Barkbusters BHG-110 handguard mounting kit for Honda CL500 from 2023 — black

The BHG-110 is the Barkbusters mounting kit designed for the handlebar geometry of the Honda CL500 from 2023 onward. It is the aluminum structure that supports the handguards: it protects levers, controls, and hands in low-speed crashes and stationary tip-overs, and remains on the motorcycle even when you change the plastics.

For this code, the manufacturer specifies a black powder-coated bar, rather than natural aluminum as on many other kits in the range. On the CL500, which already has plenty of dark details, the structure blends in instead of standing out.

As with the entire range, the structure and protective plastics are two separate items: here you are purchasing the structure only, with hardware and handlebar weights.

Key features

• Two-point mounting — anchoring at the handlebar end plus a clamp on the straight section. This is the configuration the manufacturer specifies for impact protection.
• Heat-treated aluminum bar, black powder-coated.
• Handlebar weights included — they do not need to be purchased separately.
• Interchangeable plastics — compatible with JET, VPS, STORM, and CARBON, each sold separately.
• Made in Australia by Rideworx Pty Ltd.

Protection and use

The CL500 is a scrambler: it is built for the road, but with the idea of venturing off it just enough for a dirt road, a gravel track, or an easy trail. That is where your hands are most exposed. But the most common damage on a motorcycle like this does not even come from a moving crash: it comes from a stationary tip-over, while parking or on soft ground. In both cases, the first thing to hit the ground is the brake or clutch lever.

The two-point mounting is precisely what Barkbusters designed for this purpose: the bar forms a cage around the hand and transfers the impact to the structure instead of the lever. The single-point configuration, the other option in the range, is specified by the manufacturer only for protection from wind and weather.

Materials and construction

Heat-treated aluminum structure, a process the manufacturer uses to increase strength and impact absorption, with a black powder-coated finish. The design wraps around the hand: it starts at the straight section of the handlebar, curves around the hand, and closes at the end.

Compatibility

Compatibility declared by Barkbusters for motorcycles in original factory configuration. Aftermarket handlebars may have different diameters and thicknesses: mounting compatibility must be checked before purchase. Unsure about your model? Contact us with the model and year.

Pay attention to the model. The CL500 shares its engine with the CB500X, CB500F, and NX500, but not its handlebar: those motorcycles use different codes. The 471 cc twin-cylinder engine alone is not enough to choose the kit.

Installation

Mounts on the original handlebar, with no drilling or modifications to the motorcycle. The stock bar-end weights must be removed because the structure anchors directly to the handlebar ends, and the weights supplied with the kit are used in their place.

Before fully tightening, check that the throttle, front brake, clutch, and engine stop switch operate freely and that the steering turns from lock to lock without interference. Recheck the tightness after the first 50 km. The complete procedure and warnings are provided in the official INS-BHG-110-NP instructions, attached to this page in the Manufacturer documents section.

What you will find in the package

• Two heat-treated aluminum bars, painted black
• Clamps for the straight section of the handlebar
• Complete mounting hardware
• Handlebar weights

What is NOT included

• Protective plastics. They must be selected and ordered separately from the JET, VPS, STORM, and CARBON series. EGO plastics are not compatible with this structure.
• LED lights and other accessories in the range, which remain separate items.

Why choose Barkbusters

Barkbusters is a Rideworx Pty Ltd brand, an Australian company that has designed and manufactured motorcycle handguards since 1984. The range is built around a precise idea: the structure is motorcycle-specific, while the plastics are universal within the system. You buy the right structure once and then choose the protection you need, replacing it if it gets damaged or if your type of use changes, without replacing everything.

Why buy it from Endurrad

Endurrad handles accessories for touring, adventure, and enduro motorcycles: compatibility checked against the manufacturer's documentation, official instructions attached to the product page, and assistance before purchase if your model is unclear. Free shipping in Italy over 100 € and in Europe over 250 €, returns within 14 days, 1-year warranty. See the full Barkbusters range.