting lanes they provide VERY good rear view mirror protection, please don't ask how I know

I think they are worth it for the small pebble/insect protection alone.  I only ride my SM on the street, and my fingers got smacked a few times before I put the Zetas on.  I wouldn't ride without them now.  

Plus if you paint them black,they look bitchin'!

(shameless reference to my bike)

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damn!........good point i never really thought about the throttle and all that. that kind of opened my eyes. thanks a ton

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first off they are black and come on, you know yellow is the fastest!!!!!!LOL!

i only ride street as well (for now, i want to ride some trails)
my hand guards saved my ass here is the story:

i was lane sharing to a red light, plenty of room on both sides. cars were moving around 10-15 mph slowing down and i was movin around 25 mph. some guy decided he wanted to try and run me over when i was next to him so he swerved at me. i accelerated and clipped his mirror with my handguard HARD. it jerked my bars and sent me into an INTENSE head shake style situation. somehow managed to slow down and not eat shit. i realize im still alive and look behind at the car, who's mirror is now laying on the ground.

Are you serious?  I just read through this thread and I don't mean to be a punk but if your scared of handguards keep them off, if you want protection for the other 99.9% of the time when what you saw in the video won't happen then run them as everyone else does.  I can think of many reasons to run handguards, even on the street.  As someone else mentioned, if you haven't smashed your fingers before in a low side by the levers or other objects or had your hand smashed by an object then I could see your arguement, how would you ever get in the same situation as the guy in the video anyways? I'm serious though, I've never seen so much input over something so minor....and again if your scared of handguards because of a video you saw then don't run them and count your blessings that what you saw in the video, will never happen to you!

Minor?! Nothing minor about someones thoughts. It was a thought I have benn having and needed input. Thanks everyone. Twinjet made a point earlier and they coming on soon

I meant minor as in small.  It's a huge debate over a minor item.  Actually im sorry it's not a debate, since no one suggested to leave them off for your safety, unless I missed a post.  I just meant, I would consider a question over which tires to use for specific riding conditions, or safety gear, or even torque specs on vital bike parts.  I would do as you said, put them on and rip it up!  If it was more of an issue we would hear more about it here and since the woods/desert guys run them offroad too, I think they would have more of a problem with the whoops, hills, rough terrain etc.  I actually think I saw the video you're referring to a while back, and it was nasty and hooked horrible.  I just never thought I would take off my handguards after seeing that, anyways get them on and don't look back.  I have had nothing but saved broken fingers/levers/damage using them so I think you'll only see positives in the long run!

Okay well I would say my issue was more of a second thought and wanted to see what all yal thought about it. I thank you all for all the feed back good and bad. And you never know it could be an issue that no one brings up.

707drz said:

Ya, I guess your right, it could happen.....lets just hope not, cause damn....it would hurt.  Did you ever find the link? I searched and I couldn't find it, I guess I never saved it.

Yeah I might happen but not likley. I searched for a long time and could not find anything. I'll have to search smj and see what I can find

Alright, I'll put my handguards $.02 into this.

Pros:

1. Keeps the wind off my hands, especially in the winter.
2. Keeps the vibration down, especially with the Cycra triple-side/front mount.
3. Protects levers, handlebar, hands, etc., etc., in case of a fall.
4. Makes you look like you might know what you're doing. Or, maybe not since you're running handguards, others might think you crash a lot.

Cons:

1. Adds weight to your bike. I know some of you are really concern about weight of you DR-Z. Feels a little bulky when 1st installed, but you get used to it.

Speaking of handguards,.......

Mine are For Sale if anyone's interested. I'm moving on to my next set of handguards to tryout.

Acerbis Multiconcept/Multiplo/Race/Supermoto handguards. $110 shipped, includes "yellow" & "aluminum" shields, supermoto sliders, Cycra side-triple mount w/ longer bolts. However, it "does not" include bar end mounts. Get them before they get thrashed on the next scheduled track day event. Handguards are in superb condition.