Please don't listen to all the elitist snobs that condemn spoke protectors. It's cheap insurance. You never know when your RD may get bumped or bent. Stuff happens. I'm glad to have them on all my touring bikes. Whenever you see a chrome steel one it's usually pre-1985 vintage stuff. Some of them have neat patterns. You can usually polish them up to look brand new w/a little elbow grease.