Handguards

[pete h]

I've done a search of the forum, but can't find an answer to this query in relation to varas.

I want to replace the handguards on mine, current standard ones are pretty scruffy and beat up and it seems an easy way to smarten up the bike a bit.

I've seen plenty of ads for the acerbis/ufo and touratech ones etc, but I want to get ones that give at least the same amount of wind protection as the honda oe's.

A mate has a caponord and the protectors on it seem really robust, as do the gs ones, I know some people have put gs ones onto @'s, but has anyone done it to a vara ?, or what would you recommend as replacements ?

[Snaphappy]

I've got GS handguards on my Vara much much better than OE, but, I have also fitted bar raisers to stop them fouling the fairing (more my power socket) and I have fitted extra long heavy bar wieghts to give my hands a bit more room.
Not sure if it was all neccessary but was on a long list of things that I wanted to change now there is ample room.

guards from the 1150GS fit 1200 do not

[Muzz]

Yep, I've got the GS1150 handguards (pretty cheap from Motobins, as I recall - £38 or so?) and the Touratech extenders, and I've also got the bar risers.

I've also got the silver bike, the MRA screen - I think Snap and I were separated at birth. That, or impeccable taste will always out...

[Snaphappy]

Yep, I've got the GS1150 handguards (pretty cheap from Motobins, as I recall - £38 or so?) and the Touratech extenders, and I've also got the bar risers.

I've also got the silver bike, the MRA screen - I think Snap and I were separated at birth. That, or impeccable taste will always out...

Hi Muzz, latest upgrade

AT Sumpguard and looking 'kin nice

[Muzz]

Ooo... any pictures? Was it much of a pain to fit?

[Snaphappy]

It could have been easier but Austin gave my a hint that it could scrape before the pegs on a right hander, so....

I bashed the living hell out it reshaping it to fit 2 inches tighter! bent bits out, hammered others in / out and all about, polished it a bit (after it took a hammering in Africa by a forum member). Cut great chunks out of it that will be welded back in one day and stood back to admire my work without unpacking the camera so just finished shots I'll take some more when I have daylight freetime.

[pete h]

Thanks for the replies, can I just clarify then, I'd need to fit bar risers before fitting GS1150 - (NOT 1200) handguards, or will they go on without the risers, I'm happy with the bar height as it is really, and if I start altering it, I'll need to move the cabling for the zumo and the fm traffic bits.

Also, will the original bar ends go on once the handguards are fitted or is that also why you changed yours snaphappy ?

Any photos appreciated

cheers...

[Snaphappy]

From memory, I am pretty sure they touch the fairing, no jamming but with time would leave a mark, (also rendered my power socket unusable) the bar ends was for me a personal thing.
I have used the SW Motech bar adjuster i think it is 30mm up and 20mm further back and I find I sit in the saddle now instead of right up against the tank. Both were a very easy fit with only the brakelines having to be adjusted from the forks (slid up an inch)

[Muzz]

OK Pete, well, I'd already fitted the bar risers (just standard 1" ones), so I'm not sure if the handguards would fit without, but I'm using the standard bar ends. The fit is a bit 'what you make it' - I faffed about with mine for a few days on and off before I got them where I liked, with plenty of room for big gloved hands. Don't be afraid to bend the guards a bit - they're not an exact fit out of the box. Mind you, neither were the Touratech extenders, and they were supposed to be for those exact handguards. I'll try and get a camera to the bike ASAP.

Snap, Road Attacks, too - How quickly has the rear on yours squared off? Mine was noticeably going after 4k, but it's been replaced (thanks to a triple puncture) with a Trail Attack, which I'm hoping will last a bit longer.

[Austin]

Snap, Road Attacks, too - How quickly has the rear on yours squared off? Mine was noticeably going after 4k, but it's been replaced (thanks to a triple puncture) with a Trail Attack, which I'm hoping will last a bit longer.

I can't speak for Snap, but my initial satisfaction with my rear Road attack soon went as it squared off very quickly - after about 2K it was beginning to look square by 4k it was very square with handling distinctly off and by 5k it was in dire need of replacing. Replaced with a trail attack - to the consternation of the fitter at Tony Salt Tyres who checked and double checked that I knew a trail attack was a different tyre to the road attack I had previously and was different to the road attack I have on the front still - with 4-5mm tread left. I told him I was planning some offroading (lie) and that left him happy.

Mind, the handling is still not much better so need to play around with pressures and shock settings, or replace the front tyre. Handling was best with the original bridgestones.