For many years now we have been using full wrap handguards for all the obvious reasons. I have always payed attention to the FIM Enduro reg that states non shatter -open ended guards. We know that this is to protect from getting your arms/wrists caught when doing the OTB ballet. Well the kids, mine and my biz partner's signed for their first race at Pala Raceway the Christmas GP under ugly pouring down rain conditions. Anyway mine came down one of the hills with a lip into a gully and auguered in and OTBd into the opposite face. Both of her full wrap handguards were spun down from her wrists pushing them as she went over. The EMT action was very quick and when I came over she was laughing at her crash but cursing the pain in her wrist. She now has a cast distal fracture of the radius. Could have been alot worse, luckily I leave all controls with the ability to turn on the bars to save controls and allow break away movement for saving body parts. She is upset to not ride for 4 weeks or so!!! From now on all my machines will be changed to open end guards. If all the MX and Enduro and even the extreme Enduro can us them then we will too. This is just an FYI and my opinion as a result of an issue.I know how many times the guards have saved my levers but oh well, Choose what works best for you. RN
Glad to hear your daughter came away from that wreck with minor injuries RT. 4 weeks sucks, but it could have been worse. I have heard enough horror stories to make me shy away from full wrap plastic hand guards too. In college a friend of mine had a wreck similar to your daughters but was not so lucky. Very badly fractured wrists, torn tendons and ligaments. At the hospital they said if it had been much worse they would have had to amputate both hands! It's probably one of those 1 in a million chance things but I got enough to worry about when i'm riding without also having to worry about getting my hands caught in my hand guards.
Up here in the land of the trees not having full wrap hand guards leads to broken fingers and crashes from the brush grabbing the brake at the most inappropriate moment. Desert and MX the floppy shields have their place. Later,
Yep. We use hand guards like berms here, smack off a tree and change direction. i can see how for MX and dez they are not needed and may be a liability.
I use old school bark busters without the plastic. Adjusted down so they block willows and trees, but not high enough that I worry about getting caught in them.
I will take the chance. IMO, the chances of me breaking some fingers are a lot greater than getting my wrists caught in the guards.
Yeah, same here,but I'm sure it happens. There are trade offs & we have to weigh out the options. When you see or know someone that this happens to this would be a normal reaction just like knee braces instead of knee guards. As for me, those wrap around handguards have saved my fingers too many times to count. It would be awful to break your wrist though! I see why people don't use them.
