Just me but there is no way I would put $100 into that stock cracker jack cover. It offers zero protection and I do mean it is a cheap flimsy piece of plastic. For $50 more you get a metal cover with metal mesh that actually offers protection and is not just for looks. Yeah $150 sucks for it but if you are going $100 bucks in anyway why not go ahead and get a real cover. But that is just me, it's your money and your bike so do what makes you happy!

 

I guess you could just add some mesh to the stock cover. That shiny paint and chrome stuff may end up ruined (sand blasted) after some good use and is more to keep clean.

Looks nice though.

 

Anything you put down there is gonna get tore up. At least this is one Harley product that offers practically along with being "shiny"

 

I agree and that's kinda my point. You're putting something down there that is going to get sandblasted and prob look like *** in a bit. Think I would keep the stocker and put some steel mesh in there for a buck - you know for "protection".

 

Before I put it on I put 3 coats of wax on it. Thats just the way I am, I wax/polish the whole bike every time I wash it, done this with every bike I've owned. I have put about 600 miles on the bike since I installed the cover and there is not so much as a bug splattered on it. The front fender is actually a little below it so nothing should hit it coming from the front tire. Not to say it wont get banged up but so far so good with a mix of back roads and interstate.

 

my wife and I have ridden together on some crappy days with roads full of wet leaves and pine needles, etc. her freewheeler with the sportier front fender allowed her oil cooler to become covered with debris, my Road King on the other hand pretty much was debris free..that fender skirt makes a big diff protecting the cooler from road grime and debris

 

Took the words right out of my mouth. Oil coolers have hung down there for ages, so I can't see getting excited about a cover now. In 40+ years I've never holed one. If extra protection is wanted just cut a piece of mesh and tie it on.

Plenty of other bling I can spend the SS checks on.

 

I can't make that claim, shovel ate 2 of them over the years and they were much higher up than my RK. I'm covering it one way or another, maybe drop a hint on mama about a late Xmas present.

 

Maybe you can protect it with a piece of cardboard.

 

My FX had a (Lockhart?) cooler; it was mounted in the same location as yours probably. Never had an issue with that, but DID suffer two bird strikes in as many years. PIA cleaning toasted bird goo from the front jug...