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. Due to the position that the cotton reel becomes set in with the bracket, these protectors give protection to the swingarm area and therefore this product has a double aspect as the bike can still be lifted with a paddock stand on the cotton reel. The cotton reel can also be removed and mounted to the paddock stand mounting point to allow the bike to be lifted when the rear wheel is being removed. This product allows the machine to be lifted on a paddock stand.