I took my first ride the other day testing out my gerbings heated gear Jacket & gloves, only had the controller set at 25% on both items, hands got a little cold it was around 30 deg while traveling at approx 40-50 mph at night, so it brings me to hand guards choices, are oem the best bang for the buck for wind protection, and will they help to keep my hands warmer.

Chet

Yes the oem's are good bang for the buck if, like most of us, wind protection is all you really need them to do (they don't offer proper bash or crash protection but are better than the open end flag style guards), and yes they definitely keep your hands warmer/allow you to wear your summer gloves much longer than without the guards. $50 well spent, I say.

__________________
DL650
FE390

I'm not going to talk you out of handguards, but if your hands got cold and you were only at 25% heat, why didn't you turn the heat up? That's why you have a controller, right?

My last set-up was winter riding gloves + handguards + heated grips. I'd last about 30 minutes in 35-40deg F. Hands would be so cold I couldn't grip levers.

This weekend I rode for hours - much of that at highway speeds - with no handguards, no heated grips... just the Gerbings wide open. Never once even noticed my hands.

OEM will protect against wind, bugs, small stones etc., but if you want something to protect the bike in case of a tip-over, something like a set of BarkBusters might be nice. And FWIW, I bought a set of BarkBusters and got their "VPS" plastics- they work OK especially with the Oxford heated grips. I've ridden into low 30's so far with no problem. But if I had it to do over again I'd have gotten the larger "Storm" plastics. (And I'm kinda cheap so I guess I'm stuck with these for a while; others have said "you can just buy another set of plastics for a few bucks", well they are $45/pair, which to me is more than just "a few bucks"!) Good luck with your choice.

__________________
2006 EX 500 - still miss the old girl
2003 C-10 Concours - good riddance!
2012 WeeStrom- let the farkling begin!

Yep, handguards will help. I have the oem and thdy block a lot of wind.
Another possibility would be handlebar over mitts, similar to the old hippo hands.

__________________
Joe S.
'12 Concours
'11 DL650
'10 Tiger1050
'01 HD FXD
'09 HD XR1200
'79 BMW R100

i second the OEM hand guards for bang for buck...i bought mine just to block the wind as well...

i ride with deer skin leather glove, hand guards, and oxford heated grips and have ridden below freezing multiple times and been comfortable...

if i put on my thick winter gloves, then my hands are super warm...they are just too big and bulky for me for the most part...

__________________
DL650K7
XL1200N (Sold)

+1 Bassbronco

My Wee came with the factory guards. A very good thing.
Since BMW started doing those on the GS's I modified or found guards for all my bikes. Hot or Cold, they make a difference in comfort.
Of course you could get some stylin' Hippo Hands!

I am out on the Hippo hands, my buddy installed a pr on my bike awhile back to try, I was back at his house in 15 min to remove them, at 70mph the wind put alot of pressure on the levers front brake and clutch. I'll pass on them.

Chet

HI NeverSatisfied,

Did I read your post right, the BarkBusters Storm were $45, I see them for $160.00 ??? a little costly

Chet