In the last decade, the dirtbike world has gone bananas for hard enduro. Whether you’re a fan of the tortoise racing or not there’s a good chance you’ve watched a highlight of someone cartwheeling down a hill.
The aftermarket parts suppliers must be loving it. Protection bits like the Acerbis K-Future Handguards we have on our GASGAS VIP Experience bikes are essential if you want to finish a hard enduro with your levers intact. While we aren’t exactly tackling Erzberg on our rides, we are taking on some pretty gnarly stuff and some bikes are getting cartwheeled, just watch our videos.
WE RATE:
TOUGH
This is pretty much the only thing that matters with a set of handguards and we can confirm they are super tough. After four VIP Experience rides with Grabbo, we haven’t broken a single lever on any of the ten customer bikes.
LOOKS
Full wrap around handguards used to look awful, like someone had just strapped a plastic bin to your bike. The Acerbis guards are sleek and sexy.
DURABLE
While the guards have done a great job at protecting levers and digits they are also looking pretty fresh too. The white in the plastic is looking a little tired so maybe go for a colour version.
BULK
I’m used to full, wrap-around guards feeling bulky on the handlebar but these felt simmer than what I remember the old ones used to.
WE DON’T RATE:
FITMENT
Fitting these wrap around guards means you have to cut the end off of the lock-on grip of your Austrian machine. The nut that slides down the inside of the bar can also get stuck.
THE VERDICT
I’m personally more of a motocross-style handguard guy because I was put off by the bulk hanging off my handlebar and I reckon I broke a wrist once when my hand fell between them in a crash but these handguards have brought me back round. They’re tough, durable, incredibly good at protecting levers and digits, and feel surprisingly slim.
GET IT HERE
BILL
$84.95
BROWSER
BLOWER
1300 721 701