Are all bikes with plastic spoke protectors crap?

[toaster999]

Mostly, yes.

 

[legrandefromage]

Probably just the ones you have ridden?

All you have to do is remove the cassette and then off comes said plastic spoke protector.

Even £3k bikes come with them. My Zaskar had one when it was new.

 

[Uncle Monty]

Crossmax SL came with them and I seem to remember it was strongly reccomended that it was not removed. I had a cheap clear one on an '02 S works - I left it on for sheer irritation factor.

 

[poweredbypies]

My rear wheel has one but its mainly covered by the cassette only tiny bits show between the teeth. When/if I change the cassette it will be binned.

 

[merckx]

an XTR bike can come with one, so technically no.

ALL bikes LOOK like crap with a spoke protector on them however.

 

[ti-fat-man]

my DD got one kinda...

 

[Tuff92]

They come off just after the reflectors - anyone keep reflectors? I hear they are a safety feature!

 

[drystonepaul]

In the UK all new bikes have to be sold with front and rear reflectors, pedal reflectors and a bell.
You often see high end bikes sold with cheap plastic pedals on them just to satisfy the pedal reflector criteria.

Spoke protectors, or 'pie plates' as they are often known are attached to many new bikes whether they are BSOs or mega expensive bikes.

You can often tell how serious someone is about cycling by seeing how quickly these additional items are removed.

 

[02gf74]

Crossmax SL came with them and I seem to remember it was strongly reccomended that it was not removed. .

I see your SL and raise you Crossmax SLR. (hoipefukly that is thje correct poker talk - not a player so )

 

[jax13]

even as a 10 year old with a 24" wheeled raleigh dakota (15 speed sis in purple with gold speckled paint!!) the first thing i did was take off the front & back reflectors, wheel reflectors, rear mech guard & covered the pedal refectors with black humbrol paint!!!

if it wasn't for the 6x4" fronted ever ready lamps it would have looked pretty smooth!