Agree, it depends on the climate. I put fenders on mine more recently and quite frankly I don't know why I never had them before. I just got tired of getting sprayed with god knows what on the roads. I think some people use them because of their great usefullness in wet weather and then take them off when it gets dry because maybe the bike looks a little more "freddie" with them on. I believe I will leave mine on because they weigh next to nothing and are a little bit of a job installing and getting all lined up and everything they make my bike look at little more sophisticated and a little less sporty and thats ok with me.