are bark busters dangerous?

I met a guy once who showed me the scar where they rebuilt his wrist
from getting his hand caught in one of those Maier's full-wrap
brushguards that bolt over the bark buster. As I recall, he said his
fingers were extended over the brake lever when he went over the bars
and the top if his wrist hit the top/back of the brushguard so his
hand was trapped there but the rest of him kept going.

While he was saying this, he was pointing to the same guards on wife
#2's XR200R. Those guards were an earlier version of:

http://tinyurl.com/2fk9zs

He did not suggest not using bark busters with brush guards, but he
did suggest either making cuts in the Maier units so they'd flex &
release your hand or using less full-coverage units like:

http://tinyurl.com/265eq7

-JD
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

I have heard of these injuries from bark busters but have never seen one
myself which leads me to believe that it is rare. I did break a hand a few
years back when, during a race, the bolt on the end fell out of my bark
buster and it was loose. I hit my hand due to not having the protection. I
think it's a trade off for off roaders. I don't like riding a bike off road
without them.

Rex McKinney


"Tiago Rocha" <diariodastrilhas RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1178195678.886031.251950@u30g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>I mean, the hand protectors that are in almost everyone's handlebars.
>
> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...
>
> And lots of people don't use them because of that.
>
> I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> my hand there.
>
> Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?
>
> -- Tiago
>
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

"Tiago Rocha" ...
>I mean, the hand protectors that are in almost everyone's handlebars.
>
> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...
>
> And lots of people don't use them because of that.
>
> I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> my hand there.
>
> Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?

I'm sure it can happen and probably has happened. I do remember one crash
when I seemed aware that my hand was almost stuck as I was going down and I
deliberately pulled my hand away from there. The risk is real enough for me
that I try to take them off if I'm riding at a track where they aren't
needed for tree protection. Of course, this leaves levers, perches, etc.more
vulnerable in a crash, but that's an acceptable risk when the truck is
nearby.

OTOH, the one time that I took the end of the bars to my sternum, I'm sure
the bark buster helped distribute that impact over a larger area of my chest
protector. I'm not sure if bare bar ends could poke a hole through the CP,
but I was really glad for every bit of help that day. Bare bar ends and no
CP would have been a nasty sucking chest wound, maybe fatal.

I do like having the confidence that I can bounce the bar end off a tree if
I must. And it's always a bummer when a branch applies your clutch and/or
brake for you, then releases if at just the wrong time. I wouldn't want to
ride woods without them.

-Dean
I need to get out there
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

On 3 May 2007 07:52:33 -0700, Wellen - '02 200exc & '04 MTD 38
<yosef.DeleteThis@sisna.com> wrote:

>I met a guy once who showed me the scar where they rebuilt his wrist
>from getting his hand caught in one of those Maier's full-wrap
>brushguards that bolt over the bark buster. As I recall, he said his
>fingers were extended over the brake lever when he went over the bars
>and the top if his wrist hit the top/back of the brushguard so his
>hand was trapped there but the rest of him kept going.
>
>While he was saying this, he was pointing to the same guards on wife
>#2's XR200R. Those guards were an earlier version of:
>
>http://tinyurl.com/2fk9zs

I've ridden a couple of bikes with these "buckets" on them, great
brush protection but very easy to tweak a hand/wrist, even in those
situations where you may just get pitched forward enough to get a good
peek at your front fender.

>He did not suggest not using bark busters with brush guards, but he
>did suggest either making cuts in the Maier units so they'd flex &
>release your hand or using less full-coverage units like:
>
>http://tinyurl.com/265eq7
>
>-JD

DJ
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

"Wellen - '02 200exc & '04 MTD 38" <yosef RemoveThis @sisna.com> wrote in message
news:1178203953.650314.324440@y5g2000hsa.googlegroups.com...

> He did not suggest not using bark busters with brush guards, but he
> did suggest either making cuts in the Maier units so they'd flex &
> release your hand or using less full-coverage units like:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/265eq7

I like the "buckets". Sunline used to make a nice pop-off kit, put it's
been discontinued. In the past, I have put slits in mine to make the top
edge more flexible. I also do extensive trimming to the top and bottom. I
like the way they protect my hands and levers.

-Jeff Deeney- DoD#0498 NCTR UTMA BRC COHVCO AMA
'99 ATK 260LQ-Stink Wheels '94 XR650L-HellSickle
We don't stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop riding.
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

On May 3, 8:34 am, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:

> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...

I've seen it happen. During an enduro, there was a huge bottleneck in
a muddy creek. My buddy tried to jump the creek to avoid the mess and
came up short, hitting the far bank. His hand came off of the bars and
hit the bark buster, breaking his hand.

I don't like riding without them, and pretty regularly benefit from
them being there. I can't remember the last time I broke a lever or
perch, thanks to the protection they offer. I also rotate them down as
far as possible, to hopefully decrease the chance of getting my hand
caught in there.

I have a set of those 'buckets' that JD mentions, but I don't like the
way they feel when they're mounted - they seem too confining to me. I
used some Enduro Engineering (I think) guards on the KDX that are
similar to the ones he points out in the second link.

Craig
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

On May 3, 8:34 am, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> I mean, the hand protectors that are in almost everyone's handlebars.
>
> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...
>
> And lots of people don't use them because of that.
>
> I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> my hand there.
>
> Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?
>
> -- Tiago

I also take them off at the track.
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

Bark busters are handy for relaxing. Get a seat support from someone
who makes cruiser products. Lean back and stick your feet in the bark
busters and ride. Use a starter cord from a lawn mower to wrap around
the throttle. This frees your hands to do other things like enjoy a
beverage...OF



On May 3, 11:35 am, edi....TakeThisOut@mxnewsfeed.com wrote:
> On May 3, 8:34 am, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I mean, the hand protectors that are in almost everyone's handlebars.
>
> > The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> > case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> > fingers...
>
> > And lots of people don't use them because of that.
>
> > I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> > I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> > my hand there.
>
> > Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?
>
> > -- Tiago
>
> I also take them off at the track.
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

On May 3, 8:34 am, Tiago Rocha <diariodastril....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> I mean, the hand protectors that are in almost everyone's handlebars.
>
> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...
>
> And lots of people don't use them because of that.
>
> I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> my hand there.
>
> Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?
>
> -- Tiago

I keep them pretty low and inline with the levers. That minimizes my
risk of a broken wrist if I go over the bars and forget to let go and
they still deflect most vertical stuff. I do get a little slap or
pinch every once in a while.
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

On May 3, 1:09 pm, oldfart <alan.westco....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> Bark busters are handy for relaxing. Get a seat support from someone
> who makes cruiser products. Lean back and stick your feet in the bark
> busters and ride. Use a starter cord from a lawn mower to wrap around
> the throttle. This frees your hands to do other things like enjoy a
> beverage...OF
>

Now THAT'S funny right there, I don't care who y'are...


--Wuds
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

Hi!

> The common sense here is they are good, but also dangerous, because in
> case of a crash, you can jam your hand there and break arm, hand,
> fingers...
> And lots of people don't use them because of that.

And lots of people don't use them because they interfere with their
extended legs in sharp turns/berms when racing MX which was the case for my
YZ426, the Magura SX tapered bar plus spacer/fat bar adapter. So I routed
some layers of teflon plumber's tape under the lever clamps to allow for
some turning in case of a biff.

Worked well for me except when the sidestand cracked/failed and the Yam
dropped sideways like a dead cow. Broke the clutch lever and ruined the
grip and - in turn - they day 'coz I didn't have any spares.

> I can't easily put my arm between the handlebar and the aluminum bar.
> I also have crashed a lot of times and never came any close to jamming
> my hand there.

I would say the all-plastic makes are not a real problem because they'll
still rotate or bend out of the way a bit if things get rough - even if
you torque them down like hell. The aluminum-enforced type might be a bit
akward there, but hey: You can also dislocate your thumb with the
handlebars/grips alone (BTDT) or have your footpeg snap some ankle
ligaments by just jumping to far out in the flat (also BTDT), so after all
it's again a risk vs. benefit evaluation.

For the hardcore enduro rider, those bark busters are probably a mandatory
accessoire because they don't want to end up with all kind of debris
jamming the throttle tube and having to replace grip rubbers every ride.

> Does anyone else heard or have any experience on this subject?

My KTM 620 SC has them (and it was a very wise idea to put them on), the
YZ426 hasn't (and it was a very wise idea to leave them off given the
experience I have made with the CR250R). Never hurt myself with bark
busters (or at least, I had more severe issues to take care of after a
crash) and know of no one that has.

2ct.
Volker

--
mailto: V B A R T H E L D at G M X dot D E
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

Depends on what you use them for.
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous? 

hmm idea....
how many of these barkbusters get sold each year???
john
thinking of a modification.....

"Jeff Deeney" <je
> "Wellen - '02 200exc & '04 MTD 38" <yose
>> He did not suggest not using bark busters with brush guards, but he
>> did suggest either making cuts in the Maier units so they'd flex &
>> release your hand or using less full-coverage units like:
>> http://tinyurl.com/265eq7
>
> I like the "buckets". Sunline used to make a nice pop-off kit, put it's
> been discontinued. In the past, I have put slits in mine to make the top
> edge more flexible. I also do extensive trimming to the top and bottom.
> I like the way they protect my hands and levers.
>
> -Jeff Deeney- DoD#0498 NCTR UTMA BRC COHVCO AMA
> '99 ATK 260LQ-Stink Wheels '94 XR650L-HellSickle
> We don't stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop
> riding.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: are bark busters dangerous?