Skid Plates

Reproductions of the OEM skid plate, to protect the engine case from damage. Longitudinally stamped for reinforcement.

Faithful reproductions of the skid plate and mounting hardware as used on WLA & WLC military models. Also available is a mounting kit for the tin leg shields.

The other day, in Sweden: “How in frozen Starköl can I protect my Sportster, when love sick Moose keep populating the roads, forcing riders to take offroad detours around them?“
Swedes who entertain such thoughts just take a piece of steel sheet metal and mold it into a „helmet for the nether parts“, using laser cutters and old fashioned hydraulic presses.
That’s roughly how this exclusive accessory for Sportsters came into being. In cooperation with LeBeef Metalworks, Vargön, Sweden we’re proud to offer the LeBeef Skid Plate Baja Heavy Duty for Sportsters.
It’s easy to install even by left handed wrenchers and the 3D design multiplies the strength of the 1mm sheet steel. Making your Sportster not only look as if you could take the gravel road to work if you wanted, you might actually do it.
If you’re into weight reduction, this skid plate is also available in lightweight aluminium construction, by the name of Bates Skid Plate Baja.

Leaving the road on your Sporty you risk the underbody of your bike being rock blasted by nasty gravel particles. There are ruts and potholes just waiting to scrape your frame. Fallen tree branches, beetles, manure – many dangers for the nether parts of your bike are lurking out there. Good for the motorcyclist who can defy them with the BATES Skid Plate for Sportsters. Easy to install, this beauty protects frame and engine from encounters of the unexpected kind. If you see a certain similarity between this skid plate and the LeBeef skid plate we can tell you: they are not only similar, they’re virtually identical and are designed to the same level of toughness, but they’re made of lightweight aluminium. LeBeef keeps supplying us with his handmade steel skid plates; by agreement with LeBeef we source the aluminium version where it is being made to our high quality standards to earn the right to bear the BATES name.
For adventurous Sportster riders who keep an eye on the weight of things (usually that of their bike), this skid plate could be a welcome alternative. Friends of steely stuff will continue to find the original version from Sweden in our catalog.