AVS Racing Handguards - Review

Jan 19, 2017 at 12:44
by Paul Aston  
AVS Racing handguards - Review



AVS Racing is the brainchild of Arnaud Vincent, who hails from the south of France, arguably the home of mountain bike enduro racing. Vincent is a French and World Championship winning motorcycle track racer and keen mountain biker. He suffered a crash in 2014 due to a tree branch grabbing his brake lever, leaving him wondering why mountain bikes don't use handguards that are usually factory-fitted on motorcycles.

AVS Racing Handguard Details

• Alloy mounting arms available in 7x anodized colors
• Injection molded guards available in 12x colors
• Total Weight: 112 grams (actual) per pair
• Various graphic kits
• MSRP: €55 / $57.50 USD (approx.)
• avs-racing.com
For the eagle-eyed amongst you, AVS handguards have been spotted on the pro bikes of Nicolas Vouilloz, Nico Queré and even Sam Hill on the EWS circuit. The guards are available to buy direct online and at some dealers, with multiple colors and graphic kits for €55 / $57.50 USD (approx.)


AVS Racing handguards - Review

Installation

Fitting the guards is simple, with a 3mm hex bolt to affix the mounting arm, and a 4mm hex to attach the guard. The single bolt arm does require removing the grips, so it's not as handy and quick as a dual clamp system like we find on most modern brake levers.

The guards do take up extra space on the handlebars, and if your cockpit is already cramped with controls, or you set your brake levers very close to the grips, finding enough space for the guards could be difficult. The mounting arm is 10mm wide, narrower than most brake and shifter clamps.


AVS Racing handguards - Review


Performance

The guards are flexible to some extent, but the mounting arms are very strong, good for glancing off big blows, but I do have some reservations about attaching such sturdy leverage to carbon handlebars.

Once installed, hopping on the bike for the first time the guards gave me a slight sense of claustrophobia, and I wasn't entirely sold on the unwieldy appearance. As time went on I became used to them and they become less noticeable. Where they do become apparent is when you start riding close to bushes, brambles and branches at the side of the trail; you can ward things off and the awkward, puckering moments found in these situations are reduced. I also found myself taking more risky lines that would normally have resulted in scuffed knuckles, only to emerge without a scratch.

Who are these for? For racers, they provide a little extra peace of mind by protecting your hands, brake levers and controls in the event of a crash. The guards are also handy for people who ride in places where spiky bushes and brambles start to take over summer trails. They also could help to save you from the dreaded 'mountain bike finger,' the fairly common ailment that leaves riders with wonky little digits for the rest of their lives.


Pinkbike's Take
bigquotesIf you can handle the look, and your friends poking fun at you for being sooo moto, the AVS guards can add protection and give peace of mind. - Paul Aston

Visit the high-res gallery for more images.


Author Info:
astonmtb avatar

Member since Aug 23, 2009
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265 Comments
  • 951 13
 Do they have the option to come with mirrors so you can see your buddies laughing behind your back?
  • 65 257
flag conv3rt (Jan 23, 2017 at 21:09) (Below Threshold)
 if they're laughing behind your back then they're probably not "buddies"
  • 384 9
 Buddies don't let buddies use these in the first place
  • 65 8
 If theyre behind you then give them the bird and drop their asses on the descent
  • 67 3
 they will always be in behind because all of those branches...
  • 98 3
 Really buddies laugh to your face
  • 68 3
 that's assuming your buddies will ride with you after getting them lol
  • 66 3
 What are these Buddies you speak of, and are these guards compatible with my Onza bar ends?
  • 42 0
 Can't wait for my buddy's to see these and my sick mullet flowing out of my helmet
  • 6 1
 Nek minute
m.vitalmx.com/photos/features/Vital-MX-Pit-Bits-RedBud,38878/Ben-LaMay,93573/GuyB,64
  • 13 1
 @velociraptor-clintthrust: now THAT is ugly!!
  • 6 0
 @therealtylerdurden: hopefully they don't adapt it for bicycles!
  • 5 3
 @velociraptor-clintthrust: No kidding!! I think these AVS handguards are pretty cool. Seems silly not being on a moto, but still pretty cool. But man, the ones in that link? HELL no!!
  • 15 0
 Sam Hill is runing them so I'm sure they'll end up on a few people's bikes.
  • 12 2
 @endlessblockades: are these buddies compatible with my current 26" rig
  • 2 4
 Savage lvl 1000
  • 38 0
 These will look so sweet with my number plate I keep on all year long...
  • 11 1
 @conv3rt: Im not your buddy, friend!
  • 3 0
 @weebleswobbles: yeah but they'll make you hands look big with the small wheels.
  • 3 0
 They are working very well on occasion like a mass start race (MegaValanche).
  • 4 0
 @KiwiXC: that's awesome because I have really small hands.like in the burger King commercials
  • 2 0
 But if they are laughing behind your back, they're already too slow...
  • 7 1
 @bowman86: I'm not yo friend, guy!
  • 6 0
 @syurkonis1023: I'm not yo guy, friend!
  • 2 1
 @bowman86: listen chief
  • 31 3
 @conv3rt: how'd this get so neg propped? and whats wrong with these things? looks aside they make sense. I have wacked my hands so many times I cant count. And when does getting gnarly stop becoming such a fashion show. If you don't need em" then don't use em" if you think they will save your hands from grief then try em" good heavens. Facepalm
  • 2 0
 @meesterover Comment of the year!
  • 5 0
 And then there are windshields..
  • 2 0
 @talaskinos:

ca.images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A86.J7yMu4dYIiQAoD8XFwx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsOXB2YTRjBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkAw--?_adv_prop=image&fr=yhs-lvs-awc&va=bicycle+windscreen&hspart=lvs&hsimp=yhs-awc


bicycle windscreens are a thing! just market towards enduro and we good bro
  • 5 0
 @sterlingmagnum: I dunno. I'm not for or against the guards. I used them all the time on moto in the woods more to save my controls from damage but hand protection was a huge plus too. To be honest the trail maintenance around here is good enough that I'm not brushing bars enough to consider them. My comment was more about not listening to peer criticism over your own choices. But hey, this is the internet...furthermore Pinkbike. One is simply a leaf on the wind in this place. moving on...
  • 2 0
 I'd they are behind you they are losing....lol
  • 2 0
 @conv3rt: Yep interwebz
  • 2 0
 @conv3rt: i'm not your friend buddy!

Hahahaha nice one guys
  • 163 7
 Chuck Norris doesn't use Hand Guards, Trees use Chuck Norris Guards.
  • 9 28
flag Tmackstab (Jan 23, 2017 at 21:17) (Below Threshold)
 Chuck Norris's beard grew Chuck Norris
  • 9 35
flag Fullblitz (Jan 23, 2017 at 22:11) (Below Threshold)
 Who is Chuck Norris ?....

Wink
  • 7 1
 Chuck doesn't even blend
  • 82 1
 Chuck Norris can pop a wheelie, Riding a unicycle.
  • 6 0
 @Fullblitz: I know who put that smiley at the end of the message. And it was not Fullblitz
  • 4 12
flag Tanglefist (Jan 24, 2017 at 2:45) (Below Threshold)
 Chuck Norris though Obama was the harbinger of Satan; www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ud3pK5Wa90
  • 4 3
 @Tmackstab: Why would anyone down vote a Chuck Norris fact. Democrats? Marchers? Why?
  • 4 2
 @bizutch: Right?! I was just stating facts geez.
  • 1 0
 @Tanglefist: Reading into that video much are we?
  • 2 0
 Chuck norris for president
  • 6 4
 Chuck Norris once had sex in the back of a semi trailer, some of his sperm escaped and got into the engine. We now know this truck as Optimus Prime
  • 126 11
 Let's just blame E-Bikes for this travesty.
  • 33 11
 ...then for Oil drilling on Rampage site, Morgellons and Invasion of Crimea
  • 17 4
 I blame ebikes for everything. Including the 29er epidemic
  • 6 20
flag torero (Jan 24, 2017 at 6:30) (Below Threshold)
 Dear Wacek, Crimea is Russia.
  • 1 4
 @torero: I stand corrected!
  • 109 15
 I can think of several other things that all of you critics don't need:

1.) That 160mm of travel that you never use.
2.) Maxxis Minions that have never seen real trails.
3.) Those rad goggles you bought.
4.) Those TLD clown pajamas.

If you've ridden hard enough in close quarters then you'd know these have their time and place, even if they look goofy.
  • 22 12
 Rad goggles and TLD clown pajamas looks good at least.
  • 22 1
 @zalev24: that's a matter of opinion!
  • 4 14
flag WAKIdesigns (Jan 24, 2017 at 3:26) (Below Threshold)
 @jaame: I'd say it has to do with chemical composure of compunded flatuosity coming into the blood stream through large intestant and reaching brain cells.
  • 6 1
 big facts @MasterSlater
  • 10 2
 Who buys Minions and doesn't ride trails?
  • 13 6
 @Pedro404: I've seen more people riding trails on long travel bikes with semi-slicks when they should have been riding Minions, than the other way around Big Grin
  • 5 1
 i get your point. and i have been riding in tight areas very close to trees, but i still don't get the point of these. IF you ride hard enough (so you said) they wouldn't make a differnce, because they would just smash
  • 2 3
 The close-quarters trails I've ridden would have ripped these off after about 100 yards.
  • 11 1
 @leopaul: just put the segment on Strava, hype it on the local forum, say it will be on the next local Enduro competition and within 2 months there will be a new line around tight spot between the trees or someone will cut down one of them...
  • 8 1
 i can see these taking off like tall socks, fanny packs and helmet visors.
  • 1 0
 @racerfacer: and fenders
  • 1 1
 lol ^ the truth, saw a guy at my local cross country trail on a 200mm bike, asked him if he though it was overkill? He replied I ride these trails all the time.
  • 36 0
 Much more interesting are the brakes (Trickstuff Direttissima) and eben more the AWK on the Lyrik!!!

Will you guys make a review?

I have an AWK in my Pike, and boy!! This is a game changer!!!
  • 9 0
 This this this
  • 6 0
 Start things off with your own brief review of the AWK if you don't mind. I'd be interested to know more about how it affects the spring curve, ease of installation and value for money.
  • 13 0
 Almost overlooked that, you're right. Cool stuff. But I have serious concerns, that PB gets that done properly. They couldn`t get anything amazing out of the IRT, which is very odd. And lately they did not even fiddle with the ratios of the RFX 34 dual pos air chamber, which can be run AWK style as well (ratio of 2 betw. main/bottom out), but not even a mention of that possibility. They described it as a plain bottom out feature. Meh. Moar tech...
  • 12 0
 @SiSandro: I have one. I have always struggled with getting the progression I need from my Pike, and the traction I want via sag. I always ran my fork with 4 tokens in, but this gave me a big spike midway through my travel. The problem is, I'm only 60kg, so I couldn't get the right spring rate to have the right sag and progression for me. I had my fork tuned by a local wc mechanic, it made a large difference. The charger damper had a shim stack tune, and he increased negative air, which in turn reduces the size of the positive chamber. This all helped but it still wasnt what I wanted. Since putting an awk in, I can run 10 psi more in my positive chamber and achieve 25% sag. It takes 5 minutes to fit and has been an absolute revelation for me in terms of support under braking, and the general diving into oblivion my Pike always seemed to do. Hope this is useful.
  • 1 0
 @sicmoto: Awesome, thanks.
  • 32 4
 I don't see the point, 'Flappy' hand guards are to protect against roost, which isn't a worry MTBing... If you hit a tree with these guards, it's still going to smash into your hands and brake levers....
  • 32 1
 These would actually be really nice where I ride. There's a ton of manzanita and other pokey bushes that aren't super compatible with wide bars. That being said, I'd rather put streamers on my bars than these things.
  • 7 4
 Scotch thistle are out and other spiny stuff here in Canberra. I would use these if the clamp was split so I didn't to take the grips off.
  • 13 1
 I am all over this idea. I think its great. As someone who broke his hand clipping a tree at the start of summer and ending my riding for months, its got potential. Also where I ride, the gorse is so tough in summer that I have permanent splinters that only welders gloves can stop. I can overcome the looks. Just like I did for my mash guards and judging by the usual hate, reverb posts. People used to laugh at me for running 1x8 in the 90's.......
  • 7 2
 @ilovedust: yea people act like 1x is the new shit, we've been riding 1x drivetrain since the dawn of freeride
  • 2 0
 I wouldn't put them on my mountain bike, but I quite fancy a pair for my scooter to get me through winter in a bit less discomfort.
  • 2 1
 @ilovedust: you love dust. dont know what dust is down your ways but up north it stinks of petrol and blows your head off
  • 2 1
 Should have 2 point of attachment like proper moto guards.

www.acerbis.com/prodotti.php?idpr=4

goo.gl/images/tmu4Zr
  • 3 0
 @iamamodel: +1 for split clamp
I run esi grips and its not like they are coming off anytime soon
  • 31 2
 The eighties called, they want whatever the F these were called, back then, back
  • 2 0
 Over here we have an Autospares shop called Halfords, it's a bit of a joke in the cycling world due to the crap bikes they sell. Well I remember them selling these back in the early to mid nineties, classic stuff that didn't really have a point back then!
  • 3 1
 @pimpin-gimp: It's not so much the shit bikes as some of them are OKish before the clueless and incompetent workshop staff get near them.
  • 2 1
 @pimpin-gimp: Last time I went in a Halfords bikehut (don't hate - to pick up a cycle2work bike), I'm sure I saw kids bikes with these things. They belong on them, along with stabilisers and tassles.
  • 24 1
 For those saying this is useless, it's pretty obvious you only ride on trimmed trails. I find my self very often going down trails who have never seen anykind of vegetation trim (portuguese land owners everyone), and to pleasure every bike rider here, the only thing that grows are some sort of spiked bushes. It would not be the first time I've had a spike right on my fingers joints, which not only hurts as hell, but often limits my finger movement to the minimum for about a week.

If it looks stupid but it works, it ain't stupid...
  • 2 0
 I have them installed in my bike after a stupid and drunk cactus hit my hand. a month without riding my bike due to the spines and today after 4 months my hand still swells from time to time.
  • 3 0
 @Tocomotion: Pay some attention to that and whenever it swells, apply ice.
If the sintoms persist, you may want a doctor to check if you don't have any damaged nerves.
  • 21 0
 Where I live and ride,with the amount of gorse (sharp pointy horrible plants) that gets stuck in my knuckles, I'd be very tempted to want to try these. And no, armoured gloves don't protect against the thorns, they always find a way through.
  • 3 0
 Man, fark gorse. You ride at Riverhead? Would rock a pair of these, I don't care how foolish I may appear of they save my knuckles from gorse-rash.
  • 2 0
 @DownhillDoozy: I'm in Northland, where the gorse is absolutely everywhere. After every ride I'm picking the crap out of my legs and arms.
  • 14 0
 That bottle cage on the bottom of that down tube just makes me think of your buddies Retriever that sits in front of you and has his lipstick hanging out ready to hump whatever he can wrap his paws around. I do believe that's a Pole. No?
  • 7 0
 You made me look! Now I can't unsee it. I also have a Labrador like that, less humping, just gets the lipstick out for visitors.
  • 1 0
 Says Pole on the headtube in the second pic.
  • 14 1
 Future European eBay ad: Used Cube XC HT w day loud graphics, suspension lock on narrow HBs, bell, 3x12 eagle, GPS with LCD screen, carbon seat post, bright colour saddle, shwalbes with white outer tred, crud catcher front and rear, cat eyes, and AVS hand guards. Free lycra shorts. €Unrealistic
  • 8 0
 @Paulaston : Ey Paul, how do you like that Pole ?
Cant wait to see the comments on that review !
ps : I dig the guards, my pinky fingers who appreciate them ! so i can drink coffee Pinkbikecommentersstyle.
  • 4 0
 The Pole is what caught my eye. @paulaston And idea when the review will be out?
  • 2 0
 @fartymarty: www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain-bikes/full-suspension/product/pole-evolink-140-review-50854
  • 2 0
 That beautiful Pole (yeah, I've got one Wink ) seems to have head angle adjust headset installed so it is -2 degree moar slack than stock!!!

Must be a proper point 'n shoot bike now!
  • 2 0
 @AlexS1: seen it and Seb Scotts reviews.
  • 1 0
 Sorry that was the one. He also did one testing plus tyres on the 140
  • 5 0
 I believe this will be helpful. Not the most beautiful thing I ever saw but.... I broke my right hand little finger twice, so... I'll give it a try!!

As for the friends laughing? Well, I already give them plenty of reasons to laugh at me so... what is a fart for someone who is already shat?
  • 5 0
 Acerbis made and marketed these type of handguards for MTBs way back in the late eighties. They made them for each specific brake lever in the Shimano ( and other brands) range..

The various 'flag type' handguards that many companies make, have been around now for decades, and easily usable on an MTBs - this AVS product is nothing new, just a tiny sizing. Go to any Acerbis - UFO, Cernics and many more catalogues, and you'll find all sorts of variations / models of the 'flag type' handguard..

Sam used Acerbis Rally Brush Guards, at the first World Junior Championships he won (or got 2nd?) in Spain. Along with 24" wheels, and his enormous derailleur guards he and his Dad (I think) made.

I regularly use a few different types of Acerbis 'flag type' guards on my MTBs - it sure as hell is better than eating it from brakes being pulled on by branches / trees, vines, and damaging levers etc. As I ride motorcycles with full Bark Busters, I feel near naked without lever / hand protection
  • 7 0
 once you get a few yucca thorns shoved under your finger nails, you might want to consider these.
  • 1 0
 I had a mesquite thorn go completely through my middle finger once.
  • 4 0
 I've got a set. Obviously all you guys are taking the pussy lines so you don't need these. Personally I don't want any more titanium in my hands thanks. Usually it isn't the big ass trees you hit it's the little bullshit saplings you hit cause you can barely see them at speed. They are small but they'll still snap a finger. These guards work. I've tested them out.
  • 9 3
 Maybe if you ride only through tight trails... Otherwise seems like a gimmick in place of innovation. It feels like mtb technology has peaked and this is what we get now.
  • 5 3
 smash your knuckles and suck it up. or wear carbon knuckle gloves. i only ride tight trails and i'd never buy these.
  • 2 1
 @KyleIsaman: hell yeah , i agree
  • 2 0
 Some people don't get to ride very wide trails. Some of us live in areas where we only get tight trails which are usually overgrown. And these handguards are great in these circumstances. Riding with them makes it all much more pleasurable, faster and safer.
  • 3 0
 I ride tight trails. Might consider buying these... Nevermind, I use 710 mm handlebar.
  • 1 0
 @dh-bomber: Me three, "I like my Wonky Little Digits" those things won't make them straight again anyway.
  • 3 0
 This is perfect! I've had two serious concussions in the last year from hooking trees with the ends of my grips. I raced off-road motorcycles for years and bounced off trees so often I wore through handguards. I'm ordering a set.
  • 4 1
 I don't know about you but when i bail (which is never obviously.....) I tend to not still be holding the bars and sacrifice the bike to the Almighty bail gods. The guards would only help prevent scratches to the brake levers. Which as we all know are the sure sign that you push it to the limit!
  • 1 0
 Well it's really fun when you get brush slamming your font brake hard when going over roots and rocks at stupid speeds. These things are high on my want list after some very sketchy moments of locked front wheel due to brush.
  • 6 0
 I'm usually death gripping the brakes so hard I couldn't feel anything hit my hands, so I'm good.
  • 3 0
 I have this item on my bike, the thing is, it's not mandatory to have them, but it's useful. In the south east of france, with all the bushes and everything, it's really good to have them. It's easy to understand why Arnaud Vincent invented them.
  • 3 0
 They look like sh#t but I could definitely use them. I have had a few bush/bar/brake crashes and my right hand pinky already has the dreaded MTB finger. Maybe they could make the guard part a tad less obtrusive to please the style police?
  • 3 0
 I'm IN! All you nay sayers must never ride on over grown and tight trails with trees that smack your hands and weeds that grab your brake. I run them on my moto and will run them on my mtb. If you don't like them or want them, quit wasting your small time spent on this earth voicing your negativity and caring so much about how other people are going to look.
  • 7 2
 Sam Hill uses them, thus, as a self-professed Sam Hill-fanboy, I must deem them cool.
  • 3 1
 Perfect for those slightly overgrown inside lines...
  • 5 1
 the last time such guards were popular on mountain bikes, there was still a dual slalom series at the worlds (and clipping gate poles was a real danger).
  • 5 0
 These are on the wrong type of enduro bike, they should be on a Honda XR from the late80s
  • 2 0
 I was going to order some from AVS but the language barrier to to setting up a paypal transaction proved to be too much
I ended up order some similar Acerbis moto guards from motorsports.com for like $40 and they worked great

www.motosport.com/acerbis-uniko-mx-vented-handguards
  • 2 0
 I run them on my Moto... they work, protect against roost and haven't broken when kissed the dirt... For MTB, if anything a 'barkbuster' type would be better, unless you go over the bars and snap your wrists...
  • 2 0
 Many of you may be missing the more important performance aspect to these which is protecting yourself from unwanted brake lever application when riding on trails lined with tall brush. There are many trails here on the Central Coast that have hedges left and right. Lean too far on a particular corner and you might find that your brakes get applied all on their own causing a crash. The advent of wider handlebars has certainly made this more common.
  • 2 0
 OK I'm out, but behind all the sniping there is one guy with a vision trying to cut a living with these things and his idea to protect the brake lever from being snagged. Some may even like the moto look....
I'm probably nuts but felt sorry for him at his stand at megavalanche trying to sell them with custom graphics. Weren't many takers. But do we all want to look the same? Sram, spesh, and shimano?
  • 2 0
 Back during my moto days, people would install ones that connected from the bar and went completely around your hand into the bar end. That design, because it had no give, broke a lot of riders' wrists and probably was responsible for a ton of mangled bars. There were ones that mimicked what is above and they were the best. I may have missed it but the reason moto guys used a them is to help on outdoor tracks with rocks and mud from other rider's roost. The same reason they wore chest protectors. I strongly feel that these hand guards have use but it seems pretty limited from my perspective.

I do thoroughly enjoy articles like these. I may initially write the product off as being too this or that but then I catch myself a year later searching PB looking for it because I have a "need."
  • 3 0
 I used to run those wrap around aluminum ones so that my levers would last longer since I crashed so much.
  • 2 0
 For east coast enduro (with motor) or hare scramble racing, the wraparound kinds are functionally mandatory. A favorite trick of course layer-outers is to send you through stands of saplings that are closer together than your handlebars are wide...
  • 3 0
 Small Bar ends would do the job, especially for crushed fingers on trees. Oops, sorry the fashion Police is just around the corner...
  • 3 0
 Do these also come with a playing card for the spokes to add to that "it's not a dirt bike, but I wish it was one!" mentality?
  • 1 0
 At first I was doubtfult about them, right now i find them nice looking and really useful. Maybe not for someone riding just pretty cool bikepark tracks; but ideal to go into wild forests. Also, for those who pedal uphill they can occasionally be used as a sort of bar ends(!). Recommend
  • 3 0
 I remember the plastic ones from the early 90s. The Acerbis ones attached the same way. They used to advertise in MountainBike Action
  • 1 0
 I think we are at a time when innovations and developments on mtn bikes has plateaued... are they are running out of ideas? I've seen one guy riding a unicycle on my local trails... Maybe manufacturers should focus on that... How about it... Trek, Giant, Specialized etc?
  • 1 0
 That's not that new. I've been riding a mountain unicycle (MUni) for nearly a decade now. I'm surprised there aren't more people riding those actually. Very accessible, easy, safe and relatively cheap. Especially if you include maintenance in the equation. Mine is from the Kris Holm brand (from the unicycle equivalent of Hans Rey and Gary Fisher in one). The only bicycle brand I know of that has been producing mountain unicycles is Surly, with their Conundrum mountain unicycle. Then again it took a while for the rest of the industry to pick up these fat bikes (Surly has had the Pugsley for quite a while) so chances are bicycle brands will pick up unicycling eventually. If they'd even bother to get into that market.
  • 1 0
 They'd soon find a way to flood the market with Boost+ forward-geometry carbon MUnicycles that will cost $8000 but still manage to make sure they're the 'must have' thing...
  • 2 0
 29er fluor 6k$ carbon bike. Check
Met parachute. Check
Fluor pijama with fake sponsors printed on it. Check
Now i just need those handguards and i'm ready for avoid jumps and some rad skids
  • 1 0
 Back in the NORBA dual slalom gate bashing days @brianlopes or Eric Pinson rigged up a set of bar ends with a fishing pole strapped across them to bash gates with. That would make more sense to me...and look angry as Fook!!! @stikmanglaspell was it you that did that for Lopes? So awesome.
  • 4 0
 i did not get them for my bike...I just clamp them on my wrists and walk around punching things.
  • 1 0
 Sorry I can only upvote once. You made me laugh worth at least 25 props!!
  • 1 0
 Some genuine bark busters like on moto enduro bikes where the aluminium protection covers the hand and controls would serve a purpose if you really wanted to take some chances threading through trees. MX style roost guards when there is no roost seems to limit their use.
  • 1 0
 “...but I do have some reservations about attaching such sturdy leverage to carbon handlebars.”

My thought exactly. Maybe if the mount was made of a flexible material with a wider base but that much leverage forced into an ‘edge’ on the bar is asking for trouble.

But, these would have saved my knuckles on more than one occasion.
  • 2 0
 I run these with a carbon bar. I had the exact same hesitation, but end of the day my carbon bar cost me $200. When I broke my hand again last year it cost me over $2000 in surgery/rehab bills not to mention the cost of having to take time off work - and that's with medical insurance.

Like I mentioned in my previous post these protect you from the little saplings that often litter un-groomed trails. Do they look lame - sure/maybe/who the f*ck cares. I'd rather not have to loose money or time spend 3 months off my bike because I was too concerned with not looking "cool"
  • 1 0
 @klizman: For the record, my comment didn’t mention how they look at all. Not my concern.

And as a musician, I can relate to losing money (a couple thousand in gigs) because of a broken hand, although these wouldn’t have saved me in that particular crash.

Good point about cost to hand injury vs carbon bar cost benefit ratio. I think my biggest concern would be people thinking their carbon bar is fine with repeated hits and hard to spot carbon damage. If the damage grew unnoticed you’re looking at a nasty crash if the bar were to fail unsuspectedly.
  • 1 0
 Nice, been looking at the Moto brands after seeing a rider run these a couple of years ago. Not only for the brake grabbing, but nettles and big arse glove piercing thorns. If you've ever been stabbed in the knuckle with one and had your hand slowly swell all day as a result..makes sense. Moto ones always seemed too heavy, mostly due to the double clamp and support bar, I wouldn't really trust these to prevent brake clipping but the thorns can kiss it. And looks a bit better than blue Peter style beverage bottles.
  • 1 0
 I fell from a drop and got the handlebar in the liver. I wouldn´t want a broken piece of that hand guard in me. Like the plastic SDG rail sadles. Brutal cuts.

But I've always wondered why there aren't any hand guards for the cold wind on the hands?
  • 1 0
 If you drop all the fashion out of it, they make sense for a number of riders out there. I won't ever use them- I don't feel like the problems these prevent are much of an issue for me (nor do I race), but if they were, it seems like a good idea.

The price though... woof.
  • 1 0
 At 800mm. I tend to hit a lot of things with my bars. I meant to cut them down but got use to the width. Now, Im afraid to shorten them. Also coming from an MX, Supermoto, and some flat track background. I'd feel right at home with these. But I can see how the cool kids would chose to not rock them since they take some getting use to. Which brings me to another point. In the dirt bike realms. Folding levers or rotating clamps are a must if you're not using hand guards. I notice MTB doesn't subscribe to that notion. Has anyone ever bent or broken a blade?
  • 2 1
 In the write up it says some guy crashed "due to a tree branch grabbing his brake lever". I'm sorry but that is very rarely going to happen with such small brake lever (compared to motorbikes).

In the event that you did run into a tree or rock, I definitely would not want that plastic breaking and cutting into my hand.

The creators of this product are more interested in your MONEY than your SAFETY!!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 I've always thought these could possibly be a good idea at times. I ride a lot of tight trails and with 785mm bars, I'm slamming my hands all the time. These may help. But i come from moto, so what do I know. These aren't that big of a deal to stir up so much PB controversy.
  • 1 0
 These are perfect for keeping your bike bell out of sight...ding, ding! Don't know that a set of these would have made any difference in my bars vs trees crashes, just one more layer of material compressing the hand bones. My hands are so jacked from all of life's various damage that when I wave it looks like the Crypt Keeper jerking off. Too late for me.
  • 1 0
 WUT no matchmaker compatibility, i wanted them to clamp to my reverb post and rear shifter.
Also i though it would be compatible with shimano/ magura brakes, clamped in lever reach adjustment. With my garmin and all of these, my cockpit looks lika a f*ckin nasa spaceseship control panel.
We must get rid of these handlebar-mounted whatever. Brakeless, singlespeed enduro bike is a future of mountain biking. We must simplify thing, or go even further in high tech, mountain brakes, that automatically pushes the main piston of brakes and of course, automatic shifting depending on cadence and speed, self-adjusting suspension, gps and all mounted into handlebar- there's so much space, that we don't even use, and a stem built-in screen, that gives us all info about speed, brakes, position, and other things, able to customize (full hd connected to smartwatch). All fingers on handlebar, just point and shoot.
Just complainin' bout all those things bolted to handlebar on moder mountain bike.
  • 1 0
 They look about as cool as a new kids on the block fanny pack, but if they work I'd try it. Having a branch reach out and grab your handlebars is about as fun as getting thrown on the ground at 50kph, because that's exactly what happens when a sniper branch high fives your handlebars/controls
  • 1 0
 In enduro racing, often riders have to get at pace blind, often catching them off guard with wired shit on the side of the trail. If it’s good for Sam, it’s good for me. I think these things are the shit for riding new places and new races.
  • 3 0
 These are of course for Dragging Bar on the ground so you can protect your gloves from all the Loam.
  • 4 0
 These are retarded. And I want them.
  • 4 1
 Not aero enough. Probably costing major wattage on the climbs with all that handlebar drag.
  • 4 0
 dummest thing i've ever seen..... I really want some!
  • 2 1
 If all you need is thorn protection take your grips, shifter, etc off, slide a two / three liter bottle on, cut it to shape and then reinstall your parts. Add a little tape and voila! Same shit different price.
  • 1 0
 Why not make these things load bearing so you can put your hands on them to climb (bit like drop bars to compensate for your zero length stem enduro gnarometry)? 2 birds one stone...
  • 1 1
 WTF.... deja vu! These were a stupid idea when they hit the market back in the late eighties when Acerbis offered them with moto style mudguards. And here we are thirty years later and AVS has their heads in their asses making something that is already extinct
  • 2 0
 Still make em.

www.acerbis.com/prodotti.php?idpr=4

goo.gl/images/tmu4Zr
  • 3 1
 Only stupid if you still ride like in the 80s on that rigid 80s bike with 540 mm bar and 150 mm stem. 780 bars on a bike that actually works in dense vegetation and these have their place.
  • 1 1
 @feeblesmith: Check yourself bro.... these are a joke. This is not serious product at all!
  • 4 2
 if this becomes a trend im selling my bike and taking up bonsai grooming........
  • 1 0
 All it takes is one tree punch to make you question the lack of hand protection. I'm certainly looking for something like this.
  • 1 0
 These are awesome. There's often a lot of overgrowth on our local trails, especially in the spring time, and it's knuckle shredding. Using these would be awesome!
  • 5 1
 braaappp
  • 4 2
 The wrist break potential here is astronomical... And $60?!?! Just wear reinforced DH gloves if you are so concerned.
  • 3 0
 I still use long Bar Ends

Fark you mindless followers !! :-)
  • 1 1
 Lol these comments are brilliant!

If I was riding tighter trails most of time I would just use narrower bars ? These things will surely give you plastic splinters when you do smash your hands into a tree?
  • 2 0
 Lol, these are hilarious, why stop there. I'm sure the bike could benefit from full fenders, someone needs to get on it!
  • 1 0
 Now that I've said, "I don't see the point...." Murphies Law/Karma will kick in and next ride I'll have my knuckles torn up by some 'Wait-a-while'.
  • 3 0
 THEY SHOULD MAKE THSE 4 PETALS AND CALL THEM TOECLIPZ
  • 2 0
 I think mirrors would be a good idea so I can check my hair as I'm going along as it blows in the wind Smile
  • 1 0
 No thanks, they look beyond bent... Several of my local trails have Gorse bush ingress over several months of the year, but I still wouldn't put these on my bike
  • 1 1
 We laugh now but these will be pretty standard soon. Only takes a few enduro riders to start using them, some bright colours, integrated lockring for your grips and you'll all be like "shut up and take my money".
  • 3 0
 I just use a right hand guard to protect my wanking hand.
  • 1 0
 Irrelevant to the monkeys on here. I would like to know if they are carried by anyone in the USA? We grow shrubs well here in the NW when spring comes...
  • 1 0
 That price though :[

Moto ones are the same shot but bigger and go for half the price.

Re-invent them again and make them cheaper.
  • 3 0
 they don't protect the pinkies, wich the knuckle that gets the most hits
  • 1 0
 That's a long ass outboard lever to be putting on carbon bars no? First thing I thought looking at that mount was SNAP!
No, not "Oh Snap!" idiots.. haha!:P
  • 1 0
 Guards like these are on motos so that someone doesn't hit your clutch or brake when passing you. No need on a mountain bike just smash your finger like a real man/woman
  • 3 1
 What's next... motorcycle-style fairings?
  • 1 0
 need these for ilkley moor and loam trail in spring @Crush12 @ArthurSandsmtb
  • 1 0
 Perfect right now for our speedy Fat6 Haibike in the tights tracks of Lac Delage near Québec City.
  • 1 0
 When you and your buddy's are roosting "skidding" down the trail , they will be useful
  • 1 0
 dont care what people think, these look good and very functional. I will be ordering some up.
  • 1 0
 you all laugh until a yucca spike goes thru your finger when you take the outside line here in so cal.
  • 1 0
 I own a pair and they are good. Only small observation is that they would look and perform better wit ha 20mm shorter mount.
  • 1 0
 Anyone know what shifter that is? there are two cables (hoses?) coming out of it.
  • 1 0
 I run handguards on my MX and I love the looks of them, I am ordering a pair Smile
  • 1 0
 They remind me of the old 'fanny pack'.. Practical? maybe.. but definitely ugly...
  • 4 1
 Why do we need this?
  • 3 3
 lol we don't, they are not even a necessity in the moto industry
  • 1 1
 so you better have this motherfu in your knuckles when they dry around summer? tip: dont drink the boiled water with it seeds. it makes meth feel like nothing
  • 2 0
 Just when you think you've seen it all...
  • 2 0
 How can they charge nearly £50 for that thats beyond me!
  • 1 1
 Dude, those are not making anyone looking ”sooo moto”, but too enduro. You can never be too moto, but you should never go full enduro, bro! Wink
  • 1 0
 I would use it against the cold wind in winter times. I think they would work well. Little bit less frozen fingers.
  • 1 0
 mountainbike roost is a lot different to moto-x roost - don't be a fanny! ^_^
  • 2 1
 Coming from a guy that races atv's, I think that these look great. Always wanted to put hand guards on my bike
  • 2 0
 Saw the article, came straight to the comments
  • 1 0
 this handguard is literally like 100 CAD. serious ill just wear some gloves lol
  • 2 0
 In the place I ride, these guards can save you stitches
  • 1 0
 They look pretty silly but more so on a bike that has a water bottle cage haha Did you see that sick skid bro??
  • 1 0
 In the 80s and 90s we had these and worse for slalom gates. Nowadays the last thing I need is more bar clutter
  • 1 0
 Cool for moto, but not biking. You'll be the laughing stock of the hill if you run these lol
  • 1 0
 If undateables was for bike parts this product wouldn't even get a phone call
  • 1 0
 I'm sure they will look cool with those big bulky T.H.E. fenders everyone ran back in the day!!
  • 1 0
 I got a friend who smashes his levers allot this would be a great thing for him.
  • 1 0
 And if my hand gets stuck somewhere between bar, guard and lever when Im flying OTB?
  • 2 1
 I'm more curious about the blingy gold brakes. Anyone know what they are?
  • 3 0
 Looks like Trickstuff diritessima brakes, I cant zoom on my phone to read tho
  • 1 0
 @ctd07: Correct
  • 2 0
 WHAT ARE THOSE!?
  • 1 0
 If they said Enduro everyone would buy them
  • 1 0
 What really looks ugly is a broken metacarp
  • 1 0
 looks like AVS was looking at the peopleofbmbp instagram page.
  • 3 1
 lol
  • 2 1
 lol x2
  • 1 1
 Does it include an electric fatbike, new balance kicks, jeans and pads to strap them onto?
  • 4 2
 so much Nope!
  • 1 0
 Maybe if I rode through briars frequently. Otherwise, no thanks.
  • 2 0
 Endless brambles
  • 4 2
 Nope won't do it!
  • 3 2
 Protects against e-bike roost
  • 2 2
 If i could attach some solar panels on those, it would be perfect for my 650b+ e-bike.
  • 2 1
 do not think its necessary
  • 1 0
 Perfect, needed something like this for my 29er because it rips!
  • 2 1
 Those are a bit ... I think this is a joke.
  • 1 0
 Dope!! This is so ENDURO!!
  • 2 1
 Will match perfectly with my THE fender from 2001. Those who know, know.
  • 4 0
 Fenders are coming back, man... it's only a matter of time until THE resurfaces! Smile
  • 1 0
 Those will look sick on my Arbr Saker.
  • 1 0
 Paul save this one for April 1st
  • 1 0
 whole time I've been using milk cartons, my prayers have been answered
  • 1 0
 Nope, and remind me never to get yellow grips either.
  • 1 0
 This is a perfect solution for a problem that doesn't exist.
  • 1 0
 HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks PB, I needed that!

p.s. It April 1st already?
  • 1 0
 Welcome to Pinkbike, where looks are everything.
  • 1 0
 its a great spot to put stickers
  • 1 0
 Somany goofs with nothing better to do but bash new ideas . Fkn annoying
  • 1 0
 To those who are bashing these: now that you have, watch out...
  • 5 4
 Ugly... Haha
  • 1 0
 No roost = unnecessary
  • 3 2
 Haha nope
  • 1 2
 Are these for 26" 27.5" or full on 29" ....pink bike doesn't specify how gay they are
  • 1 0
 Needs more cowbell
  • 1 1
 NON SENSE !!!!
  • 1 1
 no
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