rear hugger?

[rockGSX-R750-NH]

I have been looking for a rear hugger for my bike all winter and there seems to be a few out there some as high as 250.00 and some as low as 99.00. What should I look for...If anyone has an adress they can post I would appriciate it ..thanx rock

[Stoneman]

Your best bet is to keep searching and asking questions. Some things to look for? Make sure if you alter your rear tire size that the hugger will still fit. Huggers are made to give very little clearance around your rear tire. Also, check to make sure they're pre-drilled. Extreme Graphic makes some really nice stuff, but they're huggers aren't pre-drilled, making it a pain to install. Nice stuff, but that's a drawback to some...

Basically, you'll get what you pay for. Buyer beware, but keep asking. And I'd tend to stay away from REAL carbon fiber. I've heard stories about stress points cracking on the lower quality stuff...

[Degsy]

1. If you buy carbon fibre, get the GOOD stuff (ask around for recommendations, but Art and QBCarbon are two of the best) Those two companies are in England and do tons of F1 work as far as I know. Art's stuff is beautifully finished and looks glossy and nice (kinda like Bimota stock CF) but QB stuff looks more like it came off a "works" machine (not so highly glossed) but still very high quality.

2. When you install a hugger you can run into problems with tire sizes, some will rub the hugger and some will not. Also, if you change your rear or front sprocket you can get tire rubbing on the hugger. There is a certain kind that has a big piece going down almost to the ground (can't remember the brand) but it seems to me that will stop air getting to the rear shock. Shocks can overheat and start to lose damping if they don't have airflow over them. This would be in extreme conditions though so probably not a problem for you unless you ride a twin (exhaust pipe for rear cylinder close to rear shock).

degsy

[rockGSX-R750-NH]

thanx for your help....so do you think a rear hugge is really nessasary? It sounds to be more of a pain than its worth.

[benVFR]

Yes what is the actual benefit other than cosmetic.

As far as non cosmetic I couldn't help but notice the RC211V has a hugger on it's rear tire and it has exhaust pipes exiting out the back of the engine as well. (Perhaps the fender doesn't cause an airflow problem though.)

Ben

[oreo_n2]

help keep the grimy bits of rubber from sticking to the underside of your tail when burning out.

no wait, tires turning the wrong way for that.

nevermind.

just thinking outloud.

[Degsy]

To stop stones chipping the shock. To help keep the shock clean from dirt and crud....and to look cool.

degsy

[Gangsta SV]

Try Ebay dude , they got everything there . .

[Zero]

For what bike?

[rockGSX-R750-NH]

2002 GSX-R750 yellow/black

[fivetoez]

in my opinon, a hugger add's unsprung weight & only has cosmetic value!...............just my 2cent's!......."5"

[Stoneman]

Originally posted by fivetoez
in my opinon, a hugger add's unsprung weight & only has cosmetic value!...............just my 2cent's!......."5"

A hugger weights a helluva lot less than that big ol' antenna housing they call rear fenders! But besides that, doesn't the unsprung weight theory apply to moving parts?

[benVFR]

Anything on the swingarm or the bottom end of the forks is unsprung weight, right?

Ben

[Stoneman]

Originally posted by benSV
Anything on the swingarm or the bottom end of the forks is unsprung weight, right?

Ben

I believe unprung weight applies to things more along the lines of sprockets, chains, tires, wheels...things like that...

[Stoneman]

None the less, a hugger weighs far less than the stock shit you'd be taking off. That's asuming of course, that you'll also be installing a fender eliminator of some sort...

[Degsy]

The bottom half of the shock spring is also unsprung weight.

Degs

[Stoneman]

...dot com....

[Degsy]

SILENCE!