In a few days I will be mounting some RAM balls on the handlebar, steering head stem, and hydraulic brake resevoir. In preparation for that I have removed the plastic handlebar covers. It looks to me like the rider might get some roadspray in inclement weather when the handlebar cover is removed. At least without the cover in place I can stare down through the opening and see the ground. Living in SoCal where we have little rain, I might have to wait until the summer trip to determine whether the cover is strictly cosmetic or not. After getting the RAM balls squared away I will make a decision about whether I want to create cut-outs in the plastic cover or not. One option is to just leave the handlebar cover off and reinstall it only after I have removed the RAM balls prior to selling the bike (a long, long time in the future, I hope).