Prior to a recent trip, I’d never given handguards much thought. Even after being encouraged to bring them for a recent trip, I was on the fence–until we got an email from Crankbrothers. They would soon be launching their new Guardian Handguards, and this seemed like a perfect chance to test them out before the launch.
I’m glad I did.
Why would you need handguards for mountain biking?
One of the more moto-inspired mountain bike accessories, handguards do just as the name suggests–they protect your hands. The desert is sharp. There is always something trying to stab or cut you. On a lot of trails, these pokey plants are only in bounds if you crash or run off trails. But on other trails, the sharp bits come into play if you corner aggressively or the trails haven’t been cut back in a while.
Outside of the desert, handguards can be useful for any kind of trail overgrowth, from long grasses to thorn bushes to larger branches.
So why don’t more riders use handguards? Aside from worries about how they look and any added weight, it can be tricky to dial in your cockpit setup and get the perfect position.
It seems that adjustability is one of the main areas of focus for the new Guardians from Crankbrothers, with two different versions to suit your needs.
Split into the Guardian Integrated and the Guardian Universal, the Integrated model essentially functions as a lock-on grip collar and is compatible with DMR, One Up, Deity, PNW, WTC, RaceFace, WTB, Peaty, ODI, Lizard Skins, Sensus, Ergon, and SQ Labs grips out of the box (Crankbrothers claims this is 90% of the market). Additionally, the grip can be rotated independently of the clamp arm so you can fine-tune the angle of both.
The Universal instead uses a quick-release clamp to mount anywhere on the bar. In spite of the Universal quick-release clamp lacking any hinge, it’s surprisingly springy and can fit over a handlebar so you can install and remove it without having to move your grips or cockpit.
The ability to integrate with your grips or clamp onto the bar where you have extra room makes the Guardians versatile enough, but there are also three other adjustments to consider. Both the Integrated and Universal models offer 33mm of side-to-side adjustment of the guard plate independent of the mounting post. There’s also 12mm of vertical adjustment of the plate with two different mounting positions and a 12mm spacer to position the guard plate further away from your knuckles if you have bigger hands.
The result is a guard that can be positioned to your liking on almost any standard cockpit setup.
Most weight weenies will probably forgo the handguards, but at 129g for the Universal, they’re fairly light. The Integrated model is heavier, though still lighter than claimed, even including the special aluminum clamps that replace those that come standard with your lock-on grips. Manufactured from glass-filled nylon for the arms with High Impact Polypropylene for the guards, they seem robust enough to offer protection short of crashing full-speed into a tree.
Pricing
You can pick up the Crankbrothers Guardian Universal for $49.99 for the set, while the Guardian Integrated is $59.99 for the pair. Both arrive in plastic-free packaging made from 85% post-consumer recycled paper and carry a 5-year warranty.
Crankbrothers Guardian Handguard Review
After learning that my time in the Tuscon desert may be improved with a set of handguards, I opted to bring along the Guardian Universals. I figured this would be the easiest way to get a pair onto a demo bike quickly, and get it dialed in. Having just received them before I left, I didn’t have a chance to try them out at home, so when I got to Arizona it was a true test to see how quickly I could get them installed and adjusted to my liking.
At first, no one believed that we could get the guard mounting post onto the bar without pulling off the grips first. The clamp seemed very tight, and without a hinge, everyone was afraid that we would break it in the process. After the event, I confirmed that you can snap it on and off a handlebar without removing the grips. It’s a bit challenging, but the glass-filled nylon will bend, not break.
With the arms mounted, the positioning of the guards was pretty straightforward. I did not feel like I needed the extra 12mm extender, and I picked the lower mounting point, with the guard about 3/4 of the way out. After tightening everything down including the quick-release clamps, it was ready to ride.
Out on the trail, riding with handguards is one of those things you don’t really notice until you stop to look at them from the front. Sure, the sight of a big black plastic fender in front of your hands takes some getting used to, but after that initial hurdle, you kinda forget they’re really doing anything.
That is, until you look at the front and notice all the new scratches. I know for a fact that the guards saved my hands from some shredding because the same plants ended up brushing off the guards and snagging my forearms on occasion. Mostly though, they quietly do their job and you’re very happy with them at the end of the day.
Depending on your setup, they do tend to dig into the ground if you lean your bike on its side. Normally, the end of the handlebar grip would play the support role in the dirt, but if the guard sticks out any further, it becomes the fulcrum. The Guardians seemed up to the task, though the rough desert soil did put more scratches on the end of the guard this way.
I didn’t have any big impacts to test out just how much the guards will bend before they break, but it seems like it would take a sizeable force to actually break them.
Overall, the entire package from Crankbrothers is incredibly well executed. Riders who plan to use handguards at all times will appreciate the clean install of the Integrated model, but for me, the Universal is perfect. They can be quickly snapped onto your bike for close encounters with cacti, and removed for days when the vegetation is more forgiving.
