Find the perfect hand guard for you! A thorough explanation of ZETA’s hand guards and how to choose the right one!

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Hand guards are essential for off-road bikes and ZETA is probably the first manufacturer that comes to mind when thinking of them. But there are so many types of ZETA hand guards, such as bent, straight, adventure, and so on, that it's hard to know what to choose! Even I have to ask myself what the difference between them is sometimes. But, if you read this article you're sure to become a ZETA hand guard expert!

Let's start with the basics of hand guards!

Type

Hand guards are divided into two types: open-ended and closed-ended. As you can guess, the difference is whether the end is open or closed. Which one should you choose? If you are going to fall, you should choose closed. If you are going to throw your bike, you should choose closed. If you want to increase your chances of survival, you should choose closed. The advantages are that it is sturdy, your hands are well protected, and the handle will not get stuck in the ground if you fall. The disadvantages are that the weight increases and the handlebar becomes stiffer, but this is in return for sturdiness and safety.

You might be thinking, "So there's no need for an open type then?" However, in contrast to the closed type, the open type is lightweight and does not affect handling, so it is chosen by motocross riders and some really skilled enduro riders who don't fall down. (For motocross, regulations only allow the open-end type in the first place) Also, if you want to use hand guards to block wind on your commute, we recommend the open version because they are easy to install.

If you're looking for safety, your hand guards are going to be stiff and heavy, and if you're looking for light weight, you're going to have less safety. The phrase "he who chases two rabbits catches neither" could be applied here. Choose the one that best suits your needs and the environment in which you will be riding.

Size

Closed hand guards that come with a mounting kit are different depending on the size of the clamp portion of the handlebar. Off-road bike handlebars are divided into two types: standard bars with a 22.2mm clamp portion size and tapered bars (fat bars) with a 28.6mm clamp portion size. To distinguish between the two, if the handlebar has the same diameter from end to end, it is a 22.2mm standard bar. A 28.6mm tapered bar is thicker at the clamp and thinner toward the end. The clamp portions are circled in the image above. Though there are of course exceptions, you can remember it as trail bikes and mini-motos have standard bars, and racers have tapered bars. However, depending on the year, even racers may have different sizes, or the top bridge may have been changed by replacing it with an aftermarket one, so please check carefully before purchasing!

Before reading on, keep in mind this information on hand guard mount clamps!

It is no exaggeration to say that the strength of the hand guard is determined by the clamp. There are different types of clamps that come standard with ZETA hand guard sets, as well as optional clamps for extra strength that are sold separately. We will introduce them here in order of strength!

Side/Front Type

This is the strongest type. It is attached by clamping to the pinch bolt on the top bridge. Mounts that fasten to the handlebar will rotate when force is applied during a fall, but this mount physically cannot rotate, so there is no way for it to shift. One thing to note is that because it is fixed so rigidly, the handlebars will have almost zero flex. The impact on the rider's arms during cross-country racing is very severe and can cause arm pump.

Since there are two types, side and front, be sure to check which type your bike is before you buy! I made this mistake once long ago.

Bar Clamp Type

Due to the special shape of the top bridge for KTM Husqvarna bikes, the mounts we have just introduced cannot be installed. This is where the bar clamp type comes in! By replacing the upper side of the handlebar clamp with this mount, you can install it in a way that it will not rotate even if the bike falls over, effectively getting the same rigidity as the above mount.

I wish I had this when I was riding my KTM with all those square holes in the shroud...

U-Clamp Type

This type of clamp is for those who don't want to make the clamp too rigid by attaching it to the top bridge, but also do not want it to rotate easily in the event of a fall. Since it is attached to the handlebar with four bolts, it is much stronger than the type of clamp that comes as standard.

The U-shaped design allows for a relatively high degree of freedom in installation, as it is designed to avoid interference with cables and brake hoses. 22.2mm and 28.6mm types are available.

Long U-Clamp Kit for Large Diameter Bars (28.6mm)

This is a longer version of the clamp introduced above. The length is increased to better avoid interference.

Strength decreases due to the longer length, so we only recommend this for YZ series bikes where the banjo bolt is perpendicular to the master cylinder. Otherwise we recommend the standard type.

Bar Clamp Type

This is a standard size aluminum mounting adapter that comes with the Armor Hand Guard. The mounting flexibility is excellent, and it can be used with handlebars of various sizes. However, the fact that it can accommodate various sizes means that there are many moving parts, and it is not a super tight fit. If you ride around town or on light forest roads, it will work fine, but if you ride hard, the aforementioned clamps are recommended. There is a middle type and long type with different lengths, and both are available for 22.2mm and 28.6mm diameter bars.

The long type is a product that many people buy to avoid interference when installing a radial pump on a motard.

Closed Type Hand Guards

Now that we have explained the types and attachment methods at length, we will now introduce the hand guards themselves! At a quick glance, they might all look the same, but each is designed for a different purpose, so please look for the hand guard that suits you best!

Armor Hand Guard - Bent

This is the most well-known ZETA hand guard and it is no exaggeration to say that it is the most installed handguard in Japan! It can be installed on most all off-road bikes. The shape near the end is curved so that it does not interfere with hand movement.

In the past, they were known for bending easily in the event of a fall, but more recently they don't bend as much, perhaps due to a change in the material. If you are in doubt about which hand guard to get, this is the one to choose for now.

Armor Hand Guard - Straight

Unlike the bent version, this one is straight until the end.

The straight structure gives it an advantage over the bent version in terms of strength. If you are going to throw your bike around or use it hard, this type is recommended. The other advantage is that it is easier to fix if it gets bent.

Armor Hand Guard - Bent with U-Clamp

This set comes standard with an optional U-clamp. It prevents the hand guard from shifting even if a strong impact is applied, and provides a more secure hold.

The price is more economical than buying the clamp separately later, so getting this set in the first place is a good idea. Note that the lineup is only for tapered handlebars (28.6mm).

Armor Hand Guard XC Kit

This all-in-one kit includes an Armor Hand Guard - Bent and an XC protector (normally sold separately). The hand guard body is black, and the protector is available in black or white.

Armor Hand Guard XC-PRO Kit

This is an all-in-one kit that includes the Armor Hand Guard - Bent, with a U-Clamp and XC-PRO Protector, which has a larger guard area for maximum protection. The hand guard body is black, and the protector is available in black or white. Please note that this product lineup is only available for tapered handlebars (28.6mm).

Pro Armor Hand Guard - Bent

The difference from the ordinary bent type is the side bumpers and bar-end adapters (anchors). The overall length of the bar-end adapters is designed to be long enough to hold the guard firmly in place.

In addition, the joint between the guard body and the bar-end adapter is a convex-concave fit to prevent problems such as the guard rotating and shifting in the event of an impact. This hand guard is a little bit special: it cannot be used with steel handlebars, and the clamp is sold separately.

Since it comes with bar-end adapters so that it can be securely fit, you can mount it with a side/front type or bar clamp type mount!

Adventure Armor Hand Guard

This hand guard is designed for adventure tourers and handlebars with short lengths and sharp bending angles. The overall length is shortened and a flat head bolt is used for the connection to the U-clamp to reduce interference with the cowl/windshield and gauges.

It can be installed on models such as the V-STROM250, NC750X, and Cross Cub, which are bikes that owners may have given up installing hand guards on due to space and routing issues!

Two types of bar-end spacers are included to prevent interference with levers and to fine-tune the installation. For hand guards you often find that you could install them if you could move them over a little bit, and this solves that problem.

Adventure Armor Hand Guard - Model Specific

Although the Adventure Armor series has a wider installation range than regular hand guards, there are still some models that are not compatible. The great thing about ZETA is that they make exclusive versions for those bikes. The lineup includes five models: Africa Twin, Ténéré 700, CRF250L (21-), Monkey 125, and CT125.

Since they are designed specifically for the model, it is a simple bolt-on installation! Can you see how close it is to the other parts? That's real commitment.

Antler Hand Guard

This is a lightweight resin handguard that balances rigidity and flexibility at a high level. You want the hand and lever protection of the closed type, but don't want it to be heavy? You like the light weight of the open type but want a little more protection? Then this is the perfect hand guard for you! It's so soft you might even say it's squishy. It will break if you use it too hard, so we recommended it for XC races such as the JNCC and WEX.

Open Type Hand Guards

The advantage of the open type is that they are very light. If you usually ride with the closed type installed, try taking them off. You will be amazed and surprised at how much the handling changes! However, since there is really no protection for your levers, we recommend replacing them with pivot type levers or levers made with non-breakable mechanisms and materials such as Polisport or ARC if you are planning to change to open-end hand guards.

Impact X2 Hand Guard

This is the most orthodox open hand guard by ZETA. Because of its compact design, the X2 is recommended if you are going to put it on your mini-moto.

The bracket is attached to the handlebar while widely avoiding the underside of the lever holder, so it can be installed at the desired height regardless of the lever setting position!

Three mounting positions are provided for the resin bracket, which is resistant to impact and damage. The mounting position of the plastic guard can be freely selected.

Impact X3 Hand Guard

This is an open hand guard designed to the optimum size and shape according to actual riders' opinions. If you want to put an open type on your full-size off-road bike, this would be the first choice.

A master cylinder guard comes standard and can be adjusted to two positions.

The mount that comes with the X3 Hand Guard can be adjusted to three positions left and right and two different angles. The wide range of adjustability is a nice feature!

Stingray Hand Guard

This universal MX hand guard was developed based on requests from riders in actual competition at the All Japan MX Championships. If you want something simple and orthodox, this is the one for you! It also offers the same degree of freedom for installation as the Impact X2.

Stingray Vented Hand Guard

The upper part of the hand guard incorporates a mesh structure, aiming to reduce air resistance and weight without compromising guard performance. If you are looking for a lightweight hand guard, but still need it to be in accordance with race regulations, this is the best candidate!

Extra: Something you might also find useful!

CW Hand Warmer

These hand warmers are designed specifically for hand guards and can be easily installed without tools, just put them on over the handles.

Being able to ride with warm hands in winter is a huge increase in quality of life! Every year they sell out during the extremely cold season, so you can't go wrong if you grab some before the season starts.

Summary

It ended up getting a bit long, but for those of you who were not sure which ZETA hand guard to buy, hopefully reading through this article helped! The type you choose depends on what you are looking for in a hand guard, so please examine the choices carefully before making your decision!