From: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com (Dances With Bikers)
Subject: REPOST: Barkbusters summary
Reply-To: blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1992 20:14:14 GMT


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Date: Tue, 5 Nov 91 21:41:33 MST
From: 916 <jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU!schottd>
Subject: Q/A

John Connelly writes:

   2. Do Bark Busters cause wrist injuries?
 
2. The controversy over the Bark Busters is pretty simple. What
people are complaining about is that they can not remove their hands 
very well from the grips in the event of a crash. If you use the
plastic mud guards, it is even worse. I ride a KDX200 with both
of these items on it. In order to mount them I had to cut my levers
down, and shorten the bars about 2 inches. I have found that it is 
indeed hard to get your hands out; sometimes to the point where
a glove gets caught, ect.  Never the less, I would much rather
have my hands behind some 1/4 inch steel than in front of a 
handlebar going 50mph. I have wrecked with my hands behind them
and it is a neat feeling knowing that you would have most
likely broken a hand if they were not there.  A definete must
if you ride in the woods.

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Date: Tue, 5 Nov 91 21:51:11 mst
From: Jeff Deeney <hpfcch.fc.hp.com!jeffd>
Subject: Re:  The Daily Dirt

John Connelly asks: 

>2) Someone mentioned people getting broken wrists from Bark Busters. Is this
>   really the case? How did they break their wrists? It seems to me that if
>   you had that bad an inpact it would have been much worse WITHOUT the Bark
>   Busters (i.e. every bone in your hand smashed).

Imagine a hard G-out on landing from a jump.  Your suspension  bottoms and
you are  thrown  forward.  You lose grip on the bars and your  hands  slip
through the  barkbusters  as you are being  thrown over the bars.  Ewwwww.
Not a pretty  sight.  I've had a couple  of  get-offs  where  my hand  has
gotten a little bruised exiting my  bark-buster/Acerbis  guards.  Overall,
they have  saved a lot of smashed  fingers/broken  levers  and the risk is
acceptable, IMHO.

-Jeff Deeney-  				DoD#0498
jld@hpfcla.fc.hp.com			AMA#540813
Fort Collins, Colorado         '88 XR600(Shamu)   '81 CB750F(gasp, wheeze)
We don't stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop riding.

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Date: Wed, 6 Nov 91 9:06:27 EST
From: Ross Allan Roberts <magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!rroberts>
Subject: De-virginizing (Reiding position & BarkBusters)

Also, I saw someone mentino concerns over BarkBusters imparing your ability
to bail. Trust me, they won't :-). Seriously, I have both the busters and the
plastic guards on my IT, and they don't hinder/worry me. ONe reason, though,
is 'cause they're canted downward about 10-15 degrees, so they still protect
but leave more open area on top in case this happens. maybe trying this will
alleviate some anxiety. 

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Subject: Armor/Barkbusters/MXpants
Date: Wed, 6 Nov 91 4:56:21 GMT
From: ewing.ldgo.columbia.edu!jimsmith

>2) Someone mentioned people getting broken wrists from Bark Busters. Is this
>   really the case? How did they break their wrists? It seems to me that if
>   you had that bad an inpact it would have been much worse WITHOUT the Bark
>   Busters (i.e. every bone in your hand smashed).

Broken wrists have been seen, but generally not due to the barkbuster. Some
people have a fundemental problem with installing equipment properly and
as such allow the guards to ride to high up, they should be slightly below
horizontal and tight(they should be checked before each ride and again
after a crash or a few good solid tree hits). The bad old days of re-rod
guards used to net broken hands, etc. but the new guards properly installed
and maintained are generaly trouble free. The use of some of the hard 
brush guards which attach to barkbusters(name your brand) do tend to come
up too high and will cause potential problems(maybe even break) to your
wrist. These should be cut down to all for full movement on a properly
installed set of guards.

J.A.Smith"Hawaii Jim",
A Enduro, Expert Harescramble(Dist.4), Vet Motocross
KTM MX300(91&92), 90 CR500, KTM MX125(91)

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Date: Wed, 6 Nov 91 08:21:11 -0800
From: nas.nasa.gov!ciotti (Robert B. Ciotti)
Subject: Re:  The Daily Dirt

>Hey all, I have a few questions for ya:

>2) Someone mentioned people getting broken wrists from Bark Busters. Is this
>   really the case? How did they break their wrists? It seems to me that if
>   you had that bad an inpact it would have been much worse WITHOUT the Bark
>   Busters (i.e. every bone in your hand smashed).
    
    Not from impact, but from rotating over the bars in a crash. Bark busters
    alone are not as big of a problem as the combination of bark busters
    and and the heavy duty type of mud guard. I just made two cuts down
    the sides of the mud guards so that it would give in the event of
    uncontrolled rotation. 

    Reminds me of a time in which the bark buster really saved me. Out
    at hollister, tapped 5th, I see a downed tree, swerve a bit to the 
    left, just enough to clear (I thought), then all of this sudden,
    SMACK! instantly the bars are rotated to the right stops, BANG,
    control is on the edge, bars swap back to the left, BANG, smash
    the left stop, enough time has passed by now for the adrenneln 
    rush to have fully kicked in and at this point I am thinking
    that a crash is eminent. Somehow, the gods were favoring me that
    day and I didn't go down. Well when I check the front of my
    bark buster/mud guard there was a large crease right over the 
    front brake lever, imagine the above with the full on front brake
    combo - talk about rotation!

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From: bob@vaxwaller.UUCP (Bob Palin)
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles
Subject: Re: n-fingered braking
Date: 20 Nov 91 01:01:35 GMT

In article <59992@apple.Apple.COM>, thompson@Apple.COM (Paul Thompson) writes:
> Actually those buggers are pretty tough, as I can attest after performing
> some experiments involving Hesh's XT350 and some asphalt!  I might also
> add that my Held kevlar gloves needed no repair, while my Hein Gericke
> leathers needed some new stitching on the hip pads.

I was very impressed by the bark busters - the ones hesh has are called
tree somethings.  They did get some rough edges in the above mentioned
test but prevented the usual bent or broken lever and handlebar scuffing.
I think it was very noble of Paul to test them in this way and I was
also impressed when he stood right up and said "I guess these aren't
Metzler CompKs".  Now if he could only learn to kick start the
monster 8-)

I will be getting a pair for the bike I take to Alaska.
-- 
Bob Palin, Varian, Walnut Creek, Ca (510)945-2278, AMA #353696, DoD #257
bob@varian.com {lll-winken,pacbell}!varian!bob     CBR600, ST1100

                      Alaska 92! Go all the way...
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-- 
Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland  blgardne@javelin.sim.es.com  BIX:blaine_g
580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108           Favorite road signs:
Dumper of Dirtbikes #46             FJ1200   Winding Road Next 77 Miles
My other motorcycle is a Quadracer           Caution: Passing Areas Not Marked