Kawasaki Ninja 250R Gravel Guard

 

Introduction

I live in the country and about half a mile down a poor quality white rock road.  Gravel is additionally found near most intersections with rock paved roads or driveways on many local Farm to Market roads.  It wouldn't take very long for the lower fairing to get rather chewed up.  The gravel guard is a purely pragmatic device and does nothing to enhance the visual perception of the little motorcycle.

To understand why I put gravel guards on my vehicles including motorcycles have a gander at the road I live on.

Tiger Lane in March 2008

Still not sold?  Well, have a look at the what the fairing and radiator "see".

Tiger Lane from the driveway toward FM 815.  Yes, those rocks are big and no, it is not much fun to ride down.

 Instructions for the 2005

• The materials list of items unique to this installation:
  • Five small stainless steel screws, nuts, and washers
  • Groboski Highland Duraflex 18" x 12" Splash Guards for trucks, vans and SUVs sourced from Pepboys
  • Vinyl tailor's (sewing) tape measure.
  • Painter's masking tape
  • Pen drill (small manual drill brace for boring holes in plastic -- available at hobby shops)
  • Radial arm or table saw to cut the above splash guard to desired fit (Skill saw in a pinch)
• Stainless steel hardware is recommended due to the amount of abuse and wear that road grime, dirt, and water deposited by the front tire on the fender and surrounding area will inflict.
• The length of the bolts should be just enough to fit through the fender, the gravel guard, the washer, and the fully threaded the nut while maintaining an adequate distance from the front tire.  About 3/8 inch but the actual length will depend on the thickness of the material used for the gravel guard.
• Smoothly put a thickness or two of painter's masking tape on lower rearward lip of the front fender.
• Evenly measure using the tailor's tape and mark with a fine tip marker 5 points near the lower lip of the front fender.
• Carefully drill 5 holes as marked.
• Cut the splash guard to the size desired to protect the fairing
• Place the splash guard in place so that a minimum amount of the guard is in the fender and the guard itself just misses the font tire (clearance will be only about 1/16" to 1/8").
• Mark where the holes will need to be drilled to properly mate with the existing holes in the fender (this will not be straight across the top of the guard).
• Drill the holes as marked in the gravel guard.
• Test fit the guard and the attachment hardware to the fender.  Be prepared to "slot" some of the holes in the guard to obtain a proper fit.
• Remove the masking tape.
• Install the hardware beginning with the center bolt, nut, and washer.  Work outward.
• After the gravel guard is completely lined up and level, tighten all hardware.
• Attach the lower fairing chin guard with the lower fairing grill bolt.
• It is clear the gravel guard strikes the lower fairing chin during extreme fork compression.  A chin guard is needed as evidenced by the scrape marks on the gravel guard flap.
• All this can be accomplished without removing the front wheel, but it is much easier to do the final tightening with the front wheel removed.

Front gravel guard.

Detail of 5 stainless steel bolts that attach the gravel guard.

Lower Fairing Chin Guard.

Front Gravel and Chin Guard

Front Gravel and Chin Guard from the front.

Front Gravel and Chin Guard from the rear.

 Instructions for the 2008

Air flow, heat, and the physical interfearence of the guard with the fairing are much more an issue with the 2008 then the earlier models.  Protecting the front of the engine and the exhaust header had to therefore be subservient to protecting the radiator and fairing from rock damage.  This first attempt is a prototype and will likely change over time.  The instructions for the 2008 are very similar in concept to the 2005 instructions above with a few notable exceptions.

• The front fender is easily removable and makes for a relatively painless install compared to the 2005.
• The more radical forward extension of the lower portion of the fairing required a two piece design.
• Parchment paper was used to make the initial pattern for the lower fairing guard.
• A band saw was used to make the cut-out on the lower fairing guard.

Ninjette II front fender gravel guard.

Ninjette II faring gravel guard just after installation.

Ninjette II Gravel Guard system.

Ninjette II Fairing Gravel Guard cleaned.

God Bless America

 

This site was constructed using