Tail tidies - am I missing something?

Participant · 17 Feb 2015 at 20:52

Hi all

Everyone says I need a tail tidy as it'll look better.

I'm not actually sure this is necessarily the case, but apart from this matter of opinion, are there any matters of practicality that make a tail tidy a must-have accessory?

Will I get loads more mud up my back with a tail tidy plate holder?

Basically - what am I missing?!

Sagalout · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:09

What bike do you have? Personally I think they only really add an aesthetic benefit on sports bikes, to get back that high arse look they were designed with, or perhaps some high performance nakeds. It really depends on the bike though and if it was designed with a number plate in mind or not.

You might get a bit more spray if you commute in bad weather - again depends on the bike and tyre

Participant · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:19

SV650S, so not a sports bike. This is its arse:

I commute all year round (where safe) so I'm not sure ditching it is such a good idea.

Hyburnate · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:22

Not a biker so can't answer questions but from a quick google with your bike it looks a lot lot better.

wazza300 · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:23

it depends on the model of bike,some it suits and some look fine stock

acemastr · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:27

Looks infinitely better than the plastic crap they have on them as standard

wazza300 · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:28

you get more **** n crud fly over the ass end though?

acemastr · 17 Feb 2015 at 21:32

OP needs a rear fender anyway to stop the crap hitting the shock and gunking that up (you can see mine above the rear wheel), that would be the first thing I'd be buying if I'm riding in wet conditions

Dogbreath · 18 Feb 2015 at 08:59

The snow shovel on the back of the SV is a monstrosity. In general I really don't like cutting bits of a bike off, but I made an exception in this case:

4T5 · 18 Feb 2015 at 16:14

I'd say a tail tidy is needed on more & more bikes these days as they have those Stupid plastic bits sticking out the back. I cut my bit off as soon as I got home but don't really need a tail tidy. I do have a rear hugger & intend to reduce the size of my plate a bit.
Does depend on the bike but the newer the bike the more likely you will need one.

The pic below is a perfect example. Lovely bike but the rear end is hideous, I'd cut off everything below the number plate, Change the indicators for small ones without arms that I could put into the rear side panel on either side of the rear light then pop a smaller rectangle plate on & a nice piece of tidy, Then fit a rear hugger, Bike would look Mint & 10 times better than it does in the pic.

Participant said:
SV650S, so not a sports bike. This is its arse:

I commute all year round (where safe) so I'm not sure ditching it is such a good idea.

Sorry to slate your bike but it's not the bike only the rear end, Just my opinion as well but no offence meant.

Sagalout · 18 Feb 2015 at 17:09

Yeah, I'd agree it would look better on the SV. Whilst not strictly a sports bike, it is designed for the lines at the rear to flow upwards and to a point. Mine, on the other hand, wouldn't really benefit at all:

IMG_7013 by sagalout, on Flickr

wazza300 · 18 Feb 2015 at 17:16

I agree on the sv,its mostly for legal requirments I think,so not to spray roosters of rain/mud/stones over anyone following behind

but yeah it would look better with a tail tidy

TallPaul_S · 18 Feb 2015 at 18:03

You'd probably lose a few kg in weight too, that is a huge bit of plastic! It'll look 10x better with a tail tidy.

Kreeeee · 18 Feb 2015 at 18:44

With the sv you'll get a load more crap all over your back.

I'm not going to bother with one on the triple as I got one of the better models with twin exhaust so the extended tail looks fine, and no one looks good with cow muck all over them.

Yaayuh! · 18 Feb 2015 at 19:22

For an SV, i'd definitely get one! Looks so much better without the giant piece of plastic sticking out!

Sin_Chase · 18 Feb 2015 at 22:39

Would look better with a tail tidy.

My 690 Duke looks far better with one, I get covered in crap in the rain though

edd1e · 18 Feb 2015 at 22:51

I have yet to find a bike that does not look better without a tail tidy.

Sin_Chase · 19 Feb 2015 at 19:59

edd1e said:
I have yet to find a bike that does not look better without a tail tidy.

Double negatives

You are saying all bikes look better without tail tidys?

wazza300 · 19 Feb 2015 at 20:30

nothing worse than a hacksawed plastic tail /numberplate end

atleast the modern machines the whole section unbolts