There are a variety of choices for flag-style hand guards at the moment. A great new choice is the Universal Flak Shield from Pro Moto Billet. The guard is a combination of two parts. The shield part is a plastic flag offering good roost and weather protection with a molded-in, rib-reinforced socket on the back. The machined-billet mounting hardware fits snugly into the socket and stays put thanks to a through-bolt. I like the simplicity and sturdiness of the mount, but the stand-out feature is a machine notch in the mounting hardware through which kill and electric start wires are run. The notch would be more convenient for me if it was in the clamp portion of the mount, but installation was basically trouble-free and very quick.
The guards have stood up well to brush and crashes but suffered a little cosmetically in crashes. The flag portion comes in colors to match the big-five brands with a sticker covering the front featuring either a skull or scallop design. Crashing tears up the sticker, but otherwise there have been no other problems. At $59.95, the Flak Shields are in the ballpark with similar offerings yet have a slightly cleaner mounting than most, and more style than any I've seen. -Karel Kramer