Belly Pan...Is there a need?

[F6B-RICH]

this might be a good reason to install a belly pan. This is a coolant bottle that came off one of my good friends Goldwing. He ran over this bolt in the road and it kicked up and speared his coolant bottle. I have a picture of a punctured oil filter somewhere but I can't find it. I bought a belly pan for my wing but I have never installed it. For some reason, I prefer not to run them, not sure why, but I just don't like them. To each his own.

WOW thats some bolt.Most belly pans are thin sheetmetal so with a bolt/object that size it would probably go thru the belly pan and hit something and cause damage anyway

[Scotrod]

They aren't extremely expensive, and pretty easy to install.
Not going to protect you from a 'major projectile' but deflecting some debris might be all it takes to save your bacon.
I've got 'em on the way, just not here / installed yet,,,

[Big Dawg]

WOW thats some bolt.Most belly pans are thin sheetmetal so with a bolt/object that size it would probably go thru the belly pan and hit something and cause damage anyway

Very true, the belly pans aren't made from armor plate. I think most are made from 22 gauge aluminum. They will take a beating. The other down side is; Some riders claim that it makes the bike run hotter because it traps a lot more heat in the engine compartment. I have no knowledge of this, but I have heard folks complain about it.