Topic: To run or not to run the rear fender , that is the question ?????

[ProTeal55]

Hey ,

Did alittle work/Exploring on the CB today , and got to the point where I removed the rear fender to see how it would look without being on the bike.

I have to admit , I really like the way the bike looks , without the front and rear fenders now. It actually looks longer , prob. because I can see more of the rear wheel. With the rear fender being gone , makes the bike look allot more industrial I think , which is kinda the direction I want to go in...

I know this is more personal prefrance than anything , but is their a Negative side to not having the fender their ? The stock plastic inner fender is still in place to catch the road grime and muck. I know I have seen a few other members on this board with their CB's missing the rear crap catcher.....

If I deciede to re-install the rear fender - I am going to bob it to make it shorter than stock , but I kinda am leaning to not putting it back on at all....

Anyone

[Bob Wessner]

Never ride in the rain and wear really old clothes. 

[Buffo]

I have no rear fender on my Cb750K8. I like it that way as well.

I cut the  2 little "fingers" off the frame...the stick out past the seat...

I will however re-attach some sort of front fender...the header and front of my engine is getting blasted

Buffo The Magnificent

[Killer Canary]

Buffo's ride looks good; maybe ditch the rear fender, and for keeping the schlock off of you substitute something less visible like a cut-down hugger.
That might be the best of both worlds depending on how it ends up looking.

[gerstle]

There's a guy here in town (bozeman, mt) that regularly restores/pimps out old CB's.  Most of the jobs he does involves hacking off the back end of the frame (the little fingers that stick out) and replacing the stock seat with one having the little cafe racer bubble in the back.  They look damn sexy when it's all said and done.  I'm supposed to be redesigning his hack of a website soon, but haven't gotten to it yet.  I think he has a couple pictures on there - www.caferacers.net

casey g

[dusterdude]

casey,is your guys name nate by chance?

[Caferacernoc]

On my '72 CB750K I bobbed my fenders. I cut around six inches off the back and about four off both ends of the front fender. It looks pretty slick I think.

[ProTeal55]

Thanks for all the feedback , and keep it comming.....

I think I am going to keep the rear fender off , and maybe mock up a shorter front fender out of the stock piece.
Right now , all I have up front is the stock fender brace , which I  had rino-lined.
I have allready drove thru a few puddles and now value the idea of a front fender , just need to make it as small as possibile.

CAFERACERNOC  ----> Do you have any pics of your bike you could post ? I would like to see how your bobbed fenders look on the bike.
GERSTLE -----> I like the look of that Blue CB on your buddies website. Maybe I will have to give him a call and chat...

[jurob]

i would also like to remove my rear fender.

what were your plans for the brake light and license plate?

[gerstle]

yeah, nate houser.

[ProTeal55]

I wish I had a digital camera that actually worked , I would post some pics.

The license plate got moved to the left side of the bike. I made a bracket , that mounts to the
frame on two points. one point is where the passenger peg used to be , and then I drilled a hold in the frame for the other.
The brackets bolt onto a backing plate I made from an old STOP sign I had under my bed.
I picked up a L.E.D cateye style taillight to act as my brake light/running light. Looks pretty sweet , if I may say so myself 
Mounted it on the top of the vertical license plate frame, for a clean install.

Turn signals are being handleled by a set of mini bullets , that have 1157 dual fillament bulbs in them. Once all wired up , they will act as running lights , turn signals and brake lights, to go along with the Cateye.

I want to make sure that these Chicago drivers NOTICE me.............

[pmpski_1]

Sounds cool ProTeal. I wish you had a digital camera too. Do you have a CVS pharmacy nearby? Supposedly they sell cheap disposable digital cameras. You can hack them and re-use them.

What do you guys use to cut your fenders? I have a compressor and a cutoff tool. I was thinking that would make quick work out of a couple of inches of fender.

[Gordon]

What do you guys use to cut your fenders? I have a compressor and a cutoff tool. I was thinking that would make quick work out of a couple of inches of fender.

I used a Dremel tool to cut down the front fender on my 550.  It went through it like butter and works great for doing the final shaping, too. 

[ProTeal55]

* PMPSKi_1 *  ----> I was going to use a sawzall for the inital cuts , then use the ol trusty dremmel.
If you have a cut-off wheel , that would be the best way to go about cutting the fender.

Alittle tidbit of advice , get some green or blue painters tape , and cover the fender before you cut.
The tape will keep the chrome underneath in good shape while it is in the fabrication proccess. Then just peel the tape off after you are done messing with it.

After looking at my CB more with the fender removed , I think I am going to keep it off for the time being. I only have about three weeks of riding left before it gets really crappy here in good ol' Chicago , better take advantge of it while I can.