Purpose of the rear splashguard

[Hammam]

What exactly is the purpose of the rear splashguard that's bolted to the swingarm? Is it to prevent splashing rearward, or upward, or rocks and débris from flying up into the frame, or what? I like the look of it, because it is soooo GS, but I'm ready to sacrifice it to lose some weight. If I install a plastic or carbon mudguard under the frame and in front of the shock, can I get rid of the splashguard altogether? What will happen? I won't do much off-road. Thanks

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by Hammam

What exactly is the purpose of the rear splashguard that's bolted to the swingarm? Is it to prevent splashing rearward, or upward, or rocks and débris from flying up into the frame, or what? I like the look of it, because it is soooo GS, but I'm ready to sacrifice it to lose some weight. If I install a plastic or carbon mudguard under the frame and in front of the shock, can I get rid of the splashguard altogether? What will happen? I won't do much off-road. Thanks

Its sole function is to send a jet of cold, dirty water towards the back of your left leg from mid thigh to ankle. Remove it as soon as you can.

It's ostensible raison d'être is to comply with German TÜV rear bumper height regulations. Remove it as soon as you can.

Regardless of whether or not you fit a hugger or something like a Mudsling into the rear subrframe, remove it as soon as you can.

Did I mention......remove it as soon as you can?

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by Schtum

Its sole function is to send a jet of cold, dirty water towards the back of your left leg from mid thigh to ankle. Remove it as soon as you can.

It's ostensible raison d'être is to comply with German TÜV rear bumper height regulations. Remove it as soon as you can.

Regardless of whether or not you fit a hugger or something like a Mudsling into the rear subrframe, remove it as soon as you can.

Did I mention......remove it as soon as you can?

I like your attitude, man Thanks. I will put a hugger there instead.

[marc]

I like it. But I'm weird that way.

Beware of huggers and mud.

[Hammam]

Originally Posted by marc

I like it. But I'm weird that way.

Beware of huggers and mud.

Why? No, seriously, now. You haven't removed yours, have you?

[marc]

Permanently removed it? No. The guys who ride behind me are usually happy that it is there, too.

It has been off many times when working on the bike. It always goes back on when I'm done.

The caution about huggers and mud is that some folks have had expensive things happen to huggers when riding in mud. Either that or a build up of mud between tire and hugger such that the bike won't move. Some folks have even had the mud stuck to their tires rip off the stock splash guard. That's not a biggie for me... I stay out of mud!

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by marc

I like it. But I'm weird that way.

Like many of your fellow countrymen..... Leaving the damned things on seems to be a peculiarly American affliction, as you can see from this pic of my buddy Jack on his old and sadly now wrecked GS and me beside him on a Dubblelju rental.



With respect to the hugger issue, although it's correct that some of them are prone to clogging with mud and don't fit with knobbly tyres, it's actually an unrelated matter since the herschl (yes, that's the correct name for that coal scuttle on the rear wheel) doesn't in any fashion perform the same function as a hugger. If you intend to ride off-road, fit a Mudsling to protect your rear shock and associated parts.

Herschl => dumpster. YKIMS

[bloke]

ditch it to lose some weight? between it, the bolts and the bracket it all weighs less than a pound LOL

and without it you sure do get a lot of crap thrown up on the rear tag/bag/passenger etc etc

[wjherrick]

Hey there Schtum... I'm looking for one. If you've taken your off want to sell it??

Bill in OR

[Schtum]

Originally Posted by wjherrick

Hey there Schtum... I'm looking for one. If you've taken your off want to sell it??

Bill in OR

Yeah sure Bill - just send me a return plane ticket from Edinburgh to Portland and I'll pack it in my checked luggage....