After looking at all available options for Tenere handguards, I think I'm gonna opt for the Barkbusters... possibly with the extra weights...

There's one thing I need to know before shelling out the best part of �150... Do they make any difference to the width of the bars? What about with the additional weights?

I originally built my bike shed for a little Derbi CrossCity 125 and it's a very snug fit for my lovely new Ten, as such, when pushing the bike in I've only got about 5mm to play with at either side of the bars! Putting it away is a precision job and wouldn't be possible if it was any wider.

Seeing as the original bar weights need to be removed to fit the Barkbusters I'm assuming overall width is less than standard as the weights are pretty good chunks of metal...

TL R - Do Barkbusters make your bars any wider than stock?

Cheers!

SD

With Barkbusters, it's not so much the bar ends/weights that determine the width. Due to the rearward sweep of the bars, the widest part is the curved part of the hand guard itself. The Barkbuster guard sticks out about 30mm further than the end of an OE bar end weight.

Hopefully you can see what I mean from this hastily taken photo. The red line represents the maximum width in a straight line parallel to the bike.



As you can see the actual guard protrudes beyond the weights (and I have the additional weights fitted). Although the OE weight is slightly longer than the total of the Barkbuster bar end weight, metalwork and extra weight, the Barkbuster guard is still wider at the curve. (The mirror looks wider obviously because its nearer the camera, but its actually the same width with the spacer brackets I have fitted.)

You could always cut two handlebar height notches out of either side of the door frame on your shed...

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Thanks for the swift and thorough response, I never thought about the guards themselves overhanging the ends of the bars... Looks like I need to review my options again!

The shed was purpose built as motorbike storage, ie long, narrow and bike shaped - the bike is wheeled in back end first till the numberplate is squashed into the back corner and the door can't be closed until the bars are turned and the bike leans against the side wall; generally on the clutch lever hence the need for the guards! The whole unit is only about 10mm wider than the bars when they are straight - cutting a notch wouldn't work as I'd have to slice into the walls too!

I should probably have considered the fact that I'd pass my test and get a bigger bike before building the shed as a good fit for the little Derbi!

I hadn't thought about it at all before buying the Ten, between picking it up from the dealer and getting it home the first time I suddenly realised that it might not fit in the shed! Panic struck and I envisioned 1001 ways of adapting it (all of which would be a complete PITA to do!). Fortunately, after a lot of pratting about, I found I could just about squeeze it in!

I digress...

Does anyone know of any narrower options for handguards? Or maybe due to the angle of the bars, they all do the same?

Cheers

SD

Just had a thought...

Looking at your pic there seems to be a pretty big gap between the end of your brake lever and the handguard - do you reckon it'd be possible to bend the alu spine a touch to push them in?

SD

My levers are aftermarket stubby ones, so much shorter than stock. The spine is very stiff and would be quite hard to bend without throwing everything out of alignment. But that's not to say it wouldn't be possible? Where there's a will, there's a way!

A slightly more compact (and cheaper) solution would be to consider the Polisport Sharp handguards (aka KTM handguards). There are loads of folk on the forum who have fitted them and been quite happy with them. The only thing to consider is, although they'll give good weather protection, they're only plastic and will give a lot less physical protection in a fall than Barkbusters.

Have a search and you'll find lots of threads about fitting them. Bear in mind you will have to input "KTM* handguards" into the search as it will only recognise a minimum of four characters.

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Haha great thread and there but for the grace of God go all of us I guess, we tend to think of now and rarely of er the future.......can u not turn the bars sideways a bit just for the entry???

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....