Barkbuster not only a good product but service

[GregMember]

The bark busters on my XR650 came with the bike and are an older style that is no longer in production. Jay before he left Sutto’s tried to track me down a set of the plastic guards for them but no one had a set. I was faced with having to purchase a new complete set when I really only needed the guards. I decided to take the plunge and ring Barkbusters and just ask did they have anything laying around at the back of a shelf or the likes I could purchase.
So I rang Rideworx who make Barkbusters and got Matthew Phillpott the owner by chance. I spoke with Matt and explained my blight and how the bike came from GHR and I wanted to use the same guards not because I am tight I just like the guards and think the style suits the bike.

Matt asked for my number and said he would look around. So a couple of days later Matt rings and says he had found a couple of sets and he would send them to me, and for free as well (score) He also asked as I have Barkbusters fitted to my Tenere and knowing that to fit them you have to remove the factory bar weights used to reduce the vibration would I be interested in a new product they have just released.
They have developed a weight that attaches to the end of the Alloy section of the Barkbuster, it uses a supplied longer end bolt seen in the kit pictures. So a deal was done and the gear was sent out.

The old bar weights that screw into the bars

The new weight, you can see where the end bolt goes through

And the back is shaped to sit on the bar end of the weight

The entire kit weights and the different length bolts of different bikes and setups

And the guards for the XR for free these

I was knocked over by the service the return call and the fact that Matthew sent then guards out for free. Being told about the weights and being able to get them straight from factory at the same time was just a bonus.

I reckon it was just good service backing a good product

TB

[Adrian LeeMember]

You should have hit him up for sponsership of OBT as well while you had him :laugh:

[alanMember]

bark busters are a good product had a set of the older style ones on my last four bikes (just kept changing them bike to bike)reckon they slide of trees a lot better than the ergo ones do i got now wish i kept them . :blink: and try and avoid those vps ones if you like single track they are dangerous just touch a pine tree and they will drag you into it insted of glancing of it :dry: (learnet the hard way and got the ergo one .my mates thought it was funny but)

[RoyMember]

Whilst I do think they are a good product, there are a couple of improvements that could be made in my opinion. Firstly, and it’s not isolated to barkbusters by any means I don’t like those plastic expander thing that lock into your bar ends. They don’t grip well and don’t last. The other issue is the bar mount on the inside. The yamaha ones that bolt to your triple clamp are the bees knees and are perfect but the other type that mount back onto the fatbars are crap. They move all the time too and if the inner mount moves then the whole system is near useless as you are always adjusting things.

In saying this I think there are metal end expander inserts (or at least there used to be). I used to just keep using my old ones and throwing the new supplied plastic ones in the bin. Not sure what can be done with the fat bar mounts but it needs some work. I am not bagging the product, just some feedback.

Good to hear that good old fashioned service is still available.

[GregMember]

Bundyroy I will find their e mail address and e mail them a link to this thread mate.

TB

[Aaron WildeMember]

Got to admit the system they have available to clamp the guard to the inside seems like an after thought. I have seen items that people have welded up and they look heaps better and stronger not like a mechano set.The home made ones are a bolt welded to a plate that bolts to your fork clamp. You get what you pay for I guess. It is not very often these days that a back yard solution is better than what a manufacturer comes up with. But cost and being able to adapt to different bars, bikes is obviously the issue. The bar weights look good and purpose built. Good to hear the heart warming story TB. Customer service at its best leading to advertising,and maybe better products everyone goes away happy.

[Scott TreadwellMember]

I had a similar experience with barkbusters. Matt Philpott helped me select the barkies for my vstrom. He was a gentleman , he provided service, and his product has now been tested [2 crashes] and has proven exceptional. Other riding buddies have other brands[like touratech] on their vstroms and they have failed to protect the levers.

Scott

[Jeffrey SmithMember]

I have the Biketique ones on my Veestrom and they bent when the bike fell off the stand due to wet ground one night.

[DavidMember]

I had a similar problem with the bar clamps on my barkbusters when i changed the fat bars on my KTM.
I tried a couple of different diameter clamps but i couldn’t tighten them up enough.
To fix it i had some stainless steel hose clamps that were the same width as the clamps and same internal diameter as the outside dia of the bars.
I cut off the worm drive and put the hose clamp around the bar.
I tighten the barkbuster bar clamp over the hose clamp and they tighten up no problems.
Because the hose clamp is the same width as the bar clamp you can’t see them and the bark busters are solid as.
I have tested them fairly regularly and they don’t move.

Rebore

[GregMember]

Well I have put some miles down with the weights fitted and I have to say they make a huge difference. I never rode my Tenere with the factory bar weight ends fitted as I picked it up with Barkbusters. They are easy to fit with only the single end bolt holding them on. The kit has 3 different bolt lengths in the kid

I rode the bike in the morning doing some running around, came home fitted them and rode it again straight away. The difference is very noticeable espically between 3800 and 4200 rpm where mine had the most vibration.

Highly recommended

TB

[Author]

Posts