The Bottom Line
The idea behind The Protector seems like a good one; guard the thumb throttle on an ATV from being accidentally bumped, causing the ATV to lunge forward.
But after you install the ATV Protector it becomes clear that you could be injured by this safety device if you have a crash or if you hit a hard bump and it jerks the handle bars around.
Even normal riding, more specifically turning left, could cause your wrist or thumb to rub with the un-protected edges of The ATV Protector.
Pros
- Good concept for extra protection on running ATVs
- Easy to modify to fit just about any ATV
Cons
- Un-protected edges of guard against wrist and thumb
- Required modification to install
- Possibility of serious injury in a crash or abrupt bump
- Good possibility for minor injury during normal riding
Description
- Made from steel and LEXAN® Polycarbonite
- Separate designs for Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki, Polaris, and Suzuki model ATVs
- Can be modified for difficult applications
- Company will "do whatever it takes" to make it fit on other brands
- Limited lifetime warranty
- 30 Day 100% Money Back Guarantee
- Costs $49.94 plus S/H
Guide Review - The Protector ATV Throttle Guard Safety Accessory
The Protector is a bolt-on throttle guard that holds a piece of polycarbonite over the thumb-throttle of your quad. It helps prevent accidentally hitting the throttle while the engine is running causing the quad to lunge forward.
The item I did this review for is designed to fit a Yamaha ATV. The ATV I installed the throttle guard on is a 2007 Yamaha Raptor 700R SE.
The installation is supposed to take about 15 minutes and the only tool required is a socket-wrench to tighten the self-locking nuts. It took me over an hour to do the install because the u-bolt did not fit around the area it was supposed to attach to. It was easy to bend the bolt to fit the bar, but then the bolt did not fit into the arm it goes through any more.
It took a bit of persuasion to get the parts to fit together like they were supposed to, but it finally worked out in the end. You can see the steps it took to get the ATV Protector installed here.
The idea behind the ATV Protector is not bad, but the design could possibly cause more injuries than it would prevent. In the event of a rollover or if you hit a ledge that jars the handle bars abruptly you could be injured by the un-protected edge of the plastic guard.
Even with basic riding you will be rubbing your thumb and/or wrist on the edge of the ATV Protector. When you turn left, you have to lean left and turn the handle-bars left, which puts even more pressure on your wrist/thumb.
My opinion is that a smaller designed guard would protect the throttle just as effectively while reducing the risk of injury caused by the full sized guard.
Note: The ATV Protector has been modified since this review was published. Several changes were made to make it easier to use, safer and easier to install. You can read the new review of the ATV Protector here and a new install guide here.