Rear mudflap thingie

**skelstar** · 22nd August 2005, 10:28

I have a big ugly plastic rear mudflap (whats the official name?) that I want to get rid of on my bike. I have a couple of question:

1. As far as I know theres no huggers for my bike, will that be a legal or practical problem (ie water getting flicked up etc)?
2. Are there regulations governing how indicators/plates/plate-lights are mounted etc at the back? Or are they fairly general?

Thanks for help in advance. I did have a look through previous posts but couldnt find anything. I would have searched but dont know what the damn ugly thing is called.

**vifferman** · 22nd August 2005, 10:33

Originally Posted by skelstar

I have a big ugly plastic rear mudflap (whats the official name?) that I want to get rid of on my bike. I have a couple of question:

Mudguard.

Originally Posted by skelstar

1. As far as I know theres no huggers for my bike, will that be a legal or practical problem (ie water getting flicked up etc)?

Yes, you will get more water / road spooge flicked up.
For WOF purposes, you are supposed to have a rear mudguard. However, most places won't worry too much about it being cut off. Some bureacratic places like VINZ or testing stations may be more pedantic and picky about it though.

Originally Posted by sklestar

2. Are there regulations governing how indicators/plates/plate-lights are mounted etc at the back? Or are they fairly general?

Dunno about that, and good luck finding them! The main thing is that they are clearly visible from the rear, and that the numberplate is illuminated.

**bugjuice** · 22nd August 2005, 10:54

a rear tyre hugger doesn't stop the water flicking up. It's design is to help aerodynamics at speed. I've taken off my rear monkey-butt-plastic thing when I first got it, and never had issues with the fuzz or WOFs. As long as the plate is visable, the flashers work and are visable, and the WOF and Rego are either relocated, or nearby the plate, you'll be fine.. new pic attached (and another excuse to show it off

)

**skelstar** · 22nd August 2005, 10:59

Originally Posted by bugjuice

This is what my bike is like[/url] (and another excuse to show it off

)

Nice bike Juice. I like how tidy it is at the back. Might have to do some metal folding at work this week...
BTW - is that a personalised plate?

**bugjuice** · 22nd August 2005, 11:18

Originally Posted by skelstar

Nice bike Juice. I like how tidy it is at the back. Might have to do some metal folding at work this week...
BTW - is that a personalised plate?

yup..
The stock tail is just fugly, so that had to go..

I made mine out of two number plate brackets. One is screwed into the original mounts (new holes had to be drilled), and then another bracket was faced 90° which holds the plate (WOF and Rego behind the plate), and the flashers hold the two brackets together. Cost was about $30 for the two in chrome (not the choice, the only thing they had, but doesn't look bad after all) and took about 30 mins from start to finish.. There are bracket kits available to just screw in place instead of doing your own. Wether or not they would fit your bike, that's another question.. You can get them from a few bike shops around (not sure which definately have them in at the mo), or most will be able to get them in for you, or if you can make up your own, or have someone help, then you'll be able to customize it to what you need..

**White trash** · 22nd August 2005, 11:44

Originally Posted by bugjuice

a rear tyre hugger doesn't stop the water flicking up. It's design is to help aerodynamics at speed.

Really? I thought they were to keep the back shock clean.

**bugjuice** · 22nd August 2005, 11:51

Originally Posted by White trash

Really? I thought they were to keep the back shock clean.

and that, but doesn't do a very good job on mine..

**Uncle B** · 22nd August 2005, 22:34

I took a knife to my mudflap (see pics) and made my own bracket to hang the plate and indicators on.
If you do go this way, plan the whole thing through carefully first and make sure the bracket is plently sturdy. I used 2mm alloy and seems to be holding up fine.

**banditboy** · 23rd August 2005, 18:30

Hye you can get a rear guard eliminator thing, they are on trademe at the mo, It looks pretty cool.

**Zed** · 23rd August 2005, 19:06

Originally Posted by skelstar

I have a big ugly plastic rear mudflap (whats the official name?) that I want to get rid of on my bike. I have a couple of question:

Are you sure you want to get rid of it altogether, or could you possibly just shorten it - give it a haircut with a sharp knife or saw? Got any pics?

Originally Posted by skelstar

2. Are there regulations governing how indicators/plates/plate-lights are mounted etc at the back? Or are they fairly general?

I think you're required to have a licence-plate lamp and rear red reflector fitted. That photo of Bugjuices orange bike hasn't got either of those so he's tempting the law! If you look at the link he provided showing the stock mudguard of his bike you'll see there is a plate lamp and red reflector fitted as original equipment.

**crazylittleshit** · 23rd August 2005, 20:35

Originally Posted by Zed

I think you're required to have a licence-plate lamp and rear red reflector fitted. That photo of Bugjuices orange bike hasn't got either of those so he's tempting the law! If you look at the link he provided showing the stock mudguard of his bike you'll see there is a plate lamp and red reflector fitted as original equipment.

harden up

**Coyote** · 23rd August 2005, 20:38

My CBR seems to have absolutely nothing in the back. No hugger or mudguard. Are they meant to have one?

**crazylittleshit** · 23rd August 2005, 20:46

all you neeeeeed is a tire

**Brains** · 23rd August 2005, 21:46

They're basically an air brake, they only put them on the really fast bikes - so the question is, are you worthy?

On a more helpful note, most of my riding buddies have chopped the bottom of the 'air brake' off, and simply lifted the licence plate up a bit further on the 'air brake'. Just a long as you leave somewhere for a rear red reflector, and licence plate light, you will not get into any problems.

Happy cutting.

**bugjuice** · 23rd August 2005, 22:04

Originally Posted by Zed

I think you're required to have a licence-plate lamp and rear red reflector fitted. That photo of Bugjuices orange bike hasn't got either of those so he's tempting the law! If you look at the link he provided showing the stock mudguard of his bike you'll see there is a plate lamp and red reflector fitted as original equipment.

weeeeeeelllll, the rear light cannot be switched off, so the number plate is constantly lit. The rear light reflects back red when a head/light shines on it. It's got a recent WOFs under its belt.. in the year I've had it, I've never been stopped yet..

but you're right, if that's the law.. but I think they have better things to do somehow