Chrome cylinder head covers - is there a purpose besides cosmetic?

can someone tell me if there is any practical use to the chrome cylinder head covers, besides making the bike look shiny?

Chrome heads (or other parts) are easier to keep clean that painted heads - if that is important to you ...... other than that it is largely regarded as a 'cosmetic enhancement'

Then again, some people prefer 'dark' & blacking out' of various parts.

We were going to take them off Justins to have them powdered - till we realised that two of them have a cylinder-head bolt running through them.  No way are they going to come off without removing the lump !!!!

Thank you Yam for your response - you just made my day

I tried to remove the front left one to gain more access to remove the Baron tachometer which came with my bike. Then read online it was an important bolt. Luckily just tightened it up again and no problems.

OK so I just pulled the covers off and screwed the bolts back in.  I like the look without the chrome head covers, but if this is going to f-up my motorcycle I will put the covers back on.  What is the definitive answer?  I thought the bolts were only holding the covers...I haven't started the motorcycle yet as it is still down for the winter.  Someone let me know

It should be fine as the 'Suzuki Bond'  gasket sealer they use at the factory is pretty stern stuff and even with the bolts removed you'd probably have to prize the heads off with something. Only time will tell if the seal has broken though unfortunately? Only torquing  the bolts back up and firing the bike up will give you definitive answer straight away.

Hold on - was it the same design on the '97 model ?

katsd wrote:

Hold on - was it the same design on the '97 model ?

That is a very good question? was one of the bolts a 10mm x 155mm or were they both short little ones? if the latter all will be well and good for sure.