Topic: No Front Fender

[Heironymous Josh]

I posted this question in another post with little response.  How dangerous is it really to ride without a front fender?  I have a 77 SS Cafe that I would prefer not to run a front fender on.  I know that the fender works as a lower brace for the front forks but is there a real danger in not having it?  I've seen other guys go without.  If it truly is dangerous, I can always make a custom shorty fender like Dougid.  Thanks for the help everyone.

Josh

[Triffecpa]

Josh

It's not a big deal.

The forks might flex a titch more, but my guess is that you won't notice it.  The metal brace on the front fender isn't all that stout. 

Tracy

[Heironymous Josh]

Triffecpa,

That's what I thought but I've heard guys on the forum make doomsday comments when guys post pictures of their bikes w/o a front fender.  It's by no means a track bike, so a little extra flex doesn't bother me.  So long as it's not going to twist and collapse if a hit a pothole off-angle or in a turn.  I rode it 130 miles the other day and it felt fine.  Thanks for your input, bud.

[dusterdude]

ask proteal,he can tell you all about it.

[736cc]

First time you get caught in any rain you will TOTALLY regret no front fender, water shoots into your face like a garden hose.
To me, bikes w/o a front fender subconsciously look like they have had front-end crash-damage.

[canyon750]

Also the first time a rock gets accelerated into your neck because you don't have a front fender you will regret it too.  Just get a shorty fender and paint it matte black.  It almost disappears when it is finished in matte black.

[mlinder]

Remember,. as well as reducing 'flex' of the front forks, a brace (or fender) ensures that the forks extend or retract at the same rate.
If you don't have a brace, it is the axle and axle braces that must bear the shearing or bending force when one side tries to retract or extend more than the other.

[eldar]

The last point is very important as your axle will wear faster and the bearings will get worn quickly too. If you absolutely do not want a fender, at least use a brace.

[Heironymous Josh]

All good info.  I was only thinking of catastrophic failure and little about adverse wear & tear on the axle and bearings.  I've ridden it in the rain w/o the fender and the water doesn't seem that bad and I wear a helmet but don't like the idea of cracking the visor or taking a rock straight to the gullet.  I may pick up a stock fender, shorten it and have it powder-coated flack black.  Thanks for all the input guys!

[mlinder]

I bobbed my front fender. Love the look. Will take a picture at some point and put it up.

[seaweb11]

I was thinking along the lines of a fiberglass front fender on my new build. I hope it is enough to rid the bike of wobbles.

[mkramer1121]

Probably not Seaweb.  The Fiberglass will likely crack with the stress.  Now, if you got an aluminum fork brace and a fiberglass fender....

[s3d1t0r]

Probably not Seaweb.  The Fiberglass will likely crack with the stress.  Now, if you got an aluminum fork brace and a fiberglass fender....

This is the first I've learned of the consequences of not having a proper fender or brace on the front.  When I got my '78 Cb750 SS, all it had was a fiberglass fender held on by black zip ties above the front wheel. Where would someone acquire an aluminum fork brace as recommended above?

[jevfro]

hrmmm...

I've got a dunstall type fender like one of those in spartys pic, and I don't notice any wobble (but then I'm not really racing it right now).  it's pretty rigid and thats how they used to do it... I have been contemplating a brace or even just mounting the fender to the stock brace (it will need modification of the brace or the fender.  But even the stock fender brace can be torqued a little w/ my hands and they will distort too!  The ones made from al plate look to be the best solution.  They don't really go with these vintage fenders very well (the could be made to look good w/ some creativity though).  I was amazed how stiff the fender was when I put it on the forks w/ a couple hose clamps.  I'm not really sure if it needs anything else.

[tsflstb]

If you look up overkill in the dictionary, you'd see this brace.  Found it cheap on ebay and added some spacers to clear the tire.  I can notice the difference vs. no fender at all.  It also deflects some water, but I've thought of adding a small fiberglass fender too.

[seaweb11]

"The Fiberglass will likely crack with the stress. "

I hear what you are syaing, but how can cycleX have a bunch of uncracked used fiberglass fenders?

[Swede]

I have the same style brace as tsflstb that I also found on ebay definitely makes the front end feel solid.  I would like to try one of those fiberglass fenders from cycleX I just don't know how it would look with the brace though.

[DME]

I was thinking along the lines of a fiberglass front fender on my new build. I hope it is enough to rid the bike of wobbles.

Don´t worry Seaweb, I´ve ridden with my fiberglass fender for a year now with no problems. You´ll be fine.
Mine is attached with two stainless hoseclamps and it works FINE.


I keep reading these doomsday reports about riding without forkbrace and I wonder if anyone has ever gotten in to the "mad tankslapper" or "deadly weave" first hand... or is it just a rumour?
I know I haven´t and I have pushed it pretty hard.


I´ve said it before and I will say it again:
Make sure your chassis is alright, that is good wheelbearings, steering head bearings, swingarm bushings, fork bushes, rear shock absorbers, wheels straight and round, etc...

My 2 cents

Dan

[petercb750]

Yep, back in the "good ol days" I had a fibreglass fender for a while too (also attached with hose clamps) - no probs. Bike was being raced at the time - without any fender it was diabolical, but with the fiberglass one it was definitely more stable. Never showed any signs of breaking either.
Give it a go.
Peter 

[mkramer1121]

Maybe I just don't like the idea of the only thing bracing my front end something that can crack....But hey, I guess if it works....

[Andrew Foss]

when i first took off my front fender and ran without a brace i thought the bike was unbearably hard to ride. once i changed my fork fluid and relized the the levels were uneven due to leakage, i figured out the source of the problem.
i have a similar brace to swede, but i think it is made for a smaller bike because it does not fit properly (forks will bind) so i don't use it. the bike feels fine without a brace now that the forks are evenly filled. maintenence is key, especially if you havent gone over everyhting done by the PO.
-andrew

[Heironymous Josh]

Thanks for all the input guys; I think I'm going to bob the stock fender.  I think the bike is a dream to ride and I've taken it thru some twisties at high speeds without a front fender, I can't wait to see the improvement after bracing the forks. 

mlinder:  If you could upload some pics of your fender bobbed, that would be awesome!

Thanks again, guys!

Josh

[crazypj]

Anyone who hasn't had a full on  tankslapper without a fork brace just isn't riding anything like as fast as they think they are.
Even with one it happens.
You CAN feel the frame flexing, hinges in the middle, near where fuel tank mounts and runs into seat rails, the paint cracks off (and also around swing arm pivot/swing arm brace 'box' section at front near brake torque arm, paint flakes off along the welds) catastrophic failure isn't going to occur without warning (I think the cast alloy sliders would fail before the axle or fork tubes)
PJ

[Heironymous Josh]

Anyone who hasn't had a full on  tankslapper without a fork brace just isn't riding anything like as fast as they think they are.
Even with one it happens.
You CAN feel the frame flexing, hinges in the middle, near where fuel tank mounts and runs into seat rails, the paint cracks off (and also around swing arm pivot/swing arm brace 'box' section at front near brake torque arm, paint flakes off along the welds) catastrophic failure isn't going to occur without warning (I think the cast alloy sliders would fail before the axle or fork tubes)
PJ

Okay, honestly, this kind of just gave me a stiffy.  If I ever get to a point where my paint is "flaking off" due to the sheer torque of my huge brass bawls barreling into a turn at ludicrous speeds, I will park my bike, walk back down the road, find the paint chips, put them in a little plastic baggy, bring them home, mount them in a shadow box and make my biker buddies pray to them before each ride.  Bravo, PJ.  Bravo!

[mlinder]

Josh: