Originally Posted by cny-bikeman

You're crazy, the weight loss is more than negated by the increased drag coefficient. Between the crank bolt flats and the extractor thread you got a real drag king there. Careully applied teflon coated tape is the only answer.

Originally Posted by masiman

Probably, but at what speed? My answer was purely for levity. My guess is the OP, is only looking for an aesthetics solution. I am also guessing that neither tape nor leave it off will satisfy them .