Topic: Bobbed front fenders

[sangyo soichiro]

I'll admit it, I don't get it.  I think the original CB front fenders are so nice that it's a shame to cut them up.  I think eventually the original fender will be considered unique because everyone else has cut theirs.  Mostly though, I think the bobbed fender just doesn't look as nice.

Everyone has to do what they like, and not what others like.  You got to do what makes you happy. 

Strangely, I do like the no fender look.  It's just something about the bobbed fender that bugs me. 

Of course, this is just my opinion, and you know that isn't worth much! 


What are your thoughts?

[NickC]

My fender wasn't in that good of shape, so I bobbed and painted it.

[kghost]

Most bob jobs look like crap.

But they do away with the rolled lip.

Needs the Rolled lip to look right.

[Gordon]

Indifferent.

The fender on my 550 is cut, but only because it was mangled in the front.  It doesn't stop the water spray off the top of the tire anymore, so I would have liked to have kept it stock.  On a bike that already doesn't look stock,  I don't care either way as far as aesthetics goes.   

[Gordon]

Does seem like a strange sentiment, though, coming from the owner of a custom cafe'd 750.

[DammitDan]

Who needs front fenders anyway? 

[goon 1492]

I'm kinda on the same boat, I bobbed my front fender mainly because it was damaged on the front and rear, so I cut it off. Less body work to do, I already have an oil cooler dent that is halfway pounded out from a PO. I am painting over the oil cooler dent and leaving the outersides of the fender chromed followed by red pinstriping that will transition from the chrome to the paint.

[sangyo soichiro]

Does seem like a strange sentiment, though, coming from the owner of a custom cafe'd 750.

A custom cafe'd 750 with an uncircumcised front fender.   

[Gordon]

Does seem like a strange sentiment, though, coming from the owner of a custom cafe'd 750.

A custom cafe'd 750 with an uncircumcised front fender.   

I see that.   I just thought it odd that someone who has done so much customization to his own bike would choose to single out others for just one small change they may have made to their own bikes. 

Like you said, though, it's all a matter of opinion, and you have to do what you like.  Just thought it was kind of odd.  Sort of like someone with 30 piercings all over his body saying he doesn't like it when somebody else wears an eyebrow piercing.   

[sangyo soichiro]

Does seem like a strange sentiment, though, coming from the owner of a custom cafe'd 750.

A custom cafe'd 750 with an uncircumcised front fender.   

I see that.   I just thought it odd that someone who has done so much customization to his own bike would choose to single out others for just one small change they may have made to their own bikes. 

Like you said, though, it's all a matter of opinion, and you have to do what you like.  Just thought it was kind of odd.  Sort of like someone with 30 piercings all over his body saying he doesn't like it when somebody else wears an eyebrow piercing.   

I'm not singling anyone out, just trying to understand.  I'll explain:

In the late summer of 2007 I bought a 1972 CB 750.  I almost didn't buy it.  I had been wanting a bike for a long time, but didn't really have a preference.  My girlfriend found the bike and we went to see it.  I thought it was cool, but I wasn't in love by any stretch.  Anyway, I ended up buying it.

Then I ran across Carpy's website.  He has a lot of nice bikes, but when I saw the "Vincent" I instantly fell in love with the front fender and the pedestrian slicer.  I thought, "That is what I want!"

I patterned my bike after the one he calls the "Tornado," except, I had to have that pedestrian slicer too.

So that's my story.  I had bought the bike before I ever thought of cafe-ing it out, and I absolutely loved the front fender with the pedestrian slicer license plate - loved it so much that I can't imagine why other people cut theirs.

Since then, I bought another CB 750 (a K4) that is basically stock (all but the exhaust).  In fact, when I was in the market for another 750, I found one with less than 10k miles and was pretty nice (not great, but nice).  But I passed on it because it had a bobbed front fender.  I'm picky I guess.  All ended well because I found the '74 with a spare frame (titled) and a spare engine, and for less money, and also about 10k miles.

Sometimes I think people catch the "modification bug," and the front fender becomes the first sacrificial lamb. 

So, I guess I just want to hear why others prefer the bobbed fenders.  That's all.  I hope I didn't offend anyone.