what is this piece for ?

[efushi]

So I just rode back home from work, and i heard a weird rattle. Apparently piece #13 had come loose.


The nuts and bolts #14 and #15 were missing.  I figured vandalism, but then again who carries around tools with them and messes up someones motorcycle in a weird way like that. 

The whole piece I found, was loose, and with a slight nudge, I took the whole thing off and nuts and bolts fell from the front also. 

So basically, did these pieces just wiggle loose over time?

Also, What does the piece #13 even do?  I figure I wont get the replacement pieces soon as bikebandit takes forever, unless I can find a matching replacement at home depot.  So can I just ride without it?

[joshr08]

thats your chain gaurd and it keeps chain sludge off your bike and kinda helps in keeping anything from getting into the chain as well.  altho and this is just me but if you dont know what #13 is maybe you should start doing a little reading as to what the parts are on your bike before a mechanic gets you for a $50.00 muffler bearing or blinker fluid.

[Trwhouse]

Oy.
It is amazing that you didn't know what the mysterious "piece #13" is on your motorcycle.
Does that mean you don't know that the chain that rides on the sprockets beneath the chain guard needs to be adjusted and lubed, too?
I agree with Josh.
You need to learn more about this bike.
It's not like a car, where you sit in it and if something "falls off," it may not be a big hazard.
A motorcycle has only two wheels and can injure you if you don't maintain it and are aware of its condition.
Be safe.
Learn about it, take good care of it and be careful out there.

Best wishes,
Trwhouse

[5thAve]

Now boys and girls, be nice. We were all Noobies once.

[efushi]

anyways... I know we all like to act high and mighty now and then. I pretty much knew what it did, did not know what it was called, and posted mainly to ask the unanswered questions of whether anyone had theirs come off from nuts/bolts loosening over time.  Hope you all had nice chuckles

[jeremy_nash]

I took mine off due to damage.  if you have the bolt from the front of it, you can take that to any autoparts store, and they can match you one up   

[tussey]

Go ahead and take it off. It doesn't really do much and it's not necessary. Mine so caked up with crud (I doubt the OR even cleaned it) I just tossed it. I like looking at my chain. 

[dread_au]

I had the front screw fall out of the chain guard and had to replace it. The part number has recently changed (in Australia anyways) so it might be a little confusing. The original piece was a a one piece screw and washer where the new piece is 2 seperate pieces.

I belive it just vibrated loose or It just was not tight enough after I recently serviced it.

[Bluehaze]

lost mine on the highway one time.  just went to ebay and found one for sale for 10 bucks.   fyi those guys werent giving you hard time.. they actually were just making sure you were safe on the bike.. the fact that you posted that question means you actually care and want to learn.  keep em coming.. we will keep answering. 

[JEREMY JOCK]

That would be the chain guard. Throw some Lock Tight on the nuts before you put it back on, that should solve your problem.

[bill14224]

I've known what a chain guard is since I got my first bicycle when I was 5.  Oh, yeah.  We didn't have video games back then.

I'm not trying to bust your chops, I'm just floored by the generation gap that just hit me like stepping on a rake.