Bandit Alley

GENERAL MOTORCYCLE FORUMS => GENERAL MOTORCYCLE => Topic started by: Robertbarr on September 25, 2005, 02:08:00 PM

Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Robertbarr on September 25, 2005, 02:08:00 PM
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
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Red01 on September 25, 2005, 03:12:58 PM
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.
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Robertbarr on September 25, 2005, 05:24:07 PM
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
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: mike on September 25, 2005, 06:09:50 PM
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...
(http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9117/b12e3gq.jpg)

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...
Title: B-12 REAR FENDER...............
Post by: GETFURIOUS on September 25, 2005, 11:26:20 PM
IF YOU CHECK EBAY, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A REAR FENDER THAT HAS NOT BEEN ALTERED...........GOOD LUCK.
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Slider on September 26, 2005, 12:46:53 AM
Quote from: "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...
(http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9117/b12e3gq.jpg)

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?)
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: B6mick on September 26, 2005, 07:28:33 AM
Sorry I'm a butcher. :monkeymoon:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: B12Teuton on September 26, 2005, 08:27:03 AM
:welcome: 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.
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: mike on September 26, 2005, 09:40:12 AM
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...

 :beers:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Desolation Angel on September 26, 2005, 11:35:40 AM
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! :lol:

And frame sliders, and windshields, and stainless steel braided lines, and.....
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: PitterB4 on September 26, 2005, 11:52:27 AM
Butcher?  Who you callin' a butcher???

(http://www.bikepics.com/pics/pics/suzuki-bandit400-93-bikepics-199162.jpg)

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"???   :stickpoke:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Desolation Angel on September 26, 2005, 02:18:31 PM
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.

 :lol:  :lol:
Title: fender
Post by: tacoman on September 26, 2005, 03:23:26 PM
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.
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: B6mick on September 27, 2005, 08:00:12 AM
Nice job pitterb4, who needs it. Thats what number plates are for. :beers:  :lol:  :motorsmile:
Title: Re: fender
Post by: Mongo on September 27, 2005, 09:01:17 AM
Quote from: "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.


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.

(http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b393/mongo995/CIMG1222.jpg)
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Red01 on September 27, 2005, 02:32:31 PM
Quote from: "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...
(http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/9117/b12e3gq.jpg)


Mike, only the Naked models got the mudflap... which has always struck me as odd. Suzuki gave the N's a stiffer shock figuring a N model buyer was more likely to be a hooligan. How many hooligans want EXTRA fender? You'd think the S model would be the better choice for the extra fender since these buyers would be more likely to use their bikes as sport-tourers.

 :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:  :roll:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: mike on September 27, 2005, 05:24:00 PM
Wow Paul! Did not know that...  
I've heard rumors about the stiffer shock, but assumed all 2g models had the fender extension....
Learned something new...

You can still see the bolts on the bottom of my fender where I unbolted the mud flap...  I really intended on a fender eliminator at some point, I like the look and like Rob only ride for fun...  I just got used to it the way it is now and never tackled sawing it off and installing a license plate bracket and turn signal set...
Title: Re: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Mongo on September 29, 2005, 11:29:27 PM
Quote from: "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


Here's your fender!

http://www.gdlcycles.com/asp1/rezdetails.asp?ItemID=174-3262

 :bigok:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Desolation Angel on September 30, 2005, 10:39:17 AM
Hey!  I need 2 reflectors like that for my bike, but couldn't find them on BikeBandit or Alpha Sports.   :shock:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Red01 on September 30, 2005, 07:28:33 PM
Quote from: "Desolation Angel"
Hey!  I need 2 reflectors like that for my bike, but couldn't find them on BikeBandit or Alpha Sports.   :shock:


Maybe you weren't looking in the right place. They aren't found under the rear fender parts, but with the tail light stuff. I found them on Ron Ayers site here:

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0315/tail_lamp/tail_lamp.cfm
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Desolation Angel on September 30, 2005, 07:30:46 PM
Quote from: "Red01"
Quote from: "Desolation Angel"
Hey!  I need 2 reflectors like that for my bike, but couldn't find them on BikeBandit or Alpha Sports.   :shock:


Maybe you weren't looking in the right place. They aren't found under the rear fender parts, but with the tail light stuff. I found them on Ron Ayers site here:

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0315/tail_lamp/tail_lamp.cfm


Well, h$ll!  No, I looked only at the rear fender where they attach.  Made sense to me! :roll:  :roll:

Thanks a bunch! :thanks:
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Red01 on September 30, 2005, 07:46:03 PM
That's where I looked first, too. When it wasn't there, I started looking in other categories. The nice thing about Ron's site is you get thumbnails of the different categories, to make searches a little easier - that's how I spotted the reflectors in the tail light section.
Title: Calling All Rear Fender Butchers!
Post by: Robertbarr on October 01, 2005, 11:07:19 PM
Good hunting!  I doubt I'll do better than that!  Thanks for the tip.

RB