I fitted Honda's genuine Knuckle Guard Extension (08P72-MKS-E00ZB) to my X-ADV.
This time I'm summing up what I noticed after actually riding with it, good and bad.
I covered the fitting steps in this article.
The short answer
- I no longer feel the wind on my fingertips or between my fingers
- Now I only feel the wind on the backs of my hands
- At around 16°C in summer gloves it was still a little cold, so I used the standard heated grips
- Not suited to keeping warm in winter
- If warmth matters most, choose something with wider coverage
Before fitting, the wind hit my fingertips
The X-ADV's standard knuckle guards are just an open frame.
Before fitting them, when riding, I could feel the wind on my fingertips and between my fingers.
After fitting, only the backs of my hands
With the extensions fitted, I no longer feel the wind on my fingertips or between my fingers.
The only place I feel the wind now is the backs of my hands.
When you hold the grip, the extension covers the area in front of your hand.
Riding at around 16°C
On a day of about 16°C I rode on ordinary roads, including some stretches with few traffic lights.
My gloves were Kushitani summer gloves.
The wind on my fingertips had gone, but I felt a little cold, so I switched on the X-ADV's standard heated grips.
About the comparison
This was the first time I'd ridden at this temperature since fitting the extensions.
So I haven't been able to compare it with riding at the same temperature before fitting them.
Not suited to keeping warm in winter
Since I needed the heated grips at around 16°C, getting through winter with just these extensions looks like it would be cold.
My conclusion: they're not suited to keeping warm in winter.
If keeping warm in winter is the priority, I think you're better off choosing something with wider coverage.
I've previously fitted winter handlebar muffs to my G650GS and XR BAJA (article in Japanese). They cover your whole hand, so they're another option if warmth is the priority.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
It suits riders who
- want less wind on their fingertips and between their fingers
It doesn't suit riders who
- want this one part to handle winter warmth on its own
Summary
With the genuine knuckle guard extensions fitted, I no longer feel the wind on my fingertips or between my fingers.
On the other hand, I still used the heated grips at around 16°C, so they're not enough for keeping warm in winter.
It's best to think of them as a wind deflector for your fingertips.
Retail sites list it for the Africa Twin and Transalp. I couldn't confirm the X-ADV as a listed model, so take care if you buy one.
*This is how it felt on my own 2026 X-ADV on ordinary roads. How it feels depends on the temperature, speed, gloves, build and so on.