Rear 'fender'?

[matchbox]

Anyone know what the purpose is of the rear fender(the black bit that curves round the back wheel)?
To stop wheelies? Catch muck? Cosmetic?
Is it a legal requirement?

 

[Zx9man]

Cosmetic I think no real use to man or machine

 

[Pete the paint]

Anyone know what the purpose is of the rear fender(the black bit that curves round the back wheel)?
To stop wheelies? Catch muck? Cosmetic?
Is it a legal requirement?

I understand it is a legal requirement in Germany. Prevents muck, debris being thrown up on following vehicles. May be a legal requirement in other places also. All of the above is what I was told when I asked a BMW dealer!

 

[Jumblemo]

And you are free to remove it in the UK. An unnecessary item.

 

[Fanum]

I understand it is a legal requirement in Germany.

Correct.

Part of the bike's body mounted bodywork has to be BEHIND the rear wheel in Germany, so they stick that plastic bit of crap on.

It only has one useful purpose as far as I can see, which is to be a place to stick a GB sticker.

Offroad, particularly on rocky terrain, they are a positive danger.
Take it off and sell it to some mug on Ebay

 

[rattler]

stops mud and road shite flying up

 

[MikeO]

doesn't stop mud and road shite flying up

Fixed

 

[Paul S]

All it does is catch crap and water so that it falls back onto the back tyre and is then sprayed all over the riders legs

Take it off, fit some shorter blanking screws and hang it on the garage wall until you sell the bike

 

[stephen.stallebrass]

I read somewhere that it was meant to stop muck from flying up and covering the number plate.

 

[telbenj]

I see a lot of people say take it off but I have not seen any with them removed. I quite like it so mine is staying on

Terry

 

[David Ryan]

Rear bumper?!!!!

 

[discoed]

Rear bumper?!!!!

I had wondered if it was there to act as the first point of contact - it's the right height for a car bumber - better than a car touching the rear wheel in motion. I suspect this may tie in with the German legislative requirement for some bodywork behind the wheel...

 

[Nutty]

I read somewhere that it was meant to stop muck from flying up and covering the number plate.

Wrong!

 

[team duvet]

classed as the rear mudguard under European law

 

[Stevie4scoops]

My Triumph Explorer didn't have one and kept me and its panniers clean in the wet. My GS1200LC covered me and its panniers in muck until I fitted a Mudsling and removed the rear fendner. Mine's staying off until I sell the bike.

 

[madmartin]

Ripped mine off and i stay cleanish when riding on shitty roads.
me pal still got his coal shovel and gets a nice showering of road filth. Its a waste of time...remove it and tidy up the rear.

 

[Pete the paint]

Ripped mine off and i stay cleanish when riding on shitty roads.
me pal still got his coal shovel and gets a nice showering of road filth. Its a waste of time...remove it and tidy up the rear.

Notwithstanding all the above........ It's a matter of taste! What's wrong with it? It has a kind of dotty visual magic! Now you wouldn't get that on a triumph.

 

[madmartin]

Notwithstanding all the above........ It's a matter of taste! What's wrong with it? It has a kind of dotty visual magic! Now you wouldn't get that on a triumph.

Its a piece if plastic crap that serves no obvious purpose.
99% of other motorcycles happily operate without it. What makes it "magic"?

 

[WindyChuffer]

Gets removed and binned on my 1200's. No-one has spotted it is missing when px-ed them. On my 5th now...

Its quite satisfying removing and disposing of bits off a brand new GS !

 

[Troppo]

Notwithstanding all the above........ It's a matter of taste! What's wrong with it? It has a kind of dotty visual magic! Now you wouldn't get that on a triumph.

Indeed, you would not.



Stout fellow.