This sturdy protective shield guards the front of the engine against damage caused by road debris or items kicked up by the front wheel. It protects the fragile plastic alternator cover, exhaust crossover, and the lower portions of the cylinders. Large cutouts ensure cooling airflow to the cylinders. The .105" thick aluminum plate has a smooth finish for ease of maintenance.
Don't confuse this item with a simple rubber mud flap mounted on the fender - that flap doesn't do much more than catch a bit of mud or rain. By contrast the SplashGuard deflects sticks, stones, and other harmful debris. After several thousand miles on our own R12GS we can see clear evidence of the items that whacked our SplashGuard - the nicks and dents tell the true tale. Without an aluminum guard in place the front of the engine would've taken the hits instead.
