Pic

[RDFL]

This pic was one of those click on things in browser, thought I would share. --  https://thumpertalk.com/forums/topic/1015234-tip-from-an-old-guy-handguards-are-dangerous/

[oxford]

Everything will have it's good and bad points.  For me and where I was riding off road hand guards were a must.

[rodneya]

Buddy of mine had to ride back to the staging area with his finger in his mouth after it was cut off falling on a rock with no hand guards. Not the most pleasant 2 hours.
I will always ride offroad with hand guards. I point the guards slightly down, and Ive never got my hands caught and I fall a lot.

[Halmic]

Hand guards have saved my hands several times, and haven't hurt my hands ever.  I'm not saying they couldn't hurt at some point or in some situation, but the odds seem to be that they help way more than they hurt, I won't ride off road without them.