Belt gaurds on or off?

[moshaholic2]

^^^ thats the same one i was looking at.

please post pics when you get it

 

[upthemaiden]

I've thought about picking up some of the newer ones for my 03. Aren't the 05/06 made to fit the same swingarm, just much less bulky? I wouldn't mind still having some protection.

 

[Thaloc]

Keeping mine on saved me replacing the rear sprocket when I lowsided.

 

[Red93stang]

Off, xb9r and 1125r, first thing I did on both bikes.

 

[RyBuell]

Both off, but then again I ride solo and on paved roads

 

[GRADER]

07XB12ss,both guards off.3K+ miles no issues.Also hacked the rear fender keeping only 2 small pieces to hold the brake line.

 

[fishgutz]

I must be the odd duck here. As an engineer, I assume the engineers who determined a need for the guard knew what they were doing, even if a bit cautious. I have tended toward choosing function over form as well.
I would never pay to have and architectural feature added to my home unless there was some practical function to it. Don't even buy a house I have any design input with. It will be functional and space efficient, but not visually exciting.

 

[batman6669]

Both off, I think they look look like crap and the bike looks cleaner with out them. Now I need the Brembo hidden brake mod!! But I don't think evilxb is making any more so I'm gonna have to shell out the $70 to ASB for the bracket.

 

[BikerTrash]

On. My bike is all black, and they blend in. I also don't mind the little extra piece-of-mind protection. Hell, I even added hand guards!

 

[tommygun]

ha to each there own. Fishgutz didnt you keep the reflectors on to? If I remember right you didnt remove much of anything

 

[j4nn3]

My first mod after getting the bike was to take both belt guards off Over 7000 km with no problems at all. I see there are few paint chips off from the pulley, but the belt is fine.

Though, I've thought of fabbing a "delicate" leg protector to the upper belt mounts, just to save my a$$ in case the belt snapped off [smirk]

 

[fishgutz]

@ Tommy. Yup. The only thing I have taken off are the stock mirrors and put on bar end mirrors. I couldn't see anything behind me. If I still weighed 165 I might have been able to.
@ BT, +1 The blacked out frame and subframe make the belt cover much less noticeable.
I wouldn't mind an American flag motif tire hugger.

 

[stellio78]

Hey Phazernut have you got that ebay carbon hugger fitted yet? Pics.

 

[BillyBoy]

Hey gang - I think about taking mine off too, but the dirt driveway has held me back thus far.

QUESTION: I would like to remove the upper and add one of these tire huggers also mentioned above in this thread. Do I need to get the SS for fitment to my STT? I've always kind of assumed the STT has the same basic dimensions, including seat and swingarm, as the specs say it has same wheelbase just a slightly different rake...thanks

 

[Jornum1]

Just to bring another reason why to keep these on....

On both my Xb and 1125, I had them removed. Recently at the track I high sided. As the bike and I were sliding down the track, it came up beside me and my outstretched left arm got jammed in between the swing arm and upper side of the belt. I got VERY lucky and my hand went it like a fist and my knuckle guards on my glove stopped my hand from going in any farther. I was also VERY lucky that the bike went into the grass and I stayed on the track so w stopped at the same time. Usually the bike will slide farther then you, and in that case I would have gotten dragged down the pavement. I am sure my arm wouldnt have liked that!
Long story short, I am fine and walked away with only bumps and bruises. They had to cut my belt to get my hand out. Dont ask me how it got in there, but it did, and it wouldnt have with the guards on.

So obviously I have since put my belt guards back on. Agreed they look like crap, but they are there for a reason!

 

[09buellxb12ss]

09xb12ss both removed but im going to cut down the rear hugger to fit better!

 

[redrider]

reflectors gone guards are staying but when cleaning the wheel noticed one tooth on belt was not in pulley so i rolled the bike a few inches too find a tar covered stone in the teeth of the rear pulley no damage but now i inspect the belt and pulley every few days cause of all the resurfacing of our roads.

 

[moshaholic2]

any updates and the Ebay Ss smaller tire hugger?