Front Fender Beautification

14261 Views 22 Replies 17 Participants Last post by pencilcoil, Apr 8, 2022

DukeSev

Discussion Starter · Jul 4, 2017 (Edited)

5

So in my opinion the front fender of our beloved bike is too large. I was looking at buying something like this [1], but if you want it painted it is not exactly cheap. The stock fender costs about the same as a replacement part, so I thought I'd just make mine a little smaller even though it hurts to cut up a stock part. I could always get a replacement if I f*ed it up

.

I removed the fender (which is more annoying than I thought, you have to detach the brake calliper to get the braking line out of the way) and cut the outer parts away. The hard part is getting it symmetric. I certainly didn't get it on point, but if you don't look too closely its alright.

I might go back and do some more sanding if I get bored, but I'm pretty happy with the result as is. I think it makes the bike look lighter and more exciting.

What do you think? Did I improve the looks or just destroy a perfectly good fender?

[1] https://www.s2-concept.com/index.php/en/road/habillage-moto/garde-boue-arri%C3%A8re/garde-boue-avant-xsr-700-peint-detail

See less See more

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

matt_banks

· #2 · Jul 4, 2017

Looks really good. What did you use to cut the fender? dremmel?

DukeSev

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 4, 2017

matt_banks said:
Looks really good. What did you use to cut the fender? dremmel?

Yes, just a Dremel with a cutting wheel and some sanding paper for the finish. I thought I might have to paint it, the plastic underneath is black. You have to look really closely to see the difference, so I just left it. Just have to make sure not to get scratches on the top when sanding...

Reactions: 1

YamahaFan

· #4 · Jul 5, 2017

Probably the most important thing in doing that job is masking off the area you want to drill so in the end you have a clean cut without all those small scratches from the shredded bits.

Reactions: 1

TheCrow

· #5 · Jul 6, 2017

Well that's pretty sweet. Nice subtle change. I used to think that tape trick was just some nonsense but after I started utilizing it.. it's crucial.

YamahaFan

· #6 · Jul 6, 2017

TheCrow said:
Well that's pretty sweet. Nice subtle change. I used to think that tape trick was just some nonsense but after I started utilizing it.. it's crucial.

Often for newbs when its too late is when they find out and this is clearly not the bike to do it on. My heart would skip a beat.

TheCrow

· #7 · Jul 7, 2017

I wouldn't want to do it on any bike, this one or a next! Always good to practice on test panels that you could easily grab from the wreck yard for cheap.

Xsrbaron

· #8 · Feb 13, 2019

Duk ev;
I'm thinking of doing this to my front fender; I've got a pretty good gouge in it, so I figure what the heck. In your pictures you have a 2 different fender colors; one black and one silver. What color was your original fender? Did you plasti- dip it to get it black?. Also, the link you have to the commercial,custom fender; is that the design you used to pattern your fender?

gnarlydog

· #9 · Feb 13, 2019

Question: how does it work in the rain/wet?
My guess is that the original was designed to prevent spray?

Flyerdon

· #10 · Feb 14, 2019

It looks pretty good to me. The original does look just a tad on the large side and there's often the urge to get the things cut too short in an effort to reduce the size. Yours looks just about right. I've done it on other bikes then regretted it when I found out the amount of splash getting beyond the fender made it real tough to keep the engine clean. Always a balancing act.

Callahan

· #11 · Feb 15, 2019

The stock one is huge and buttugly.
After your mod it looks alot better. Great job!

George

· #12 · Feb 15, 2019

Looks great! Have you tried it in the wet?

smotik

· #13 · Nov 9, 2019

Your headlight is stock?

Hi DukeSev, Did you also modify your headlight since it looks shorter than the stock one. If so can you provide some details as to how is this done?

Thank you.

Plazo

· #14 · Nov 9, 2019

smotik said:
Hi DukeSev, Did you also modify your headlight since it looks shorter than the stock one. If so can you provide some details as to how is this done?

Thank you.

I think it's the XSR 900 headlight.

smotik

· #15 · Nov 9, 2019

Plazo said:
I think it's the XSR 900 headlight.

Looks like it. Would be interested to know how to fit it and whether any conversion brackets are required.

Blissful

· #16 · Feb 4, 2020

Hey Duke. Looks really good. Thinking of doing the same for mine.

Seeing as its been a while since you did this, do you have any input on how it affects during rain? Does dirt/water/mud get thrown more on the bike?

smotik

· #17 · Apr 23, 2020

2

Made mine nicer as well. Took me like 5 hours sice I wanted to achieve near to original look so did play a lot with sandpaper

See less See more

Reactions: 2

Slonomo

· #18 · Jan 22, 2021

My fender kept getting packed with mud and made it hard to clean. So I raised it. New brake lines are being made up right now.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

Cjb

· #19 · Jul 9, 2021

3

I went for the SW-Motech front fender. As you can see in the first photo its way smaller than the original fender....

See less See more

Reactions: 3

dan1

· #20 · Jul 9, 2021

Cjb said:
I went for the SW-Motech front fender. As you can see in the first photo its way smaller than the original fender....

Awesome comparison, thank you. Any chance you can post some video sound on that arrow jet exhaust?

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.