Nerve bars are an absolutely essential safety feature on sport quads. In fact, they're compulsory in competition. They protect you from stones thrown by the front wheels, but above all they prevent your feet from slipping under the rear wheels if they leave the footrests after a jump or a dangerous manoeuvre!
Nerve bars are an absolutely essential safety feature on a sport quad. In fact, they're compulsory in competition. They protect you from stones thrown by the front wheels, but above all they prevent your feet from going under the rear wheels if they leave the footrests after a jump or a dangerous maneuver!
There are 2 types of nerf bars:
1) Standard nerf bars:
These are the simplest type, known as standard nerf bars. Quick enough to fit on the quad, they attach to your original footrests and do not include heel supports (also known as HELL GUARD ). XRW offers a whole range of standard 100% aluminum nerf bars. Note that XRW also offers aluminum heel supports, which are much stronger than the original plastic. The front end is often a through-hole in the chassis, just in front of the engine.
At this point, depending on the manufacturer, there are 2 possible mountings: the 2 nerf bars are either nested together, or mounted on a bracket using an engine mount on each side of the quad.
XRW RACING offers as a compatible option HELLGUARD (or aluminum heel support):
2) Nerve bars pro pegs:
The most advanced and efficient nerf bars are called "PRO PEGS". Since "Pegs" means "footrest", this type of nerf bar has its own footrests.
These can be 100% aluminum, like the R1 and R1 MAXX models from XRW, or steel, like the Q1 PRO.
In the latter case, the footrest teeth are much more efficient and will wear much more slowly than 100% aluminum teeth.
We should also add that XRW's Q1 PRO features a double row of teeth: one 100% aluminum + one 100% stainless steel, for maximum grip. What's more, the external shape of the footrest is raised to provide mega support for cornering. This type of footrest is truly the most effective on the market.
What's more, PRO PEGS nerf bars feature integrated heel guards. These can be in the form of tubes, like the R1 MAXX, aluminum plates like the R1 or Q2 models, or nets like the Q1 PRO.
We often recommend the "aluminum bar" or "net" version to our customers, as it won't hold back elements such as earth, mud, sand or stones that might be stored there, and would make the whole thing heavier as well as hampering foot positioning. But in dry weather, or for use as a super-quader, the Q2 nerf bars with their grooved aluminum heel plates will do just fine!
XRW RACING R1 nerf bars:
The R1s are 100% aluminum, with a perforated plate as a heel rest. These raised, protruding footrests feature a single row of teeth. The fact that they are raised at the ends gives you good support for sliding turns! and also prevents unintentional release of the feet! which is top-notch in terms of safety. Lightweight and highly effective.
NERF BARS XRW RACING MODEL R1 MAX :
The R1 MAX are 100% aluminum, with heel-rest tubes that let leaves, mud or other bulky elements through easily, while providing excellent heel support! These raised, protruding footrests feature a single row of teeth. They are raised at the ends to give you good support for sliding turns! And they also prevent your feet from coming out unintentionally, which is great for safety. They're lightweight and highly effective.
Q1 PRO nerf bars:
The Q1 PRO are made of aluminum and have an extra row of protruding steel teeth. They have reinforced straps as heel rests which allow leaves, mud or other bulky elements to pass through easily, while providing excellent heel support! These footrests are oversized compared to other models, ultra-protruding and very raised, so they have two rows of teeth, one in steel on the outside and one in aluminum on the inside.
The fact that they are raised at the ends gives you exceptional support for sliding turns! and also prevents your feet from slipping out unintentionally! which is top-notch in terms of safety.
The reinforced straps on these Q1 PRO models join up with the quad's frame to prevent your feet from slipping between the two, and comply with FFM standards.
The Q1 nerf bars have received a special double heat treatment that makes the aluminum ultra-hard, and therefore ultra-reinforced. An XRW RACING plate is riveted to the side.
Q2 nerf bars:
Q2 nerf bars are made of aluminum, with an extra row of protruding steel teeth, and a perforated aluminum plate as a heel rest.
Their heel rests are oversized compared to the other models, ultra-protruding and very raised, so they have two rows of teeth, one in steel on the outside and one in aluminum on the inside. These are the same as the Q1 PRO. The fact that they're raised at the ends gives you exceptional support for sliding turns! and also prevents your feet from slipping out of them unintentionally! which is great for safety.
The reinforced straps on these Q2 models join up with the quad's frame to prevent your feet from slipping between the two, and comply with FFM standards.
The Q2 nerf bars have received a special double heat treatment that makes the aluminum ultra-hard, and therefore ultra-reinforced. An XRW RACING plate is riveted to the side.
Pro Pegs Nerve Bars assembly instructions:
PRO PEGS nerf bars will not use the original footrests. During assembly, you'll need to remove them and replace them with the tubes supplied in the kit, onto which the "footrest" parts of your new PRO PEGS nerf bars will be threaded.
In any case, assembling a pair of nerf bars requires no special knowledge or skill. A set of open-end wrenches is all you need. You may also need a standard drill to attach the PRO PEGS nerf bars to their footrest brackets. In this case, all you need to do is drill through them and install the through-bolts supplied. An explanatory diagram is always supplied.
An example of mounting a pair of Q1 nerf bars on the YAMAHA YFZ450-R :
Maintenance:
The nerf bars don't require any special maintenance, but you'll need to keep a close eye on the condition of the straps, and change them as soon as it seems necessary! This is imperative, as it's the straps that hold your feet in place and ensure their safety.
It's also worth pointing out that UFOLEP and FFM make it compulsory for nerf bar straps to join the lower part of the frame, to prevent your feet from slipping through, which could be catastrophic.
