In the past, someone asked, “Is it bad to put a lever guard on the left side?”
It might sound like a trivial question, but it is actually very deep.
The purpose of a lever guard
The purpose of a lever guard is to prevent the brake lever from being pressed during contact with another rider on the track.
A few years ago, machines began appearing with a lever guard attached to the left side as well (as seen in the photo above). However, what it guards is not the clutch lever, but the rear brake. Specifically, a hand brake rather than the traditional foot-operated type.
In other words, the purpose of a lever guard is ultimately and strictly to protect a brake lever.
motorockmanIn the case of a push-type thumb brake, a guard is unnecessary because its orientation and placement prevent any contact with other bikes.
What about a left guard on public roads?
If you don’t have a rear brake installed, you don’t need a guard on the left. The person who asked the question is probably well aware of that.
However, if the logic is “don’t install it because it’s unnecessary,” then you wouldn’t even need one on the right for public roads in the first place. A situation like “contact with another rider” just doesn’t happen on public roads. It might be a different story during the commuter rush in Taiwan or Vietnam, but it is impossible in Japan.
Some people argue that “it protects from contact with car mirrors,” but that makes you wonder what kind of riding they are doing. Besides, there is no way parts manufacturers could sell them using a marketing pitch like that.
Conclusion: Do as you please
By the way, as for me, I actually have one installed on the right.
Since I sell titanium bolts, I want to make my bike even 1 gram lighter. That is why I do not put one on the left.
But then again, following that logic, I do not even need one on the right. Even so, the reason I have it installed is simply because I think having a “right-side-only lever guard” looks cool.
On the other hand, the person asking the question probably thinks, “Having it on just one side is unbalanced; it looks cooler when both sides match.”
In terms of being functionally meaningless on public roads, the right side and the left side are exactly the same. I have no right to tell anyone what to do about a left guard.
So, in the end, whichever you think looks best is the right answer.
＼The TSR lever guard is also super cool!／
