Tired of having boxing matches with trees or low-hanging scrub? Hanguard’s to fend off Mother Nature and protect your knuckles are nothing revolutionary, but the aesthetic remains somewhat divisive. That being said, the newly released Crankbrothers Guardian handguards may just be the sleekest solution we’ve seen to date.
Crankbrothers Guardian Handguards
There are two options available when it comes to mounting the Guardian’s; a universal quick-release clamp, or an integrated grip lockring mount. The universal quick-release features a neat aluminium clamp with adjustable tension to prevent them from slipping. The diameter of the clamp will suit all handlebars at the grip interface, being 22.2mm. The clamp is made from a durable plastic that is flexible enough to stretch over the bars without removing the grips. On the scales, these weigh in at 126g for the pair. Although we’d hazard a guess that riders looking at handguards aren’t too fussed about weight.
Key Details
- Mounting | Universal QR or Integrated
- Colours | Black
- Price | $89.95 AUD (Universal QR) or $104.95 AUD (Integrated)
- Weight | 128g or 144g
The integrated grip lockring mount is for those chasing a cleaner cockpit or have limited space for extra clamps. Within the box is a replacement grip lockring and a shim, which replaces the stock lockring on the grip. Crankbrothers claims these are compatible with 90% of grips on the market, including Deity, Lizard Skin, ODI and Ergon, to name a few.
The integrated kit is slightly heavier than the universal QR kit, weighing in at 144g for the pair. We did save 10g a side from removing the stock lockring in the case of the Deity grips we had on hand, however.
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The universal QR and integrated kits are highly adjustable to suit any configuration. There is 33mm of adjustability laterally on the paddle, along with a 12mm extender to push it further from the grips. With all that adjustability, we’d be pretty darn confident riders will be able to find the sweet spot on any bike.
Flows Verdict
Should everybody be running handguards? Realistically, the weight penalty is minimal, and for the protection they provide, there isn’t really a strong argument against them. While they don’t guarantee it, there’s a solid chance that they will help deflect the bars when clipping them on a tree. This may prevent what could be a rather large crash, which is a strong enough argument in itself.
If you ride wide machine-built and well-maintained trails, I can’t see these getting a whole lot of use. For backcountry missions where you’re bashing through scrub, or tighter trails where you’re darting through trees, these will save your knuckles and potentially some large crashes. The Crankbrothers Guardian handguards are some of the sleekest we have seen, have excellent mounting options, loads of adjustability, and provide plenty of protection.
