Shin guards - all year or just in cold?

[Oko]

So I just put black plastic shin guards on my ‘09.
I thought I’d be riding in winter more, but the thought of the road salt has given me pause.

For those that have them...do you leave them on all year or ditch them in the summer?

Any opinions on them?

My “off roading” will consist of seasonal dirt roads. And I still have my Fox riding boots and shin-knee guards.

[Lokiboy]

The guards do make the ride in cold weather more pleasant. I use ‘em in the winter or when going off roading on narrow trails.

[windmill]

I leave them on year round. They don't block wind and rain, but they do reduce the force and volume. In hot weather they don't seem to intensify heat, but they do direct more air flow to the cylinders and heads,

[stagewex]

Year round. They are part of the rig and I never understood why folks bothered to take them off.
Except to get some real metal ones on there in their place.

[chaos2]

year round, they help in the winter and don't seem to hurt anything in the summer. And it's said they direct more air onto the jugs.

[Rusty Nuts]

I... direct more air flow to the cylinders and heads,

Good to know. thank you. I may invest in some just for that perk. It gets a little sticky here in the summer, any little advantage would help.

[windmill]

Except to get some real metal ones on there in their place.

IDK. Having both, I find the plastic ones more practical. They're more rigid, and their edges are more knuckle friendly. If painted they look just as good.

Painted plastic leg guards,

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Metal leg guards with rubber edging added,

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[stagewex]

I've had the metal ones almost from the beginning. The plastic ones seems too fake to me.
I think I got them from Old Timer and they were from a Dneipr (sp) so they were much larger in size.
I cut them patterned by laying the plastic ones on top. And used the IMZ mounts too. That way they fit around the tank the same as the factory plastic ones.

Just personal preference. Enough cheap plastic on the rig already.

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[snowymonkey]

I leave mine on year round here in Florida. I run a short black plastic windshield and black plastic hand guards. I know its not to everyones taste, but I like it and all the plastic bits tie each other together. I do find that riding on freshly wet roads is interesting with the leg guards. Water seems to accumulate on the guards and blow of onto my legs.

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[bratmanxj]

Installed them for the "winter" and never ended up taking them off.

[VWK75S]

the thought of the road salt has given me pause.

As it should,will produce rust everywhere
Tried different treatments but what works for me is to drag out the garden hose and give it a good rinsing after every ride.
John

[Mr Wazzock]

What Windmill said. I have the plastic ones, I thought they'd be tacky but not that much really. Can't tell they're not metal TBH (or at least, not easily).

Got them originally for winter, and they do keep the worst of the draught off, BUT better than that, for really bad rain and spray, which obviously could happen anytime, it's not like having two guys either side with a hosepipe each spraying your legs and feet! Which it can be without - so I keep them on all year.

[sagerat]

Yearround.

[Marine Corps Codu]

Year round. In the Pacific Northwet one never knows when the dreaded rain will fall!!

[Paint shaker]

When I lived in Florida, I would put them on for the short "winter" season and take them off for the long, hot, steamy season. I am now in east Tn and leave them on all the time, mostly because I am too lazy to take them off. LOL