HUGGER-2012 GSa

[ROBINCROFT]

Ado fellas,

arrived back from a ride yesterday on dampish roads (well you have to get out don't you) and the back end was absolutely plastered with muck. So much for the fancy catcher thing at the back! Me thinks a hugger is required to at least help minimize the problem.
Any thoughts or experiences of the most effective one to fit?

Cheers

Charlie

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Skidmarx hugger was OK but a little on the short side, tried mk1 and 2 of Illmberger huggers, they work OK but I could never get them to stop rubbing on the inside of the swingarm, and are ££££.
I have been using a Puig hugger on my last two GSA's.
Fits well, doesn't rattle or rub and seems to keep the crap level down. http://www.puigusa.com/imagenes/PUIG20473.jpg

 

[Sgt Bilco]

The Machine Art mudsling is the only thing that I've found works. The GS has this bizarre way of directing the mud and shite over the back of your left leg and this mudsling does a great job in helping that in my experience.

The standard rear hugger does nothing at all.

 

[boatman]

When it comes to talking shite Bilco knows his stuff

Ps I was still finding bits of the alaska road shite in my GSA a year later, I should have fitted one of these slinger thingies

 

[Sgt Bilco]

When it comes to talking shite Bilco knows his stuff

Ps I was still finding bits of the alaska road shite in my GSA a year later, I should have fitted one of these slinger thingies

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or insult Symon

Anyhow, here is a picture of how shitty a GSA can get and no matter what you put there, you won't stop it. Having said that, I have the Mudsling fitted and you can see that you can see the colour of the rear Ohlins. This shite on the Dalton usually obliterates everything and I remember thinking that the suspension didn't look too bad. I reckon they are the best you'll get and work really well.

 

[comberjohn]

My GS had the Illmberger fitted when I got it and the clacking noise it made over rough roads was driving me mad!
Changed over to a Machine Art and find it much better.
When I removed the Illmberger, I realised that it was for an non-ESA bike and that's why it was hitting the rear shock. Assume an ESA version also exists that doesn't hit.
Still prefer the Machine Art, though.

 

[comberjohn]

One on eBay at the moment with a bid of £9.99.

 

[Bendy toy]

The Mud Sling is by far the better option. Also fit a number plate extender and lose the silly shovel.

 

[boatman]

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or insult Symon

Anyhow, here is a picture of how shitty a GSA can get and no matter what you put there, you won't stop it. Having said that, I have the Mudsling fitted and you can see that you can see the colour of the rear Ohlins. This shite on the Dalton usually obliterates everything and I remember thinking that the suspension didn't look too bad. I reckon they are the best you'll get and work really well.

NOT an insult !

 

[ROBINCROFT]

hugger

Thanks for your thoughts fellas.
The PUIG looks good, though I can't find a price!
I have done some research and was wondering if anyone has experience of the:
WUNDERLICH 8160918
Nippy Norman sells these at £159.

Charlie

 

[Bendy toy]

If you want style get a hugger. If you want a clean bike, chuck away the TUV shovel, fit a MudSling and a longer number plate mount to catch the flying dirt.

The tyre throws up dirty water which gets knocked forwards by the wheel shovel. Dirt is then sucked further forwards by the low pressure air under the seat. Crap then flirts out sideways or all over the rear shock. By the time dirt on the tyre gets to the hugger - well its already got thrown off. the available huggers do about 90% of F-all. The Mudsling sits on the subframe tubes, effectively moves that low pressure area backwards and directly protects the rear shock and swing arm.

A long hugger would work better maybe something like the Britten race bike but nothing available for the GS comes close to that size.

 

[comberjohn]

So there's no advantage to one of those really cool, carbon fibre jobbies, then bendy?
Any recommendations on what to use on the number plate mount or would that be a diy idea?

 

[Bendy toy]

Mark Hooten makes a stainless plate extender. I made mine from 2mm aluminium sheet. Not difficult with an angle grinder and 1mm slitting disc.
The cool carbon hugger jobbies look great but don't expect them to keep the bike clean.

 

[Bones]

Thanks for your thoughts fellas.
The PUIG looks good, though I can't find a price!
I have done some research and was wondering if anyone has experience of the:
WUNDERLICH 8160918
Nippy Norman sells these at £159.

Charlie

I fitted a Wunderlich glass fibre hugger to my new 1200 in 2006 after the first wet ride left my left leg covered in road muck. 9 years and 58K miles on it is still as new and doing a good job of keeping muck off me and the bike.

 

[younger06]

Thanks for your thoughts fellas.
The PUIG looks good, though I can't find a price!
I have done some research and was wondering if anyone has experience of the:
WUNDERLICH 8160918
Nippy Norman sells these at £159.

Charlie

There is a Puig (or Puig style) on the bargain shelf in Adventure Bikes Ireland (Overlanders.ie) it has a €100 sticker on it. Even with shipping that will be a bargain for anyone from the UK using £stg.

Go on the website get the contact details and give them a shout.

 

[Bendy toy]

I have a Puig bracket that I plan to use with a bobber mudguard. It should give better tyre coverage Time will tell if the glass fibre can cope with just the one mounting point.

 

[Andy63]

Illmberger huggers, they work OK but I could never get them to stop rubbing on the inside of the swingarm, and are ££££.
]

I have an Illmberger hugger and yes it rubbed onto the swing arm driving me crazy until I took it off and cut off the area that rubbed against the swing arm now noise free.
I cut it with a hack saw and then filed smooth for a neat shape careful though its carbon fibre.

 

[Bumhead]

I have an Illmberger hugger and yes it rubbed onto the swing arm driving me crazy until I took it off and cut off the area that rubbed against the swing arm now noise free.
I cut it with a hack saw and then filed smooth for a neat shape careful though its carbon fibre.

I have one knocking about in the shed (wrapped in bubblewrap) if somebody wants one. I never got round to fitting it, It is the one with the slot in for ESA suspension. Message me and make me a sensible offer!!!

 

[AustinW]

The stupid little rear mudguard snapped off my bike on some very bad subsidence (ice heaves) in the Yukon. Best thing that ever happened. I do have a mudsling to protect the shock, but the back end of the bike is a whole lot cleaner without the mudguard than with. I also have a Machine Art fend extenda at the front that also helps a lot.

I understood the small rear mudguard was only fitted to comply with construction regs in some jurisdictions. Its crap

 

[comberjohn]

Just to clarify, Austin. Do you mean it has a 'cleaner' look or isn't as dirty around the back end?