ER6 bad for mud & wet (seat & lights mudded)

[DonDino]

So nice-ish weather this weekend, and we're off with a mate on our bikes. Saturday we went to Castleton, but taking a weird route through the Peak District, nearly getting to Sheffield in the process.

Course correction takes us through a B-road (would've been C-road if they existed), single track & no passing places (there was a sign saying so), and from last week's rain, it was muddy as hell.

Slippery slope, but no probs, we got there and back, and it was good fun. Until we got home, and saw the back of my bike... it was all brown

The pillion part of the seat was all muddy, the rear light and indicators could barely be seen, and the license plate - well at least it wouldn't trigger any ANPR cams

My friend's bike, an FZR-something, was completely fine, no mud had made it past the bottom of the license plate.
This never happened with my CBF125 either.

Obviously it turns out, the rear wheel of the ER6 is big enough to protrude from the license plate level, so any water and yuck it throws up land on the pillion seat and rear lights...

Today, same thing, not so much yuck as we only did tarmac, but still pillion seat was brown again.

Not so much of a problem for me, unless I get a pillion in the rain in which case they're not going to like their clothes changing colour.
And if the plate becomes unreadable, police might not like it very much.

Not sure what's the best solution. I guess I could look for a proper mudguard (rather than the shitty little stock one) or something that would extend the license plate bracket past the rear wheel level. Any ideas?
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First bike: CBF125, Feb. - Oct. 2012
Currently riding: ER-6N since Oct. 2012

[Cuchulain]

I have the same thing with my XJ6n. I live on a country lane as well so it gets filthy instantly. Can't help I'm afraid but would like to hear a solution.

My YBR Custom has a large rear fender so not had this problem before.
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CBT 15/6/2011 Theory Test Passed 6/2/2012 Module 1 Passed 11/6/2012
Module 2 Passed!!! 19/6/2012

[janner_10]

Don't fret, just clean it. The dirt also helps protect it over winter too
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Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[Rogue_Shadow]

From the thread title I feared the worse buddy

Hose it down and be done with it, it's only mud not nuclear waste

[Clanger]

Sounds like the normal state of the roads around Sussex, something I have come to accept. Cover the clean bike in GT85, and then several months later, I might wipe the crud off then re-cover with GT85.
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Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter won't mind - Dr. Seuss

[Vracktal]

Hose it down, make sure to re-grease the chain, then chalk it up to a minor annoyance I guess.

You could always fashion some kind of *lip* for the licence plate if you want, that hangs off thre bottom of the plate then kinks out at 90 degrees, out away from the bike so the mud flicked up gets caught on that instead of coating the plate...

Alternatively, replace the bolts that hold the license plate on with longer ones so it sticks out more, or change the angle of the plate (make sure the licence plate light still illuminates it at night though...)

Those are the best cheap fixes I can think of, short of fixing those extended rear fairings like you see on some trailies... which would kinda ruin the look of the bike imho.

[lozzypop1]

I wonder if the fact that the exhaust can is underneath the bike as opposed to up the side has anything to do with this?
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Funny, I used to hate being spanked as a child!
Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand.

[DonDino]

[AlexW]

My SV is the same since fitting the tail tidy. Its currently got about 2 weeks worth of wet weather riding crud on the number plate and rear light.

You can still see the rear light so I'm not that fussed on cleaning it.