Which Hugger?

[Bryn]

I got rid of a new Explorer then got the GTR     First ride in the rain and I was surprised just how little crap was over the rear of the bike, compared to the Explorer and numerous GS's I've owned.... mine is fitted with a hugger, and I'm very happy with it   

We had a very wet few days in Normandy on the Explorer in June, and SWMBO had a stripe about 4" thick of mud and road crap down the centre of her jacket .... not a good design   

[ChrisB]

I got rid of a new Explorer then got the GTR     First ride in the rain and I was surprised just how little crap was over the rear of the bike, compared to the Explorer and numerous GS's I've owned.... mine is fitted with a hugger, and I'm very happy with it   

We had a very wet few days in Normandy on the Explorer in June, and SWMBO had a stripe about 4" thick of mud and road crap down the centre of her jacket .... not a good design   

You should have let her travel on the pillion rather than on the carrier...

[Boomer]

If you have a topbox then rest easy as your pillions back will be  free.
The underside of your topbox however will be covered in  and 

The biggest issue I had with the rear wheel is that the spray from the rear wheel soaks the underside of my thighs.
Not a problem if ya have waterproofs on but in jeans you get nicely wet.
My GTR1000 didn't have that problem and even having fitted the hugger on the 1400 it's still not as good as the 1000.
On the 1000 so long as I can stay over 60Mph only my shoulders and the tips of my toes get wet.

[mecki]

I just can't see how a hugger is supposed stop spay at the back of the bike unless you are riding backwards. 
Simple physics - really. 

[Bryn]

I think the idea is to keep as much crap off the rear shock as possible. 

[mecki]

I think the idea is to keep as much crap off the rear shock as possible. 

That is right, but they were talking about the back of pillions, and a hugger won't stop that because it will only deflect  flying up and forward back on the tyre that would otherwise hit the mudguard under the seat and/or the swingarm/shock.
Therefore I would expect even more  flying out back since it has to go somewhere. 

[100milesaway]

Correct me if I'm wrong ,BUT why do we need a hugger to keep the shite off the shocker, has it not got a cover over the piston from new?. 

[viper]

personally i would not have a hugger again, i found it difficult /impossible to keep the swing arm clean, yes the hugger helps protect the shock but the crud runs all over the swing arm. after a couple of years all the huggers ive owned have cracked or started to fall aprt .

now i just run a shock tube protector and always clean inside the wheel arch after rides.

i do fancy the rear fender extender, when ever we encounter heavy rain my pillions legs get soaked, the gtr does have a design flaw in regards on the rear wheel fling off angle, ive never had such a messy bike, i wish kawasaki made a rear guard/ protector like the BMWs have

[Rusty]

My hugger was purchased and fitted by the dealer when I bought the bike, so I have no idea of what its origin is but all is well so far ... even after 18 months, and TBH that's what I would expect. 

[PCPeteUK]

personally i would not have a hugger again, i found it difficult /impossible to keep the swing arm clean, yes the hugger helps protect the shock but the crud runs all over the swing arm. after a couple of years all the huggers ive owned have cracked or started to fall aprt .

now i just run a shock tube protector and always clean inside the wheel arch after rides.

i do fancy the rear fender extender, when ever we encounter heavy rain my pillions legs get soaked, the gtr does have a design flaw in regards on the rear wheel fling off angle, ive never had such a messy bike, i wish kawasaki made a rear guard/ protector like the BMWs have

There's a rear fender extender being marketed by a chap on the American site - http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7921.msg95613#msg95613