I took the crud catcher off ages ago as I just didnt like the look and didnt believe it was actually doing anything of great value. After today it looks like it may indeed have some value. Especially on the better halfs riding gear!! If I am going to put it back on then I will invest in the carbon one. Has anyone had the carbon one fitted for a while? If so, how is it holding up to chips and damage?
Bike definatly looks better without it but from a practical point of view with our climate it does serve its purpose!
Since when were Ducati's practical..? Got rid of the crud catcher and fitted a tail tidy.. Looks great. Although did get caught out a few weeks ago. Rain and a muddy road. Took ages to clean the bike and my gear. Oh well never mind... Looks great..
I went through this with the GS.......the crud catcher is amazingly effective and well worth keeping on (1) to reduce the dirt on the upper parts/bodywork of the rear of the bike (easier cleaning;-) and (2) greatly reduce the damage from grit flung up from the tyre. Personally, as far as appearance goes I don't mind it that much, it fits in with the MTS12's dual purpose/enduro'ish appearance.....and you just get more and more used to the look. As for function, it does a superb job of reducing spray from wet roads and dirt thrown up over the back end of the bike from the tyre. And so to me it makes no sense to ditch it. Function over form this time
ive toyed with the idea of removing it but seeing the amount of crud that still comes up even when the catcher is there puts me right off!
I much prefer the look with it off But cant deny how effect it is!! Especially at keeping the crap of the Mrs, gear!!
Interestingly (or not!!) the Triumph 1200 Explorer doesn't come with one, neither does the Honda Crossdresser.
Looks wise I prefer without. But Her in doors, when on the back, thought she'd been shot in the leg with an air rifle. "Stone Chips". So it came off.
No-one has mentioned the how much easier the chain is to adjust without the crud catcher on. Nevertheless, same as everyone else, I can't live with the s**t that gets thrown up without it. But, my god, it's heavy and all that is unsprung weight stuck out the back. It is the exact opposite to Ducati's usual approach to weight saving. A carbon fibre one? I know there's a carbon fibre mudguard but a carbon fibre crud catcher? Are you sure? If so, it may be the only carbon fibre accessory I'd ever consider.
Not sure about a carbon fibre crud catcher...? Might look ok i guess. but i cant see it coping very well with flying debris thrown off the back tyre, it will be chipped to hell in no time! Seem to recall someone had one fitted on defunked ducatsti forum, and it broke or got damaged or something, very easily...??
I purchased that damaged carbon one on ebay when the guy sold it, sorry can't recall how much.. All it had was a few chips in the gloss and a bit of 2k clearcoat sorted that out. I think the chips were caused by the fitting over long bolts for the number plate. I took the original off to fit the carbon item and it needed different bolts to the standard ones, so just fitted the heavier original item back on, must try to fit it again soon.. The weight difference is amazing between the original and the carbon items. Chris
CarbonWorld also make them............. Motorcycle Info Pages - Recommended Stuff > CarbonWorld Carbon Parts .....10% discount code ;-)
if you order direct and use Andys code it makes the price around £145 to £150 delivered. I think I will order one. I ordered the carbon beak from them and is great quality
Somehow we all managed without the crud catchers for years until BMW started fitting them. Now they have suddenly become indispensable, even when they are really ugly and heavy. The Diavel one is even worse than the Multi, and IMHO they spoil the look of both bikes entirely.
Having just removed it before my tour, I have to agree, off is best, it really didnt make much difference at all to keeping the bike clean,
You don't want a GB sticker. I've never had one (when I was in GB) nor a CH sticker since being in Switzerland. In more than 25 years of biking abroad, no one has ever mentioned it. In fact, almost no one ever has one. Normally reserved for sad people on Goldwings pulling trailers and BMWs with aluminium panniers.
