I an effort to generally tidy up the overall appearance of the bike, I'd like to remove - or at least cut down - the black plastic belt guard.
Has anyone done this to the detriment of the belt/pulleys or is it just another questionable (read: unnecessary) bolt-on bit.

Love the bike but I swear these bastards have more bits than the space shuttle.

Thanks

Reperio

Love the bike but I swear these bastards have more bits than the space shuttle.

Couldn't agree more mate.

These plastic guards are really cheap and nasty...I've had problems with the belt rubbing against the guard and chattering. I'd love to do away with the guard. Naked belts look good..but I'd be mindful of keeping small stones / gravel away from the belt as these can destroy the belt.

Lots of people run without the belt guard. Don't know about cutting it down.

Emu, your nom de clinic suggests you're a local lad (Oz). Whereabouts in the wide brown land do you park your Roadie?

Reperio

Emu@Oz wrote:
Love the bike but I swear these bastards have more bits than the space shuttle.

Couldn't agree more mate.

These plastic guards are really cheap and nasty...I've had problems with the belt rubbing against the guard and chattering. I'd love to do away with the guard. Naked belts look good..but I'd be mindful of keeping small stones / gravel away from the belt as these can destroy the belt.




Not to mentioning your pulleys..spend the money buy a chrome one

Reperio wrote:
Emu, your nom de clinic suggests you're a local lad (Oz). Whereabouts in the wide brown land do you park your Roadie?

Reperio

Gidday Reperio....Mackay (Qld) bro'...I'll send you a PM.

ultrastar wrote:


Not to mentioning your pulleys..spend the money buy a chrome one[/quote]

Reperio, have you considered the option that ultrastar suggests.

You can these in Oz through Zpower..

http://www.zpower.com.au/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/304_409/products_id/837

Thanks for the suggestion of a chrome cover but, in addition to removing bits I'm also trying to 'de-bling' the bloody thing. I think someone at Yamaha management should periodically run into the styling department and throw cold water over them; the box of do-dads and gee-gaws I've removed from the bike grows by the week. Old jungle saying in design: when you thing you're about three-quarters done - you're finished; trouble is it doesn't translate in Japanese.

I've found a company here in Sydney that applies a very durable and good-looking, heat-resistant grey ceramic coating and I've used it on a few engine casing. Those along with black barrels make the bike a bit more understated and more to my liking.

So, as I am in the process of making my bike look more like a piece of serious machinery and less like Michael Jacksons dunny, I'll have to say no to the chrome guard guys

Reperio

Hey, good for you mate. Any chance of seeing some pics of what you've been doing?

I took my guard off and threw it away, then took my welders grinder with a cutting wheel and cut off the mounts. looks great!!!