Topic: Front n rear fenders on bikes..do you use them

[messeduptriple]

I'm just curious I have a 76 550 and seen some bikes without the fenders on them. Is there any advantages? Disadvantages to having or not having them on? Is it a good idea or mostly just show?


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[BeSeeingYou]

I think it's a form over function thing.  Cant imagine any advantages.  Think of the water being thrown up into the bike if riding in the wet not to mention sand and bits of gravel that the tire tread picks up.  Maybe ok if you want to look badass   riding around close to home but for longer rides I would keep the fenders on.

[kyre]

Take your front fender off and ride in the rain. Face full of water and can't see. I can't believe how many bikes I see without a fender.  You'll get caught out in the rain one of these days and it sucks. Yes its happened to me.

[750K]

Yeah I use both, I live in the PNW and it rains alot... After watching a couple friends in the rain without front fenders mines not going anywhere.

[messeduptriple]

Yeah I use both, I live in the PNW and it rains alot... After watching a couple friends in the rain without front fenders mines not going anywhere.

lol..must have been fun to watch just a bit.
Well I always watch the weather up here in Wisconsin in the summer and yes I know its not 100% accurate so I guess ill have to gamble this one. Well I really like those front fenders that are small ..anyone know where I could buy one? I just really don't want this big front fender on mine

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[750K]

Haha most of my buds wear open face helmets, nothing less appealing than a rooster tail of road grime hitting you in the face at 50-60kms. You could always trim your front one down or find a spare one and cut it up, I've thought about Doing that to a spare front and rear fender I have off a parts bike.

[Dimitri13]

If you do decide to remove the front fender, you're going to need a fork brace. It'll stop the forks from twisting under braking and cornering.

[TwoTired]

Technically the only advantage is weight reduction.  You still need a fork brace to help keep the fork tube parallel under stress and bumps.  It is integral with the front fender.

Cosmetically, it is a fashion fad to remove fenders.  Nothing says the owner is a master customizer better than demonstrating the ability to remove parts from a bike. 

No fenders pretty much restricts actual operation to only fair whether days, unless the rider wears some sort of baggie style suits to ward off water, from rain, sprinklers, saliva, honey wagon spillage, road kill, and general road spooge, etc.

Nothing says seasoned cafe racer better than having a stripe of road grime running down your back or gritting between your teeth.  Chicks love that, as well as the smells of having your nose an inch from any road surface debris imaginable.

All my bikes have fenders.  And, the one I got with them stripped off I restored, as well as replacing the other dumb ass "racer-look alike mods" made to the bike.

Cheers,

[Vbled1]

If you do decide to remove the front fender, you're going to need a fork brace. It'll stop the forks from twisting under braking and cornering.

I know this is has been argued to no end, and i agree an aftermarket brace can do nothing but help the forks- with that said the stock fender brace you could collapse with your hand and i highly doubt it is doing much at all. Not trolling here and dont want people getting the popcorn out just want people to stop regurgitating everything they read online.

[TwoTired]

If you do decide to remove the front fender, you're going to need a fork brace. It'll stop the forks from twisting under braking and cornering.

I know this is has been argued to no end, and i agree an aftermarket brace can do nothing but help the forks- with that said the stock fender brace you could collapse with your hand

No you can't when it is bolted to the forks.    It works in symbiosis with the assembly, and the mountings and bolts are part of the structure.
It is the assembly that is strengthened by the brace not the brace itself.  Without the brace, each fork is allowed to mover fore and aft independently, which results in an uncommanded turning moment.  With the brace, both forks move fore and aft in unison with far less turning moment.  Meaning; while in a high G turn the front wheel still points where you want instead of where the the bumps have twisted the fork tubes.

You can bend aluminum aircraft skin when it in sheet form.  Rivet it to wing ribs (which can also be bent) or form it into a tube and it is very difficult to bend.
Take a look at truss bridges.  No single girder will support the bridge weight let alone traffic on the bridge.  However, structure the griders in proper symbiosis, and the assembly is many times stronger.

and i highly doubt it is doing much at all.

Doubts based on what mechanical principle or knowledge?  Sure you can bend the brace alone in the arc it is bent.  That's not the dimension that the brace offers support for the forks.  Try twisting the brace so the down legs move for and aft.  You'll be surprised how much help it gives.

Not trolling here and dont want people getting the popcorn out just want people to stop regurgitating everything they read online.

Oh really?  What is it you read online?

[Retro Rocket]

If you do decide to remove the front fender, you're going to need a fork brace. It'll stop the forks from twisting under braking and cornering.

I know this is has been argued to no end, and i agree an aftermarket brace can do nothing but help the forks- with that said the stock fender brace you could collapse with your hand and i highly doubt it is doing much at all. Not trolling here and dont want people getting the popcorn out just want people to stop regurgitating everything they read online.

You need to realize that not everything you read online is bullsh1t either.  TT is correct 100%.  I'll also add that most of the senior guys here{over 40's} learned everything first hand, no computers when we were younger, i didn't get my first computer till i was 38...

[Vbled1]

Cool, link me to some hard facts about the stock brace. Not some irrelevant analogy or he said she said stuff. If the stock brace was what you say it is, why are there no aftermarket ones similar? This thing has no rigidity, and that's not why it works. Symbiosis, yes, stack 5 braces together then it will do something. Like I said link me to some hard facts, studies, etc. I will admit when I'm wrong but don't come on here spouting out stuff just because it's attune to your style. And let me again add I never said a brace wasn't needed, I'm saying the front fender is just a fender.

[wedoo2]

Nothing says the owner is a master customizer better than demonstrating the ability to remove parts from a bike. 

As Roscoe P. Coltrane would say, "Ooooo that's a good one".

[KeithB]

Cool, link me to some hard facts about the stock brace.

You did say "...want people to stop regurgitating everything they read online" soooooo...
Take the fender off and ride the bike hard over some challenging surface and then do it again with the fender installed.
Get back to us on how it goes.
I have done the same and the front fender made a difference.
Granted, a properly engineered brace would be better for performance applications but this was a mass produced bike for average riding conditions.

[messeduptriple]

Where can I find a forkbrace for a 76 550?
I asked carpys but he said his only fits 750's. What about steering dampers ...do you use them?? And I've never installed one are they easy to put in?

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[Stev-o]

Fork brace:

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-480/Fork-Brace-Honda-CB500K/Detail

And I don't have a frt fender on my my 550 cafe, bought it that way. I don't ride on days with high chance of rain, don't ride on gravel roads, and won't be tracking it, feel no need for a fender. Have considered the fork brace though.

[apex_seeking]

I have thought about painting my front fender black so as to minimize it's appearance without reducing its usefulness. As for the rear fender, I removed mine and it really is only an issue when I get caught out in the rain, which is about twice a year in dry Colorado.

And about the front fender and brace, I've read nearly everything I could find on this forum and others and TT is right, or at least I haven't seen anyone prove him wrong. Plus it all makes logical sense. But the stock brace and the stick fender are 2 separate pieces. You can still have the brace AND a face full of road debris, if you do choose.

[messeduptriple]

Fork brace:

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/servlet/the-480/Fork-Brace-Honda-CB500K/Detail

And I don't have a frt fender on my my 550 cafe, bought it that way. I don't ride on days with high chance of rain, don't ride on gravel roads, and won't be tracking it, feel no need for a fender. Have considered the fork brace though.

will that fit the 76 550k?
That's a 78 500./?

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[Stev-o]

Yes, it's a typo. There was no '78 500.

You may want to call/email to confirm. They also sell steering dampers.

[bollingball]

Messedup  I just had one of those senior moments
If you want to know something about that brace. Why not try this.

If you need to contact us please email to jimhinshaw@fastfromthepast.com  or telephone at 404-680-6502 - fax 770-614-0968


                                       Ken

[messeduptriple]

Just sent an email! Thanks!!!

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[754]

put your bike on the centrestand, stand in froint of the bike. Grip the wheel with your knees, grab bars a twist.. observe how easy it is, its a bit worse with no fender... note how eak the front end is ..
 Rifde accordingly, knowing it can be improved.. now you must choose wether to do so or not . By improved I mean better front end or a fork brace much stiffer than the fender.

 I tried to help out on this, offered to help people out with a homeade fork brace, that would work with a modded fender. You can make this at home in a night or two.. yself I think the stock brace only helps minimally, and the whole fork ismarginal.. but has its place.. normal riding..

[BeSeeingYou]

Cosmetically, it is a fashion fad to remove fenders.  Nothing says the owner is a master customizer better than demonstrating the ability to remove parts from a bike. 





Cheers,

One thing I see occasionally is the whole rear fender removed in combination with velocity stacks .  Can't imagine that engine will run good for too many miles with the grit bring thrown up into the carbs....but hey...it looks cool.

[Dimitri13]

Cosmetically, it is a fashion fad to remove fenders.  Nothing says the owner is a master customizer better than demonstrating the ability to remove parts from a bike. 





Cheers,

One thing I see occasionally is the whole rear fender removed in combination with velocity stacks .  Can't imagine that engine will run good for too many miles with the grit bring thrown up into the carbs....but hey...it looks cool.

But you just look so goddamn cool!

[cookindaddy]

I have the stock front and rear fenders in place.

The stock front fender is not low enough at the back end to keep road gunk from landing on the oil filter housing and bolt. I am thinking of adding a small mud flap to the bottom back of the front fender to see if I can't cut down on the road gunk on the filter housing.