Year: 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |. Are they cotton reels or swingarm protectors?. Well they are both really! The cotton reel is mounted to a special adjustable bracket (included with the kit) which brings the cotton reel away from the exhaust/can area.