Modern Vespa

I mean the chrome piece which fits over the pipe. I think it looks silly and want to get rid of it, but I don't know what exactly it's meant to do and don't want to negatively affect my ET4. Sorry if this is an ignorant question, thanks for any help.

to keep your passenger from melting their hoe to your exhaust. or to prevent burns in general.

You can take it off of there if you dont like the look, or you could paint it black.

It funny that you should mention that piece. I was looking at the one on my GTS last night, from a distance. It looks like that may have been an attemp to mimick the cooling vents on the vintage scoots. Also it's mcuh cooler(temperature) than if you brush your leg against the actual pipe.

Could it be replaced with this piece: http://www.scooterpartsdirect.com/cat.php?prod_id=3136&cat_id=3&subcat_id=368&men_id=1

I think that's the heat shield that goes on the exhaust bend, right out of the cylinder. But I've been wrong once or twice before.