10 Best Dirt Bike Handguards For Enduro and MX Racers

Anyone who has raced on a dirt bike is not a stranger to roost. These small stones and small complex substances cab break your fingers. Even if you wear the thickest gloves available, having a stone come at you when you are riding at full speed can leave an injury that puts you out of the race.

Injuries from roost, debris, and tree branches hurt, and they distract you from the race. The top dirt bike handguards on the market deflect every small projectile that can damage your hands. They also protect your dirt bike levers and grips.

Motocross handguards are light and sleek. They are simple to open handshields, but they still keep you protected. Unfortunately, these may not do an excellent job protecting your levers and handlebar. However, Motocross racing does not present any challenges that require you to have wrap-around handguards.

For Enduro or Trail Riding, you need the strongest wrap-around handguards. These should protect your hands and extend the protection to the levers and handlebars. They are more robust and strengthened for maximum protection.

It takes less than an hour to mount handguards on your dirt bike as long as you have the right tools. Open handguards for Motocross are easy to install, while the wrap-around handguards take longer to install. 

You need to have the hand shield, bracket, clamps, and installation hardware for wrap-around handguards. Manufacturers provide all parts in a racer pack set, or you can buy some separately in a bar pack set. To install, follow the steps below:

1. Cut out the end of your grip attached to the handlebar to expose the open end of the handlebar. You can use a utility knife, but be careful as it is easy to cut your fingers while at it. 
2. Drill the plastic end of the handlebar to make the diameter the same as your handlebar. Some bikes come with a pre-built billet mount, so you never have to drill the ends of your handlebar.  
3. Screw the billet mounts on the handlebar. The center reaches mounts (CRM), the clamps attach towards the center of the handlebar. 
4. Fix the handguard brackets so that one end attaches to the end of the handlebar that you just drilled and the other links to the billet mount. 
5. Check the fit and adjust the bracket before you tighten the nuts. The frame should leave enough space for your levers and your hands. If the position is okay, tighten the screws and nuts so that the bracket does not move. 
6. Screw the hand shield on the bracket with the provided hardware, and your handguards are ready to run.

Open handguards attach to the handlebar of your motorcycle at only one point and are ideal for motocross racing. They are light, have less bar clutter, allow easy hand movement, are less expensive, and you can install them in only a few minutes. 

However, the open handguards will probably break if you ever drop your dirt bike. They also do not offer protection to the levers and will only protect you from light debris and small stones. 

An open handguard will not protect you for trail riding or as an Enduro racer. Riding at high speeds, you need wrap-around handguards that attach to the handlebar at two points and have a strong bracket holding the hand shield. The closed handguard protects you from tree branches, roost, and large debris. They also protect your levers and handlebar grips. 

Wrap-around handlebars are highly durable, can survive a crash, and protects your hands and levers in case of a hit and from large debris and trees. However, they limit the movement of your hands, take more time to mount, are heavier, and cost more than the simple MX handguards. 

Choose the handguards based on the riding style and riding conditions. When shopping for handguards, consider:

• The materials and their durability 
• Size of the handlebars 
• Ease of installation
• Color preference 
• Installation options and positions 
• Your riding style; Motocross or enduro

You can pick between the two main categories; Enduro or motocross handguards. Besides that, there are so many other factors to consider. Nowadays, you will come across:

• Vented handguards 
• Slim profile handguards 
• Adjustable handguards

These new features seek to improve convenience and protection. The vented options are ideal for hot areas. However, they are preferable with a cover to make them versatile. You will have to replace them without a cover when the cold weather kicks in. 

Slim options are ideal for small bikes. These options are light enough that you barely feel them when installing them. They also provide less resistance when you drive at high speeds. They may not offer as much protection as more extensive wrap-around options, but they are still highly functional. 

Today, there are so many adjustable handguards. These allow you to customize their placement for the best control and clearance on your bike. The flexible handguards are more versatile, and you can use them for all racing conditions. In addition, these options stay fixed even if the motorcycle falls as they do not twist or turn from impact.