On a motocross bike a skid plate will protect the engine casings and lower frame as they are the most exposed and vulnerable areas of the bike. Enduro riders often require more protection so our enduro skid plates wrap around the sides of the engine to cover the water pump and ignition cover our DTC plastic skid plates also offer protection to the rear suspension linkage. We also have skid plates available for adventure bikes and some of this will also offer protection to the lower part of the header pipe.

Depending on the type of riding you're doing and the motorcycle that you have a plastic skid plate could be preferred over aluminium. Plastic skid plates are much more popular with enduro riders due to them also offering protection for the linkage. For adventure bikes aluminium seems to be the preferred option where as for motocross it's a pretty even split between the two.

The holes that you will notice on the front and especially the sides of our DTC plastic skid plates are there to allow air to flow through which will help cool the engine. Some skid plates also have a hole on the underside to allow you to drain the oil without having to remove the plate.

Skid plates can also be known as bash plates, bash guards and sump guards so if you hear these terms being used they are all referring to the same part which is the part that protects the lower engine and lower frame and generally produced in plastic, aluminium or carbon fibre.