I agree 100%. Early last year my Force guards saved my WR's rad when a broken branch tried to lance it. It bent up the thick rad guard pretty well, and surely would have done the rad in. My buddy wasn't so lucky later in the season. Same issue - sharp branch end right through his WR450 rad. We removed the right-hand rad, cut up a section of branch to make two plugs, tapered the ends and used them to plug off the rad hoses. Filled it with stream water and rode it maybe 6-7 hilly and tight km to the truck with no overheating issues
Side brace-only guards are only useful in tipovers in my book. Maybe that's fine if you ride in more open terrain. Our trails are tight, wooded and rocky. It's too steep and rocky to tow a bike in most places we see too, so you better make sure your bike is as bulletproof as it can be.
BTW - My EE's bolted on with the fan kit on my new 390 with no mods.
Side brace-only guards are only useful in tipovers in my book. Maybe that's fine if you ride in more open terrain. Our trails are tight, wooded and rocky. It's too steep and rocky to tow a bike in most places we see too, so you better make sure your bike is as bulletproof as it can be.
BTW - My EE's bolted on with the fan kit on my new 390 with no mods.
