Ducati Monster Forum

there's a steel plate bolted under the bottom of my S2r's lower tree.
what is it?

Smoke deflector...

I always assumed they're there to force air across the oil cooler....but it's just an assumption.

Kitten roadkill deflector  [evil]

Could never figure out wht it was for, so I made a bracket for a steering damper instead (test version, still in use  [cheeky]):

(http://i855.photobucket.com/albums/ab117/Monsterhpd/Monster%20Forum/StyrdmpareHyper.jpg)

I think the steering damper has made me a lot more good that what was originally there .... saved me from my own stupidity on at least one occasion on a track day incident :) 

My parts catalog calls it a "mudflap". My guess is that ducati wanted something to divert all the road grim from the top end. I also believe in the unforeseen benefit of a air deflector to aid in radiator cooling. I removed mine a while back and saw no increase in temp or grim. So I'd say it is just added weight.

think about roadspray/water from getting directly into the snorkels and airbox....

I agree with the concept, however I've riden a couple of  K's with out and can honestly say that I see no more grime in the air box area. I have pods, and they don't show much debris either. Kind of like the open clutch cover, yeah its sealed to keep stuff out, but how many people have had any problems with nothing there at all? And road spray from the front tire should be blocked by the fender and if road spray is coming from the vehicle in front of you then you are probably riding too close. My personal opinion is that some engineer sitting behind a desk had too much time on his hands and started thinking, what if.

well.......mine is coming off.
probably gain 2-3hp, easy

My wife's 620 has one and it came with neither an oil cooler or radiator.  Its high enough that i'd have guessed the front fender would stop spray up in that area, but I haven't really paid too much attention.  I once saw a carbon fiber one for sale  [cheeky]