Aside from dirt and debris coming off the rear tire, what's the risk in removing the plastic cover that sits behind the oil tank? Looking at the exposed area of the plastic, there's not a lot of dirt or damage, which leads me to believe there's not a lot of stuff hitting it.

I can't get the attachments to rotate, but the part is easily identified.

 

Think of how much water (rain) will be thrown at it.

 

You will be surprised how dirty the top of your transmission will get.

 

Just leave it, it blends in pretty well.

 

It helps keep the tire from dropping small stones on your drive belt. Especially important now that you've removed your lower belt guard. Leave it.

 

I trimmed the one on My Deuce back so I could fit a wider tire. It's still there, just less noticeable.

 

Modifying your Harley Davidson motorcycle without using official Motor Company parts can cause serious injury or death.........

 

The Moco has a history of using the minimum or most economic means possible to comply with EPA, safety, or competitive markets. If H-D thought that 89 cent piece of plastic was important enough to include it on your bike, you better leave it there.

 

...Besides, you paid 9 dollars for it (included in the price of the bike).

 

I removed it just to see if it delivered the desired look I wanted, and it didn't. It'll stay on. Too much stuff behind it I know absolutely nothing about and would be a pain in the rear to keep clean. However, while removed, I will give everything a good cleaning that, by the looks of it, it's needed for a long, long time.

I'm getting that familiar itch for something new, and since I've already got so much money dumped into this thing, I'm contemplating ways to change the look up, even if slightly. Hoping it'll reinvigorate my affection for it and I won't drop a ton of money on something new.