Quote Originally Posted by Marshy View Post
...become a protruding part of the motorcycle that could spear and gouge your soft tissue in the event of a crash.
I hear what you're saying, you and I watched that happen! I think there are lots of hard/stiff parts on a bike. I wouldn't love a fairing stay through the ribs either!
I think as long as it's not sharp, you're mitigating the risk.
I personally use the Woodcraft lever guards. They're largely nylon and rigid enough to stop a knock from affecting your braking, but also aren't likely to do any harm to soft tissue!