Milton Keynes

Yes, a lot of people here have removed all that stuff.

I for one have only removed the front reflector (no room for it with two headlights) and the dork disk once it became all cracked and was made of very cheap plastic anyway. Rear reflector, yes I removed it to place one of two taillights. Technically in violation of state ordinance but the light I replaced it with has reflective properties so I'm sure it's OK. I doubt any cops around here will care as long as the lights are on.

I still have the wheel reflectors on and will leave them on as long as they're still intact and not falling apart. I have also added reflective tape around both sides of both wheels, so I'm not too worried if the wheel reflectors are there or not. I would love to find a way to mount a little LED, battery, and switch inside them, though.

canklecat

My road bike still wears the dork disc, if I'm using the original Suntour freewheel. It acts as a spacer. It's metal and plastic. Even if the plastic bit broke the metal spacer would still be useful, and wouldn't be visible outside the freewheel diameter. When I'm using the SunRace freewheel, which has a very slightly thicker flange, I need to remove the dork disc. This way I don't need to adjust the derailleur much between freewheels.

My Univega hybrid has a proper kickstand that clamps around the seat stay and chainstay without crushing either. It's useful. Only reason it no longer has a dork disc is the original plastic one got brittle and broke from age. Ditto the original spoke reflectors. They just cracked from age. I plan to replace 'em with glowinky LED lights, which enhance nighttime visibility from the sides better than anything else and aren't excessively bright.

Bring on the dork. More is better.

Only reason I removed the kickstand from my errand bike is because it wouldn't support the bike. It was a misfit chainstay crusher that wobbled too much to be useful. I plan to replace it with a dual kickstand, which a loaded errand bike needs.

And I removed the fenders only because they wouldn't clear the wider tires I like. Eventually I'll get wider fenders.

I'd add a chain guard if I could find one for this long wheelbase errand bike that didn't cost more than the bike itself. That's the hazards of buying bikes for only $100 on craigslist. Accessorizing seems too expensive.

The pink and white glitter streamers might be a bit much, I dunno.

aplcr0331

I pulled a tag off my mattress once too.


I know, I know you can stand in awe...I live life on the razors edge.

tagaproject6

Sweet! This is why some cyclists don't wave! They must have unbalanced wheels that destabilizes the bicycle, thus, preventing the cyclist from waving.

Gresp15C

When I was a kid, there was a day when suddenly we all had to remove all of the attachments from our bikes, because they weren't "cool" any more. We congregated in somebody's backyard where they had some tools, and started yanking off all fenders, reflectors, chainguards, and so forth.

Today, it depends on the bike. Many frames are too delicate to accommodate a kickstand. I have them on most of my bikes. My grocery getter has multiple gears, kickstand, fenders and a chainguard. I don't deliberately remove reflectors, but haven't added them to the wheels that I build.

JanMM

No reflectors on my bikes but they all have lights front and rear plus reflective tape various places.

fietsbob

depends on the bike and its type

road bikes , if you emulate the racers they have people to hold up their bikes, for them.


Touring load, if you always stop where there is something to lean it against, great , kickstand or lay it down otherwise..






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jj1091

Over 50 posts = Senior member. That's it.

noimagination

As others have said, it depends. If the bike is used for around town, if you'll be wearing regular clothes and if you're on and off it frequently to visit shops or check out the sights, then there's no reason to remove any of the items you mentioned. You might actually be wanting to add stuff (fenders, basket or rack, bell, etc.).

If it's a pure road bike, it likely doesn't have any of those items anyway.

If I bought a road bike with reflectors, I wouldn't remove them, unless replaced by a light. However, the reflectors are not very sturdy, and they'll eventually fall off all by themselves.

jitteringjr

My Canyon came mail order with the bike partially assembled. Step one in putting it together was to remove all reflectors and the dork ring before any actual assembly. Sorry no Kickstand to remove though. Lights on the other hand I ride with if I'm going out after dark or know I will be in traffic even in the day light.

bargeon

I don't take them off, the bike didn't come with them. Except the dork disc - though you didn't specifically ask, I left that on.

Milton Keynes

I did add a kickstand in the form of a Greenfield Stabilizer, though. I'm glad I did and don't regret it one bit. I always have a place to park my bike and don't have to worry about finding something to lean it against without scratching the paint. And I left the one on my beater gravel bike.

buffalo4life

I always remove reflectors and dork discs because they can cause little noises while riding. I think a kickstand makes sense on a utility bike.

caloso

A kickstand is super useful for a utility bike. I put one on my old Rock Hopper that I used to do errands and pull my kids' trailer when they were little.

GrainBrain

If rocking a kickstand is cool, consider me Miles Davis.

With apologies to Adam Sandler...

ironwood

It might be wise to look up your state bicycle laws, especially if you are riding at night. It isn't that the police are likely to stop you if you don't have reflectors, but rather because if you are hit and you are not compliant you may be found at fault. In certain neighborhoods police might stop you for not having required equipment just because it gives a reason to stop you.


My practical, or utility bikes have reflectors, fenders lights, and a bell. one of them has a kickstand. I guess it all depends whether your bike is a tool, or a toy.

Oakman

Believe it or not, I have reflectors (and toe clips) on my pedals.

ColonelSanders

With the recent addition of a KM-40 type kickstand, I now have 2 kickstands on my bike.

surak

I bought my Giant road bike two weeks ago, it came with front & rear reflectors and the dork disc but no wheel reflectors. I didn't even notice until I was cleaning the frame. I've removed rear reflectors on my other bikes to make room for lights, but haven't needed the handlebar space so left all my front reflectors on.

bruce19

Yes.

sweeks

Stop laughing right now! The reflector creates a serious imbalance once the wheel is going more than 5,000 RPM!

Steve

ericy

jfowler85

There's a box you can check upon initial sign-up for entering the forum as a senior member.

Cougrrcj 

My last bike bought new was built in Sept '74. Not sure if it ever had reflectors other than on the pedals. www.classicfuji.com

The '74 catalog shows -- NO reflectors.

The '75 catalog does show reflectors.

Neither was ever equipped with- or specc'ed with a kickstand.

Sy Reene

Quite an exclusive elite!