Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!

[Robertbarr]

First of all, I just found this forum.  Some of you might recognize me from the Suzuki GS Resource forum -- I'm the guy who's been providing the O-ring kits for Mikuni restorations.

I just picked up a 2001 B12 yesterday, and being accustomed to bikes like the GS850 and the 650 Honda Nighthawk, my primary comments on the 270-mile ride home were all expletives.  What I kept wondering is, why is a bike this powerful even street legal??  Holy (*&*(&) does this thing generate TORQUE!  The roll-on pull from 75 m.p.h. is just obscene.  I love it.

Anyway, it seems to be popular to remove / maim / replace the rear fender on these things.  I thought my new B12 was just missing the mudguard (the extension thingy), but it turns out it's been sawn with a hacksaw.  Ecch!

So, I'm looking for someone who's ready to discard / maim / replace a stock rear fender -- I'd be happy to buy the discard.

Anyway, I'll be lurking and reviewing your FAQ's -- and probably asking a few questions.  Nice forum.

RB

[Red01]

You want the part that was trimmed off?

If so, and provided whoever trimmed yours did a decent job, wouldn't it be easier to swap the entire inner fender? Perhaps you could work a trade for your trimmed unit for an intact stocker and then there'd be two happy parties.

[Robertbarr]

Yes, I'm looking for an intact fender.  What I wrote is fairly confusing on second read...  I like the original look.  the whole creature, as shown here:

http://www.cycleorings.com/b12b.gif

[mike]

I threw my mud flap away 4 years ago...  but, this is what the stock '01 fender looks like minus the bolt-on mud flap...


Like Paul said, you might get lucky and find someone to trade, or maybe a wrecked bike even.. if the stock part is too expensive new...

[GETFURIOUS]

IF YOU CHECK EBAY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A REAR FENDER THAT HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED...........GOOD LUCK.

[Slider]

I threw my mud flap away 4 years ago...  but, this is what the stock '01 fender looks like minus the bolt-on mud flap...


Like Paul said, you might get lucky and find someone to trade, or maybe a wrecked bike even.. if the stock part is too expensive new...

I LIKE the mudflap idea. Just curious why you took it off. I've had bikes that crap on everything on the rear carrier. Now, even the current Bandit puts crud on the bottom of the rear Givi in the wet.

Brings to mind a ride many years ago when I was using the crude black molybdenum chain lube of the day. I took my current main squeeze out for a ride, (of which I was mightily enamoured or lustified). She was wearing a whie nylon shell. The recently lubed chain striped her right up the back... reverse skunk style. The only way to get rid of molybdenum stains is with a welding torch or a large grenade.

It was at this point that I cut out a piece of rubber & put an iddy biddy flap on the chain gard. Everyone though it was hillarious, but I knew.

I put a flap on an H2 back wheel fender for the the same reasons. The trouble was that at speed the dam thing must have ocillated badly and the rear wheel ate the center out of dam thing.

Perhaps the same thing happend to you.

Another Mike... always glad to hear from family, (same name, right?)

[B6mick]

Sorry I'm a butcher.

[B12Teuton]

RB

I don't like that mod either.  Especially if you ever ride in the rain!!

However, since it's such a popular thing to do/replace you should be able to find used pieces out there somewhere.

[mike]

Hey Mike :)
At the time the bike was new, and I thought it looked kinda funky--so off it came...  Just never had the Butcher blood in me to finish it..  I'm pretty sure I trashed the fender in one of my apartment moves though, making room and cleaning out unused  junk.  My primary transportation is a GMC truck, so the bike rarely sees the wet---it's a pleasure vehicle for me...

If I used the bike for long road trips or for daily/primary transportation, I think would rather have it, than not...  

I had a YZ250 in my youth, flipped it and broke the rear fender and silencer  off being squidly;  I remember riding home on the trails minus the rear fender and silencer...  My entire back was coated from head to waist in tire slung mud when I got home...

 

[Desolation Angel]

I don't have a fender for you, but wanted to agree that I prefer to leave the things intact.  They serve a purpose.  I'm all for adding pretties, but not removing major parts.

But go ahead and add those shiney bolts and oil caps!

And frame sliders, and windshields, and stainless steel braided lines, and.....

[PitterB4]

Butcher?  Who you callin' a butcher???



IMHO, they ruin the lines of the bike.  Like Mike, mine's a pleasure vehicle (and fair-weather commuter) and doesn't see much rain.  I probably wouldn't have taken mine up that far but a PO had pretty well botched the partial fender-ectomy.  

Herb - a "major part"???  

[Desolation Angel]

Ha!  Yes, major to me, hehe.  Tires, engine, forks, fenders, tank...major parts to me.  Guess I'm still thinking "car" when I think of fenders.

   

[tacoman]

You might have some trouble finding a fender as most cut the stocker as there aren't a whole lot of alternatives like the sport bikes have.  I cut mine to look better but noticed right away the first time I got caught in the rain.  I have a corbin and it sends an annoying little spray on the seat which runs down and puddles right on the seat.  Not a big deal for me as the only time I rain ride is by accident.  Watch ebay, theres usually someone parting out a bike.

[B6mick]

Nice job pitterb4, who needs it. Thats what number plates are for.    

[Mongo]

You might have some trouble finding a fender as most cut the stocker as there aren't a whole lot of alternatives like the sport bikes have.  I cut mine to look better but noticed right away the first time I got caught in the rain.  I have a corbin and it sends an annoying little spray on the seat which runs down and puddles right on the seat.  Not a big deal for me as the only time I rain ride is by accident.  Watch ebay, theres usually someone parting out a bike.

I guess there are a few advantages to living in So Cal, there are not a lot of months to deal with the rain!

So I'm a butcher too!

Well there was a freak thundersorm yesterday so I took my truck to work.