Hand Guards - New or OEM - Ducati.ms

JigaroKano · Jan 25th, 2012, 12:55 am

After a soft lay down of the bike in a parking lot my hand guard broke off, a later crash means I need to replace both handguards. Insurance money in hand I am trying to decide what to do.

The OEM with integrated blinkers are $105 a piece, they look nice but only do a fair job of blocking wind and are certainly way too fragile and expensive. I could go with the 'DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 ENDURO STYLE HAND GUARDS' (Ducati Multistrada 1200 Enduro Style Hand Guards (96793510B) | Pro Italia) which I like the look of and seem to be much more sturdy. They connect to the handlebar ends providing the much need stability that our OEM handguards are missing, however they do not have signals.

I could do the bark buster route (current leader in my internal struggle), Barkbuster Handguards '10+ Multistrada 1200 .

Or perhaps with the newest find, Touratech.
Touratech GD Hand Guard Kit w/ LED Blinkers, Ducati Multistrada 1200 - Touratech-USA

I like the Touratech solution in theory but at the same time I don't want to drill into my bike. This option is impossible to remove and leaves exposed wires on the body...

Front signals are not required in most (any?) states and off the top of my head at 2 am it seems that it wouldn't be a safety issue. You need cars behind you to know you are turning/merging much more so than behind (I could certainly be wrong, it is too late for me to think).

Any advice, criticism, yelling, arguing, shouting is welcome.

As a final note the links used were just the first ones that popped up whilst googling, I am not affiliated with the companies nor have I searched for better prices.

Northlight · Jan 25th, 2012, 8:16 am

Barkbusters: $120......but you need turn signals

Touratech Handguards: $273.......but you need turn signals

Ducati Performance Enduro Handguards and Mirrors with LED turn signals: $353

....and you can probably sell your stock mirrors.

Here's a picture of the DP parts on my bike.....

Note: The DP handguards are an easy installation. Installing the LED Mirrors required removing the tank to get to the plug-in connectors.....

Northlight

ajdo · Jan 25th, 2012, 8:39 am

[QUOTE=Northlight;

Touratech Handguards: $273.......but you need turn signals

Northlight[/QUOTE]

Tourateck handguard come with turn signals.

Touratech GD Hand Guard Kit w/ LED Blinkers, Ducati Multistrada 1200 - Touratech-USA

"These Touratech handguards come complete with new stainless-steel fluid reservoir mounts, LED blinkers with laser-cut brackets to mount to the fairing (where the should have been all along), anodized aluminum bar-end weights to cut down on vibration, and some of the strongest plastic hand guards on the market"

You can also order "spoilers"for hand protectors That diflect mpre wind off your hands/arms:

Spoiler for Hand Protectors GD Black - Touratech-USA

"Tese Touratech handguards come complete with new stainless-steel fluid reservoir mounts, LED blinkers with laser-cut brackets to mount to the fairing (where the should have been all along), anodized aluminum bar-end weights to cut down on vibration, and some of the strongest plastic hand guards on the market"

AJ

like2lean · Jan 25th, 2012, 8:47 am

I just got my replacement DP stuff in the mail yesterday. I get to spend Saturday pulling the tank.....to put mirrors on.

Something to think about if you change over. I guess I'll check the air filter while the tank is off.

Nothern, my new mirrors just have a 2 wire connector on the end, does it split to 3 wires up in the haness a ways? If it starts as 2, we should be able to join 2 wires back with a 2 way quick connector for easy removal on the bar. I got these to try: Delphi Packard Weatherpack 2 Pin Terminal Kit 22 AWG | Performance Plus Connection

Northlight · Jan 25th, 2012, 9:50 am

....on the Touratech handguards...they do indeed come with turnsignals...

Northlight

Northlight · Jan 25th, 2012, 9:59 am

like2lean,

I know it sounds crazy...2 wires on one, 3 wires on the other....but just plug the DP mirror into the connector on the bike and it works fine.

I tried the same thing that you're suggesting....as I was trying to avoid removing the tank (It's not so bad once you do it a time or two).

Tried every combination of splicing wires together and the turn signal still didn't work. Ended up soldering it all back together, taking off the tank, digging around to find the connector (mine was buried in a bundle of wires just back of the steering head).

On the tank removal....if you have a service manual it helps....the early "draft" version that was available online is what I used. That version did not mention the fuse block on the left side under the fairing that is bolted into the tank....and must come off before the tank will slide back.

Northlight

JigaroKano · Jan 25th, 2012, 10:23 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Northlight

Barkbusters: $120......but you need turn signals

Touratech Handguards: $273.......but you need turn signals

Ducati Performance Enduro Handguards and Mirrors with LED turn signals: $353

....and you can probably sell your stock mirrors.

Northlight

The Touratech setup includes Rizoma signals but they need to be attached to the cowl, drilled into the bike...
The barkbuster I was referring and linked to is a simple bar across the OEM mirors so no additional signals are needed.

JigaroKano · Jan 25th, 2012, 10:29 am

Northlight
I like your set up, how are the DP mirrors? The OEM mirrors are the first bike mirrors that are actually worth a damn, do the DP mirrors work well?

Additonally the mirrors are the widest part of the bike, OEM, are the DP mirrors any farther out or closer in. It is probably negligible I am just curious. I am leaning towards going with DP but BarkBuster bar across OEM is a possibility as well.

Sock Monkey · Jan 25th, 2012, 10:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by JigaroKano

The Touratech setup includes Rizoma signals but they need to be attached to the cowl, drilled into the bike...
The barkbuster I was referring and linked to is a simple bar across the OEM mirors so no additional signals are needed.

This is incorrect. I have the Touratech setup, and it comes with brackets for the new turn signals that attach to the bike via mounting points that are already there. NO DRILLING IS REQUIRED. There....did I say that loud enough?

They are also NOT Rizoma (at least the kit sold in the USA aren't). They are cheap $30 signals that you can buy at Cycle Gear. I have the EXACT same signals on my dualsport bike. They work great, but Rizoma they are not.

I'll post up pics and a write-up of my install soon.....

-SM

Northlight · Jan 25th, 2012, 11:56 am

The DP mirrors work well and are no wider than the stock ones.

Also: I like that the DP parts are high quality and were designed specifically for the Multistrada.

They look right on the bike, in my opinion.

I've also stuck with DP on the tankbag and tailbag....however...this took a little doing. The DP tankbag offered for the Multistrada was too tall and did not offer secure mounting, in my opinion.

With more than a little research and some help from the local luggage repair place, I adapted the DP 1098 tank and tailbag to work.....though we reversed their positions.

Take a look......