Author |
Message |
Tbowdre
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 12:51 pm: |
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Anyone have any negative experiences from removing these? Why you ask... I just like the way it looks... oh yeah and i lose about 2 ounces of weight! ha just kidding |
Dtx
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 02:18 pm: |
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Take em off. I too think they look better without them. The risk of belt breakage is elevated, though. (Stones, debris, etc...) |
Old_man
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 02:56 pm: |
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If you ride where you rarely travel roads with gravel or other debris (I don't know where this would be) remove the guards, their only purpose is to protect the belt from damage. My first motorcycle had a chain case to protect the chain and keep the lube from being contaminated with dirt and water. It kept the lube off of the rest of the bike and the rider. IMHO I think this was a great idea. But, I guess, it wasn't pretty. So, if pretty is more important to you than function, rid your bike of this eyesore. |
Pwnzor
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 09:30 pm: |
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Or you could dress them up a bit, I think they look great. The bottom piece is a lot more important though. It's unlikely that anything would get in where the belt comes off the pulley at the top.
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Terminator
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 10:52 pm: |
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I took mine off about 3 months ago now, no problems even when riding on gravel roads ( hope im not tempting fate ) and it looks so much neater. Or do as Pwnzor suggests, they blend in really nice, good job there m8. |
Tx05xb12s
| Posted on Saturday, October 21, 2006 - 11:29 pm: |
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I took mine off too, along with the rear fender. I think it looks much better. I only ride on hard surfaces, so I'm not too worried about picking up a rock. I've taken a bunch of the plastic junk off of my bike, but I put the hardware back where it belonged to keep the threads clean. It gives it a little more finished look too. |
Brucelee
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 10:14 am: |
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1 yr w/o the guard. No issues. |
Tq_freak
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 12:00 pm: |
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TX- I did the same thing, I ditched the belt guards first and then at my first tire change I ditched the rear fender too. no issues yet but I do notice more water on my back if I get caught in the rain and the tail end of the bike does get dirtyer faster but of well. PWNZOR- I realy like the polished guards but I didnt have the cash for them at the time, maybe I'll put them on my list but for now I like it guards-less |
Pwnzor
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
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Brineusaf still has a lower polished guard for sale in the classifieds I believe. |
Tx05xb12s
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 01:19 pm: |
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PWNZOR - Your bike looks sweet with the chrome parts. But for me, I like the raw, minimalist, blacked out look. For example, instead of sending my headers/race pipe to JetHot for their coating process, I used headerwrap. I think it gives the bike a more utilitarian look that implies raw peformance as opposed to a dressy look. My next project will be to try my hand at refashioning the tail piece sans pasta strainer and repaint it along with the side rails black. I do want a little chrome though. My plan is to keep the bike itself blacked out and minimalist as far as bolt-on stuff, and then have my rims chromed. Reminds me of a rat-rod. (Primer grey, attention focused on performance only, but with a set of bling bling rims. Cool... |
Tbowdre
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 03:05 pm: |
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thanks for all the replys- seems like the lower guard is pretty important, obvious possibility that something could get in there and jack the belt... I guess it hasnt happened to anyone? I was at a HD dealer yesterday and was told the '07 belt is different than the 06, indestructable! is this true? |
Tx05xb12s
| Posted on Sunday, October 22, 2006 - 05:05 pm: |
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Reckon the 07 belt will fit a 05? |
T9r
| Posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 - 09:25 am: |
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All 2004 thru present belts are interchangable. They all use the same pulleys (sprockets) and covers. 2003 is the only odd year. |
Mesafirebolt
| Posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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DAVES...how much for an '07 belt? After ingesting a few pebbles (Guards ON) I'll be needing one sooner than later p.s. didn't mean to Hi Jack this thread though |
Pwnzor
| Posted on Monday, October 23, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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Lately I've been running with just the lower guard because some insensitive clod bent my upper guard and it was touching the belt. I like how it looks both with or without guards but when I look at how much debris gets wedged in between my rear fender and the swingarm, I can't bring myself to run without at least the lower guard. I don't want to end up trying to get a belt replaced in the middle of nowhere! |
Bake
| Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 09:01 am: |
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I got a stone hole in my belt on a 03 with the stock guards on...I used to think the guards were absolutely necessary but not so much anymore. |
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