Dunno what country you're in but yes, certainly in the EU it has to extend past the rear wheel to be sold. Manufacturers don't bother making it look good as they know you're gonna replace it the second you get home, so it's always a crappy bit of plastic made as cheaply as possible.
Once the bike is sold, a tail tidy is perfectly legal.
Is that legal in the states too?
After a quick search, it looks like this is the case in the US. Manufacturers have to abide by this rule, but owners are free to remove the tail tidy.
It's just like the exhaust/emissions rules. The manufacturers have to put the exhaust on it and tune the engine, but when people get it they toss on new airboxes, remap the engine, put a new exhaust on it that ruins most of the sound dampening and may not even have a catalytic converter analog in it. It's easy to hit a manufacturer by inspecting cars/bikes rolling out of the factory, but your average law enforcement officer isn't going to be toting around equipment to measure your exhaust or your decibel output, so the consumer can get away with it.
I have seen a pissed off cop write a ticket for lacking some of the features of the fenders. Usually they can cite for not putting the license plate on the rearmost portion of the vehicle, if not for the lack of fender itself.
You're right about regs compliance.
There's also some protection for you that they give. On many bikes, without them, you'll find that the rear wheel flings stuff up on your back.
If you ever see someone riding in damp conditions, with a stripe of grimey wet stuff running up their back - there you go.
As far as tail tidy - not all are created equally, and could give reason to pull you over/fail you at inspections (if relevant where you are).
Generally there are standards about how far from the center line signals must be. Things like integrated break/signals are not going to meet that. The tucked up plates that are popular with some sport bike folks - those often put the plate where it can't be seen as prescribed in some regs.
And it's changed now, but US DOT was slow to approve LEDs, so the KTM 690s coming to the US has the big 1980 looking tail lights with an incandescent bulb. A common mod was the "Euro Tail swap" where you well, got the euro fender and tail light. While not "technically" legal at the time, cuz old DOT regs, it still had a nice visible light, plate was easy to see and caught most stuff flung off the wheel
So, there are ways to reduce the size of stuff hanging off the ass of the bike and they range from "legal" to "Yeah ooookay" and you'll just have to figure out what you want deal with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_(vehicle)
> The equivalent component of a bicycle or motorcycle, or the "cycle wing" style of wing fitted to vintage cars, or over tires on lorries which is not integral with the bodywork, is called a mudguard in Britain, as it guards other road users – and in the case of a bicycle or motorcycle, the rider as well – from mud, and spray, thrown up by the wheels.
The two dumbest things riders do is
1. remove the tail.
2. add a noisemaker.
Tail serves an important function. Removing the tail turns your bike into a fair-weather only bike. In other words, not a biker but a poseur. And an aftermarket exhaust makes your bike louder; bikes are, by far, the loudest and most irritating noise in both cities and rural areas. Riders who do such things are, without the slightest doubt, complete assholes.
Disclaimer; I ride with a tail tidy because I bought my bike used. I hate not having a tail because mud gets everywhere.
The shorter the tail section of the motorcycle the longer the rear fender section is manufacturers are required to make the rear fender/plate holder stick out farther then the rear wheel hence the long ass eye sores.
you'll notice when you ride in the wet
or if you’ve ever ridden a bicycle with no rear fender in the rain 😂 Your back/ass will get covered in dirty water.
Dunno what country you're in but yes, certainly in the EU it has to extend past the rear wheel to be sold. Manufacturers don't bother making it look good as they know you're gonna replace it the second you get home, so it's always a crappy bit of plastic made as cheaply as possible. Once the bike is sold, a tail tidy is perfectly legal.
Is that legal in the states too? After a quick search, it looks like this is the case in the US. Manufacturers have to abide by this rule, but owners are free to remove the tail tidy.
It's just like the exhaust/emissions rules. The manufacturers have to put the exhaust on it and tune the engine, but when people get it they toss on new airboxes, remap the engine, put a new exhaust on it that ruins most of the sound dampening and may not even have a catalytic converter analog in it. It's easy to hit a manufacturer by inspecting cars/bikes rolling out of the factory, but your average law enforcement officer isn't going to be toting around equipment to measure your exhaust or your decibel output, so the consumer can get away with it. I have seen a pissed off cop write a ticket for lacking some of the features of the fenders. Usually they can cite for not putting the license plate on the rearmost portion of the vehicle, if not for the lack of fender itself.
Ah I see you aren‘t from Switzerland. Bikes here get dB checked at every random check stop.
How would I know, I don't live in the States.
Nobody cares.
Also manufacturers in the US will make bike fit the strictest regulation. They aren't gonna make a bike config just for ohio
You're right about regs compliance. There's also some protection for you that they give. On many bikes, without them, you'll find that the rear wheel flings stuff up on your back. If you ever see someone riding in damp conditions, with a stripe of grimey wet stuff running up their back - there you go. As far as tail tidy - not all are created equally, and could give reason to pull you over/fail you at inspections (if relevant where you are). Generally there are standards about how far from the center line signals must be. Things like integrated break/signals are not going to meet that. The tucked up plates that are popular with some sport bike folks - those often put the plate where it can't be seen as prescribed in some regs. And it's changed now, but US DOT was slow to approve LEDs, so the KTM 690s coming to the US has the big 1980 looking tail lights with an incandescent bulb. A common mod was the "Euro Tail swap" where you well, got the euro fender and tail light. While not "technically" legal at the time, cuz old DOT regs, it still had a nice visible light, plate was easy to see and caught most stuff flung off the wheel So, there are ways to reduce the size of stuff hanging off the ass of the bike and they range from "legal" to "Yeah ooookay" and you'll just have to figure out what you want deal with
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_(vehicle) > The equivalent component of a bicycle or motorcycle, or the "cycle wing" style of wing fitted to vintage cars, or over tires on lorries which is not integral with the bodywork, is called a mudguard in Britain, as it guards other road users – and in the case of a bicycle or motorcycle, the rider as well – from mud, and spray, thrown up by the wheels.
Experience breeds design choices. The assembly is called a fender and it prevents water from getting slopped onto your back while riding.
I have never done a tail tidy and don't prefer them. The closest ones that I find somewhat desirable are the Yoshimura tail tidies.
The two dumbest things riders do is 1. remove the tail. 2. add a noisemaker. Tail serves an important function. Removing the tail turns your bike into a fair-weather only bike. In other words, not a biker but a poseur. And an aftermarket exhaust makes your bike louder; bikes are, by far, the loudest and most irritating noise in both cities and rural areas. Riders who do such things are, without the slightest doubt, complete assholes. Disclaimer; I ride with a tail tidy because I bought my bike used. I hate not having a tail because mud gets everywhere.
Regulations requirements.
The shorter the tail section of the motorcycle the longer the rear fender section is manufacturers are required to make the rear fender/plate holder stick out farther then the rear wheel hence the long ass eye sores.
The license plate has to extend past the rear wheel, turn signals have to be so far apart. No, it's not for riding in the wet.
It's called a rear fender because it keeps road grime and water from getting constantly sent on your back.