Well I'll be bashed!

Some time ago (around 85 days actually) and after scouring the internet for options, I pulled the trigger on a bash pad/skid plate for Mighty Mouse.  The standard setup being fairly flimsy had me a little worried about bouncing off stuff like rocks and logs.

Anyway, the new one was coming from Turkey of all places and it definitely had found its way onto a slow boat.  So much so, that I'd chased it up multiple times with the seller being very good at replying to emails and eventually even refunding me.  And then I came home one night last week to a courier's delivery card.  At first I couldn't even think what the item might be - I couldn't remember ordering anything lately...

After a bit of head scratching I finally clicked and thought - could it be?  Well, after picking up the package it was reasonably obvious...

Anyway, time to get it on.  I thought it would be easy...

The little alloy plate was held on by four small allen head bolts which the previous owner had been thoughtful enough to round out (just like the ones on the oil filter cover).  Lovely...

With the aid of a hammer (taping gently on the allen key), I got the two bottom bolts out but the two tops ones didn't want to budge.  So I got serious...

The good thing about a little dirt bike is that there's not a lot of precious plastic fairing parts and other spag to get in the way of some more serious activity.  Yes, I'm talking power tools...

My little disc grinder quickly zipped off the bolt heads and I was able to unscrew the remainder of the bolts with some vice grips - phew!  The little plastic protectors unbolted no problems.

One of these things looks a lot tougher than the others...

As you can see from the pics, the bash pad came with some nice rubber strips which go between the plate and the frame.  I've read how some WR owners complain of noise from their bash pads so perhaps this is the idea of the rubber strips.  Anyway, on they went.

Then it was just a matter of bolting the plate on.  One thing missing from the kit was a couple of washers, the bolt holes on the front of the plate are easily big enough for the bolt heads to pull through.  I scrounged up a few from the shed (although will hopefully find some better ones at some stage) and also used a little thread locker on the bolts and that was it, job done!

Now she's ready to bounce off all sorts of stuff, unfortunately on a quick trip around the block, I couldn't find anything to test it on...