No benefit what so ever.
D*mn straight it is...... [smiley=dissappointed.gif]Because the gray plastic is so freaking ugly.
Thus the reason I have a metal one on my bike.whoa.... i'm sorry andrew but i wouldn't count on that. if the chain snaps, just prey no part of your body's in the line of fire cuz it'll knife right through the plastic...
the cover's really there so you don't (hopefully) get your toes caught in the chain running upto the sprocket where they become hamburger.