you can take them off, but in hindesight i probably wouldn't do it again... a 600 won't be as bad, but a liter bike with out fairings is a hell of a thing to hang onto down the south straight in 6th... also i took them off so if i went down i wouldn't have to replace the bodywork, but its there to protect the frame, motor, and radiator from damage so if i went down it probably would have been more costly