Do I need this?
 

can remove? Seems to be a chain guard so if the rear derailer is properly adjusted should be no concern to remove this ugly plastic ..... correct??

jag

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8e68a84683.jpg

Dork disc....it has to go. I won't even bring a bikehome with it on.

Thanks!!

It depends. What do you reach for when the shifting goes wonky? If the answer is a screw driver, leave it in place because you are likely to need it. If you say the little black screw thingy on the back of the derailer (bonus points if you know what to call it), then take it off.

If you have to ask, you need it.
BTW, your bike is upside down. This is a no-no.

It can preserve the wheel if something happens -- for instance, the derailer gets out of adjustment or a stick throws the chain. OTOH after a few years the spoke mounts can break and it'll rattle. I've left them on until they start rattling and I wear out a cassette -- it's not worth the effort to remove, for me, until both those occur.

If you're more concerned about style points, remove it immediately. If you throw a chain, then you may have to replace a quarter to a half of the spokes on the rear wheel, but you're cool in the meantime.

Whatever you do, don't try to burn it off...

https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-m...heel-fire.html

Cable tension adjuster ?

no not a screwdriver...

Used Dremel tool. Haha

Not so much cool. more so OCD type need to keep everything clean ha ha.

I’ve found it easier to remove front and back wheels this way.

Were you merely joking or is there some concern with the resting the bike on the handlebars and seat from time to time?

Not joking. I am poking. I would never turn any of my bikes upside down to remove wheel. Ruins leather saddle instantly.
If you don't mind saddle marked up.....go for it!

You don't NEED it but you might be glad you have it if a stick or other mishap puts your chain inboard of the cassette and into your spokes, as pdlamb mentioned earlier. Even if perfectly adjusted your derailleur can get bumped while parked or otherwise without you knowing it. I put/leave them on but I am a belt-and-suspenders kind of guy and I don't care about being stylish.

Is called a spoke protector. Guess why.

This usually happens right after you take it off, too.

A spoke protector did nothing in that case. The problem there is different from what a spoke protector is designed to prevent. The spoke protector only prevents the chain from going behind the gear cluster.

If the derailer hanger gets bent, it could overshift into the spokes but the derailer is likely to rub (or catch) on the spokes before it would overshift.

As for “sticks”, in nearly 40 years of mountain biking, I’ve never had a stick jam into the derailer and push it past the limit. None of my bikes have spoke protectors and few of the ones that came with spoke protectors every stayed on for long. Properly adjusted, the rear derailer is next to impossible to get to move the chain into the spokes. In my experience...about 10 years at my local co-op...the overshifts have almost always been caused by someone trying “fix” the shifting with a screwdriver.

someone say stick in a derailer? :D

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dd862cd066.jpg

but the spoke protector did not come into play

No problem, that'll buff right out :D

Exactly. I had this happen to me once - the bike fell over and bent the derailleur hanger in the process. I didn't notice it being bent at first, and when soon after that I tried to shift into the large cog, the derailleur cage got caught in the spokes and the hanger snapped in two, while the chain didn't move past the casette.

I despise upside down bikes also for the damage done to shifters, especially Shimano name plates. When I see a cyclist working on the side of the road on a tire I always ask if they are good, but if they have their bike upside down I slow down as they are much more likely to actually need help.