Belly pan - Yeah, I think it's a "must have"

[53driver]

You should only have to take off the small front section to change oil and filter. Mine is the same type as yours.

You are 100% correct.
However, I pull the whole thing off every oil change so I can do an inspection and cleaning of what's going on under there.
Also bend it back into shape as required.....

Cheers,
Steve

[Felloverboard]

You are 100% correct.
However, I pull the whole thing off every oil change so I can do an inspection and cleaning of what's going on under there.
Also bend it back into shape as required.....

Cheers,
Steve

If you have to bend it back in shape after each oil change you must be using the bike trail riding. Mine has a few minor scratches.

[53driver]

If you have to bend it back in shape after each oil change you must be using the bike trail riding. Mine has a few minor scratches.

It got bent one time and the two screws became "difficult to manage" so now I just pull the whole thing off and take a look see underneath!
Getting into the twisties scrapes the sides pretty good (as pictured) and "flicking" the bike over in a delayed apex turn sometimes causes longitudinal compression which needs to be reset.
No biggie.
Isleen doesn't like gravel and going off road...so we pretty much avoid that.
Cheers,
Steve

[edgeman55]

Get a McGuyver pan and you will not have to rebend it anymore.I had a sheet metal pan and it did the same as yours which told me I was at times catching curbs or speed bumps at times.The McGuyver pan is really stout and I have not had that problem.No matter what to me a pan is a must as yes it does protect the coolant tank but also can save the lower engine case as some on the Goldwing sites have shown-Nice crack in the engine case would not be a fun or cheap fix.

[53driver]

Get a McGuyver pan and you will not have to rebend it anymore.I had a sheet metal pan and it did the same as yours which told me I was at times catching curbs or speed bumps at times.The McGuyver pan is really stout and I have not had that problem.No matter what to me a pan is a must as yes it does protect the coolant tank but also can save the lower engine case as some on the Goldwing sites have shown-Nice crack in the engine case would not be a fun or cheap fix.

I'd rather go with a softer belly pan with "crunch ripples" than transfer that impact completely to the 4 acorn bolts that hold it on - personal preference.
Cheers,
Steve

[GaTeach]

It got bent one time and the two screws became "difficult to manage" so now I just pull the whole thing off and take a look see underneath!
Getting into the twisties scrapes the sides pretty good (as pictured) and "flicking" the bike over in a delayed apex turn sometimes causes longitudinal compression which needs to be reset.
No biggie.
Isleen doesn't like gravel and going off road...so we pretty much avoid that.
Cheers,
Steve

She ain't kin to Sweet Georgia then.

[53driver]

She ain't kin to Sweet Georgia then.

Them slower red ones prolly do real good on gravel - but their faster black siblings like asphalt.

Isleen will do gravel if it's an ad hoc situation, but if she thinks that I knew in advance we were hitting gravel, she's gonna let me know about it.

Cheers,
Steve