[Closed] Chain device/bash guard do I need one? Recommendations advice

'need' is relative. I've not lost a chain since going NW. EVER... None...

The One-up top guides are popular.

I like running a bottom guard as I like trying to ride over logs etc. My ambition often outweighs my ability though so having something other than the chain ring to take the hit is useful.

Depends on your riding tbh. Rough and rocky stuff can cause problems occasionally, but I've only had it a couple of times. The really irritating time was mid stage at Ard Rock. The e13 chain device fell apart (because e13) and almost immediately dumped right as I was pushing out of a corner. I'll probably get a OneUp soon. Friends with them rate then. As for bash, I guess it depends whether you ride rock gardens or case jumps a lot.
Don't get an e13, err, anything basically.

I've got a Unite top guide and bash, the Mrs a One Up. Both are great, you don't notice them until they do their job and protect your chainring.

ive got an upper guide and bash on my Aeris 145, the guide maybe unnecessary, but where i ride there is a log roll over and its not unusual to smash my chainring through it

Just building up a different hardtail and now fitting the same on that, only because i had a chain drop once previously and it ended up bending the chain ring..

they are massively over priced but they only have to do their job once and potentially save a lot of issues

I'm just thinking about this for my Aether9c.

The brake hose and shifter cable are routed under the BB a-la specialized stylee.

I kinda think I should put something down there just in case.

I have a guide but no bash guard on my Aether 7, didn't think the muddy mendips warrant it. Although if I had cables going underneath the bottom bracket I would probably get one, I'm quite a clumsy rider.

I’ve not lost a chain since going NW. EVER… None…

I have on a couple of different brand rings. I've found that when the chainring is worn, it can drop. YMMV on a different chainring, mech, frame, terrain etc. One expensive option is to buy new chainrings yearly. The (unnecessary?) chain device that came on my bike broke, jammed and took a few minutes to fix trailside.

As for needing a bash guard - IMHO it's not necessary. I hit my chainring quite frequently (either on rocks on the trail, or when I'm playing around doing trials). I have scraped the chain plenty of times but it doesn't seem to damage it significantly. I've also slightly bent a chainring but a) not enough to cause any problems in use and b) the chainring needing replacing because of tooth wear anyway. I accept my approach is not for everyone.

I have a guide but no bash guard on my Aether 7, didn’t think the muddy mendips warrant it.

Err.

The Mendips are also my hills. There's rock all over the place!

The bash guard on my Nomad 4 has saved me a number of times, so I would always run one now. I've only dropped chains when my CR has been worn, but it does happen occasionally. The worst is when it comes off and gets stuck behind the chain guide!

1) do you ever drop your chain? If yes, get a guide.

2) do you ever scrape your ring (oo-er) on stuff? If yes, get a bashguard, skid plates are good.

3) if you answered yes to 1 and 2, then get a chainguide with a bash built in.

I like riding over rocks and logs so always run a bash, it's paid for itself lots of times. I like to get life out of my chainrings and ride in the mud, so also use a chainguide/bash (MRP AMG).

Do you ever feel your chain & ring hitting stuff?

I have a bash on my low-BBed enduro bike, used it a couple of times just this morning.

But I don't on my other MTBs, just a top guide on the mid-travel bike and no guide at all on the trail bike.

My oneup bash guard has taken several hefty smacks that would no doubt have bent the chainring, I can't really see any cons to having a bash just in case, hardly a weight penalty, the upper guide on mine is probably unnecessary but adds a bit of colour and looks good so I'll leave it on.

My bashguard has plenty of gouges to say it is needed, mostly rocks but logs too. Dropping a chain is a faff, so a guide is what is needed for me. But its mostly Lakes riding for me, so plenty of rocky trails.

I guess it depends on how, where and what you ride?

I don't bother with bashrings any more (1x makes it not so useful). And top-and-bottom chain device now just on the DH bike because narrow-wide rings and a top guide offer epic chain retention, IME absolutely as good as a DH guide and a not-narrow-wide ring.

But these modern tiny top guides are brilliant- very effective, weigh only a few grams, dead easy to fit even. So I have those on everything now except the fatbike. No compelling reason not to imo

Err.

The Mendips are also my hills. There’s rock all over the place!

Fair enough maybe there are but I haven't ever found myself catching my chainring often on any of them previously so chose not to add one.