Swingarm lower suspension protection

[Excellence]

Now I'm sober, (Happy New Year to everyone) this morning I had a look at the swingarm to spring knuckle. Even after only 5/6k miles it was filthy and was only going to become worse I reckon.
This is a 'let's see what happens' test solution to hopefully prevent a build up of potentially damaging or component life shortening road crud - easily monitored when riding up here once again becomes both possible and sensible.
If it proves the protection principle I can re-do it with more robust and better finished materials but I've a suspicion that it'll work fine as it is.
The idea was to use well flexible truck tyre inner tube bent round the knuckle and secured with reasonable quality tie wraps both at the front (1) and at the rear (2). As everything is flexible and soft-ish, any marks on the swingarm should be mild scuffing only and easily sorted but I'll monitor that.
While giving shelter against flying debris the arrangement is both clear of the tyre even under the mild flexing it'll experience and is able to drain easily as it's open both sides.
The only fiddly bit was persuading the tie wraps to pass around the knuckle and the swingarm without having to use any tools.
The top of the rubber was inserted into the space between the spring and the spring mounted protector to hopefully deter debris from slipping over the top of the swingarm to then drop into the knuckle joint.
Well... I'll keep an eye on it when I fire the bike up again.

[David.]

Is that to protect the area from debris thrown up by the rear tyre.

[Excellence]

Yes, I think that's the only place the crud could get in there from.

[David.]

On a 2012 Camhead, the rear inner mudguard extends enough to protect the swing arm and rear shocker pivot point.



Could the inner mudguard on the 2021 Shifthead be extended.



Looks like part # 1 in this diagram, 46 63 8 520 278 REAR WHEEL COVER, FRONT



How about this and using something rigid to extend it, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2017-2019-BM ... 4556674263

[Excellence]

Could do but it would be extremely close to the tyre and there's also a possibility it could rub against the moving swingarm.

[David.]

Fair enough, perhaps that is why the wheel cover is cut away and doesn't extend between the tyre and swing arm.

Looks like the rear shock has a plastic guard/protector of some description to compensate for the short wheel cover.

[Steve398]

It was one of the things that Lucas from T-Tech warned me about when I had a suspension upgrade recently. He pointed out that the lower mounting collects spray and crud causing the mount to seize leading to the the shaft snapping, and a failure that he sees with some frequency.

On various other bikes I’ve done what David suggested and extended the forward part of the rear mudguard to protect the shock, it’s obviously a vulnerable area on the RTLC.

I’ve got to get out into the garage in the next few days to fit some crash bars, I’ll have a crawl around under there.

Thanks to Excellence for his post

[David.]

On various other bikes I’ve extended the forward part of the rear mudguard to protect the shock, it’s obviously a vulnerable area on the RTLC.
I’ll have a crawl around under there.

It'll be interesting to see what you come up with Steve.

[Steve398]

It'll be interesting to see what you come up with Steve.

My wife was happily watching ski jumping so I did a bit of garage crawling tonight!

That’s a bit of a place to look at isn’t it? It’ll be an exhaust and back wheel out job. However, I did wonder (without trying anything) if it may be possible to cable-tie a soft rubber mud flap onto one length of the spring itself, leaving it long enough to cover past the lower mount? Not well explained I know… sorry.

If not it wasn’t a waste of time as I ended up polishing lots of bits underneath that I missed last time, and fitting rubber cricket bat grip onto the handgrips that had worn smooth - cheap, easy and do the job.

[David.]

I did wonder if it may be possible to cable-tie a soft rubber mud flap onto one length of the spring itself, leaving it long enough to cover past the lower mount.

With ESA, the rear shock absorber looks like in this photo.



There is a plastic guard to protect the damper rod. Could something be attached to this and pass between the swing arm and tyre.

This photo shows it on the bike.

[Panman40]

This is something I’ll be looking into when it’s a bit warmer.

[David.]

Who's going to be the first to patent a solution.

For some reason, BMW seem to have decided to shorten the rear wheel cover and compensate by fitting a guard to the spring strut.
(This still leaves the swing arm and pivot point exposed).

On other R models, a rear hugger seems to be available to solve the problem.

[burridge01]

On other R models, a rear hugger seems to be available to solve the problem.

I thought the same while reading this thread yesterday so got the Google engine working.Took some finding but I did and I have duly ordered one

https://motorcycleperformancestore.co.u ... duct-18414

Huggers for earlier models are plentiful but could only find a Puig for the LC's

I really have to stop spending money on this bike

[David.]

Took some finding but I did and I have duly ordered one. Huggers for earlier models are plentiful but could only find a Puig for the LC's.

Did find an image of that one but couldn't find a link to purchase it, so thank you.



Will also help to protect the passenger footrest area, another problem which folks buy infill panels for to address.

[Steve398]

With ESA, the rear shock absorber looks like in this photo.



There is a plastic guard to protect the damper rod. Could something be attached to this and pass between the swing arm and tyre

Interesting, the replacement T-tech shock doesn’t have the plastic guard, is held on by a clip??

From the photos it appears that the rear shock is mounted on the forward part of the swinging arm, if so is there anything to prevent fitting a longer guard to include the lower mount to replace it on mine?