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Message started by mr. s on 05/04/11 at 01:11:12

Title: Dirty without fenders?
Post by mr. s on 05/04/11 at 01:11:12

In my plan to turn my savage into a bobber, I was thinking that I would take off both the front and back fenders. I've never really heard if it gets really dirty or wet.

What are your experiences with taking off the:
Front fender?
Back fender?
Putting on a short back fender?

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/04/11 at 04:10:45

Ive had oily sand hit me in the chin even With my front fender on it. NO ay would I ride w/o a front fender.

Hit a wet road & see the rooster tail sling right up the middle of the back if you dont have a rear fender. Me? I like fenders, they keep things off of me. I like the bobber Look, but I dont want the crap that they deflect flinging all over..

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Smokestack on 05/04/11 at 05:46:06

Yep, yer gonna get dirty. If ya only ride on nice days, then it's not generally too bad, but there will definitely be some grit in your teeth and up your..... ahem, backside.

I'd also suggest keeping the back fender for safety reasons. That rear wheel is just itchin' to grab your jacket, wallet chain, baggy jeans or what have you. If you've ever run a solo seat, you've probably found yourself between the back of your seat and the rear fender at least once, and if you have no fender, well..... Ouch. Some seats have a pretty large curve on them (like the BCB seats or Redtail Leather, which are pretty darn sweet, by the way) which helps to limit front to back travel of your butt, so if you run so rear, I'd strongly suggest picking one up despite the cost, which is anywhere from $200 to $290+ for the brands mentioned.

I've run no front before, as I really dig the look, and it's not too bad if you have a full face helmet or ride bandito style; a helmet, glasses or goggles and a bandana covering your lower face. I've never run no rear fender, and don't think I'm ever going to.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by MotoBuddha on 05/04/11 at 06:07:40

Aw, come on, man, aren't bobbers supposed to be a throwback to the days of leather helmets, goggles, bugs and mud, when men were men and dirt was food?

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 05/04/11 at 06:13:55

Yea, when I first got he bike, I rode with an open face helmet & goggles, till I stopped a few bugs with my cheek bones & I s the light on face protecting helmet, thanks to Mike at MPH in Houston. He's the one who told me I want wearing enough helmet. Im sure glad I listened to him.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Arnold on 05/04/11 at 07:09:32

I run with no front fender but I have the rear, although not original. I dont ride in the rain but yea, stuff do fly off the front from time to time. I live with it and ride with open face.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Smokestack on 05/04/11 at 08:50:27

1D3F243F122534343831500 wrote:

Aw, come on, man, aren't bobbers supposed to be a throwback to the days of leather helmets, goggles, bugs and mud, when men were men and dirt was food?

Sure. I was only speaking to my experiences, and giving a couple of suggestions.

All I'm sayin' is that I have personally planted my arse between solo's and the back tin after hittin' a pothole or bump enough times to know that the rear fender is the only thing what kept me able to make babies. All on friends bikes, mind you, so it might not be a common problem for people who aren't me.

I'm also not running a front fender right now, 'cuz like I said, I dig the look. And yup, I get some grit with my lunch most days. No biggie.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by RidgeRunner13 on 05/04/11 at 10:31:38

Right now they are repaving (good thing) & resurfacing (not good, tar & loose gravel). No fenders = covered in crap. I added to my front fender to help keep it off the frame & engine. 8-)

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n94/Pappygt13/Savagemakeover039.jpg

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Boofer on 05/04/11 at 13:58:52

This is not worth starting a new thread, so I'll hijack yours. For those without fenders and a dirty engine case (front and bottom) I use Armor All wheel cleaner and a GI type bristle brush. Makes the case like new. Be careful to keep it off your clearcoat--it may harm it. Thanks for the space.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by mr. s on 05/04/11 at 15:02:11

What about a half back fender? Will it solve the problem, or just make it a little better?

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by groupus on 05/04/11 at 18:16:42

I ran no front fender for a while, first time it rains or the road is even remotely wet you will hate it. it also provides bracing support. mine's black so it's hardly noticeable.
pretty much anything shorter than a stock rear will give you a skunk stripe up the back, but thats more forgivable than getting crud in your face.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by RpNSht on 05/05/11 at 12:36:53

726D6B6C71764777477F6D612A180 wrote:

its true! and its the SMALL price you pay for riding a bobber
i wouldnt do it any other way
unless its a cafe!
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1304297812

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Starlifter on 05/05/11 at 18:19:02

Gack! I have no fenders on my Mt. bike and when it rains it's a mess!

I couldn't imagine riding the S40 without fenders.

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by Serowbot on 05/05/11 at 19:13:06

Sit backwards on your seat (while parked...) and look at the back of your bike,...
...if you can see tire, then the mud can see you... :-?...

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by kimchris1 on 05/05/11 at 22:07:31

I have never ridden a mc without fenders,
well at least not yet..
I did ride a bicycle without them, even
went thru the mudpuddles..
Oh yes had the streak up the back.
Due to that is one reason, I prefer
fenders. I do like the look of the 1/2 fender
that Serowbot and, a couple others on here
have. :) Kim

Title: Re: Dirty without fenders?
Post by WD on 05/06/11 at 15:48:27

Ran without front fenders for years. No big deal, put on a real headlight (7 inch sidemount) and a lot of crud gets deflected. Especially if you add small rubber "bellows" to the headlight mounting ears, from back of headlight bucket to base of the ears.

I run a full rear fender, specifically a Shovelhead FLH replica. If I can find the right Cobra Boulevard fiberglass 1100 Shadow fender my bike will run a full front fender too.

My 63 Honda 250 is my "hardcore" bike now. No fenders, cafe style seat insert covered with rubber. No hand controls at the moment, Honda cables don't fit in replica 60s Brit bike levers or perches. Twin pull drum brakes front and rear. Kick only with dual point ignition. It used to be a CL72 Scrambler, someone swapped the rare CL pipes for common as dirt CB72 low pipes (with no tail pipes after the 12 inch glaspacks). Good thing it is a solo bike, I'd feel sorry for the unlucky passenger, no rear pegs, no grab bar/strap, no backrest and a dirt track tire. Their "naughty bits" would get ground off pretty quickly... ::)