Barkbusters Install

Avalanche123

Member
Joined
Sep 19, 2018
Messages
68
Location
British Columbia, Canada
How about a picture of where it clamps onto the bar? Reason I ask is because what you did puts a lot of stress on the hardware. A few tip overs and the bolts are going to snap. I’ve put many sets of hand guards on and broken enough bolts from “force fitting”. My biggest concern on the Super Tenere is brake and clutch Master Cylinders being broken by the handguard itself. It’s pretty close as it is even with proper installation done.
Here u go...Nothing was force fitted lol.
 

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ballisticexchris

Guest
Here u go...Nothing was force fitted lol.
I see what you did. That's cool. Not my cup of tea but if you like it and no issues when tipping over it's all good. That sure is a lot of weight at the end of the bars.

I at first tried to use the OEM ones just like you and leave the Barkbuster ones off. I could not get it to fit without bending the guards in a vice or putting stress on the bolts. I don't care for the weights being on the outside of the guard. But I just did it per Barkbuster instructions and everything fit perfect.
 

Niterunnr

Active Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
104
Location
Irvine, CA
Bar weights are removed with a hex head wrench at the very end of bar. Once you get the Barkbusters positioned with their weights the clamps will fit the bars near perfect. Put everything on loose then tighten. It's easy to get the left and right clamps mixed up. I too had a little bit of trouble getting everything lined up. Another little tip is to drill and tap the Barkbusters to install the shields. The self tapping screws end up coming out or stripping out down the road....

Here is mine mounted:
View attachment 56762
Nice levers. Do they perform any speacial tricks, or just shorter?
This might solve my hand guard clearance issue, but an expensive solution it seems.
 

U.P.rider

I M A UPR
Joined
Jul 26, 2011
Messages
208
Location
Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan
I just picked up a set of Barkbusters and still need to get the factory bar ends off, should have time later this week to find the right size hex wrench. I'm in no rush since my riding season is all but done save for a unseasonably warm and sunny day and I want to get some hunting in this coming weekend.
 

Freestate

New Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2019
Messages
3
Location
South Africa
Hello

A Yamaha dealer fitted Barkbusters to my 2015 using standard weights, the fitment was tight, pinched a wire on the front brake switch and was rubbing the clutch switch...
The pinch eventually broke the wire to the brake switch, no cruise control, error 89...
They luckily replaced the switches for free. All good in S10 land again!

Barkbuster weights installed, fits perfect. Be sure to use the weights in the kit.

Cheers
 

MeefZah

Curmudgeonly
Joined
Sep 22, 2012
Messages
218
Location
Lexington, Ohio
To address / answer a few statements / questions in the above posts:

- On 2nd gens with the Barkbuster bike-specific kit you do have to remove the OEM bar end weights. If you are fitting the kit with the OEM weights you're doing it wrong and sacrificing a level of protection. To each their own, but my thoughts are if you pay a premium for a bike-specific kit you should use it the way it was designed; if you want to use the OEM bar end weights you can get by with a Tusk generic handguard kit for $50 and have a better level of protection. By using the Barkbuster kit and the OEM weights, the inner mounts by necessity get moved too far towards the ends of the bars. This doesn't allow adequate clearance for brake and clutch reservoir, and also puts the inner mounts on the outside end of the bend in the bars, which contributes to weakening the design.

- The bar ends come off with a 12mm allen.

- Watch how you route the wiring from the left and right hand controls. It seems appealing to route it above the inner mount and nestle it in that little divot of the inner mount, but the way that the wiring exits the controls (on the bottom), this can cause extra tension on the wiring and chafing. It's less visually appealing but more efficient to route the wiring under the inner mount.

- While not specifically mentioned in the thread, a lot of people mount handguards incorrectly. They need to be, essentially, parallel to the ground, not facing significantly up or down. Either direction can contribute to injuries (broken wrist if guards rotate up) or damaged levers and controls in a crash.









 

Superraid

Active Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Messages
208
Location
Leicester, United kingdom
I was looking at those Hand Guards, but I don't believe they would work with my Pro-Taper ADV-High Bar.
It would put the Clamp mounting in a different location.
Depends if yours is gen 1 or newer, hepco do two types of protectors, bars can be rotated and these still work, standard or non standard bar weights as well. Its bar width more than anything that effects the use of these. Good bit of kit though.
 

SkunkWorks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2018
Messages
1,735
Location
Colorado
Mine is a Gen-2, but the Pro-Taper Bar is slightly shorter than the Factory Bar, and is also about an inch taller.
 

Highwayman

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 25, 2019
Messages
394
Location
Southern California
I guess doing all the extra work on the oem stuff is worth it for some guys.

The BBs arent that expensive and a big upgrade over the stockers. The biggest advantage for me throwing the stockers away and installing BB is they mount to the bars. I personally like my levers rotated down on my bikes. The stockers are attached to the levers and effectively rotate the protection down and away from my hands. Lever placement doesnt affect the BB placement.
 

AndyCBR

Member
2012 Site Supporter
2013 Site Supporter
2014 Site Supporter
Joined
Nov 26, 2011
Messages
129
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Hey Guys,

I’m lucky enough to have a 2012 and a 2014.

Why does barkbusters show two different figments for these models?

What would stop me from using the 2014 kit for my 2012?

The 2012 kit appears to be more generic and fits other makes and models also.

Thanks for any guidance!
 

holligl

Find the road less traveled...
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
2,212
Location
IL/AZ
Like the bark busters, I went a different way and added extenders and Hepco and Becker protection bars, looks tidy and trust me they work well.View attachment 77678View attachment 77679
I like those, trying to order from the sole US distributor. I have had to replace one OEM guard already, but they are relatively cheap (both in cost and effectiveness.) Curious, do they cut down on some bar vibration too? It looks like the riser and bar end mounting should add some rigidity to the bars.
 

Superraid

Active Member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Messages
208
Location
Leicester, United kingdom
I like those, trying to order from the sole US distributor. I have had to replace one OEM guard already, but they are relatively cheap (both in cost and effectiveness.) Curious, do they cut down on some bar vibration too? It looks like the riser and bar end mounting should add some rigidity to the bars.
No vibration or can't feel it, especially after fitting the bars. It removed a little flex in the bars that was felt off road whilst standing
 
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