Fender eliminator kit on a budget

Yesterday out of boredom waiting on a friend to show up I decided to figure out how or if I could easily mod my own fender and still have it look good. After taking it off I figured I'd do a Picture walk through.

These first two pictures shows the locations of the 6 bolts that you'll have to remove to get the fender off the bike. You'll need an extension for your ratchet to get most of these out.

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

Once you've removed these 6 bolts the fender will be free. Give the plate light wiring harness a little shake to find plug and disconnect it. The whole fender will come off now.

Now the quick and painless fender mod would be to just toss the plastic fender and re-bolt the license plate assembly directly to the metal bracket and reinstall. I'd suggest painting it black or the color of your bike. I didn't really like this look so I kept going.

[image: user posted image]

Mounted to the bike

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I have to say this look left too much empty space for my liking!

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

If you have a Dremel or a very sharp craft knife you can easily mod the plastic fender for a much nicer custom look.

Here is my cut line. I just used a black sharpie marker for this.

[image: user posted image]

Here's the left side cut off. I used a standard light duty cut off wheel on my Dremel powered at about 60%. To clean up the cuts I used an Xacto knife and then smoothed everything out with the metal buffing wheel. It did a great job!

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

I cut the bottom to follow the lines already molded in the plastic, it gave it a nice shape that sticks with the whole triangle theme already in the VFR.

The next step was to reassemble the fender bracket and only the back of the light assembly so I could drill a new hole for the wires to stay hidden. Drill from the back and use the space in the bracket for a guide. Everything lines up so perfectly you'd think Honda had this mod in mind!

From the back

[image: user posted image]


And from the front.

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And here's the whole thing back together before mounting on the bike.

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

The best way to put this all back on the bike I found after much trial and error.

Step 1. Bolt the plastic fender back up with its two bolts.

Step 2. Use thread lock on the two bolts that go in from the bottom and fit the bracket, and tighten those bolts.

Step 3. To install the last 2 bolts that go in from the top just behind the tail light assembly you have to apply just a little upward pressure on the tail lights themselves. This gives the bolts enough room to slide into place so you can tighten them down.

Step 4. Thread the license light wires through the hole at the top of the fender and while still holding the tail light up fish it into the tail section.

Step 5. Bolt the license plate assembly to the fender and bracket (don't forget the thread lock!) plug the light back in, mount your plate and You're golden!

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

[image: user posted image]

This whole project took me about an hour once I'd decided on my course of action. Doing the simple mod should only take about 15 minutes unless you decide to paint the bracket.

Thanks for the simple instructions and the pictures. This looks like a very nice way to get a much cleaner look from the rearend. With my ability it would probably take me quite a bit more time than it did for you but I think I can handle it. I have a neighbor that is a master of modification that can probably help me with your provided instructions. Thanks again.

1cgrimm, Jun 18 2006, 06:36 PMThanks for the simple instructions and the pictures.  This looks like a very nice way to get a much cleaner look from the rearend.  With my ability it would probably take me quite a bit more time than it did for you but I think I can handle it.  I have a neighbor that is a master of modification that can probably help me with your provided instructions.  Thanks again.

Glad I could help, let me know how yours goes and if my instructions work all the way through the mod.

Looks good wfeffer.

Another option. One of our members by the name of Tim came up with a Rubbermaid Fender Eliminator last fall. Here are the details of his post (must have gotten wiped out so the following is from Tim not me):

" All you'll need is a standard Rubbermaid office wastepaper basket and a strong pair of scissors (extra bolts and nuts are optional). What you can make is this:

I made my fender at long as I could given the size of the wastebasket I bought. You could make a bigger fender if you got a bigger trash can, but why would you want to do that? You can always cut yours to a different length if desired.

After removing the original fender, I put the stock fender bracket back on the bike. I also purchased some shorts bolts and nuts. Since the original mounts on the licence plate holder are taller than rubbermaid fender, I stacked some extra pieces together to build up the thickness (see next photo). The power supply for the licence plate light goes through a hole drilled in the new fender. I drilled this hole in a similar location to the hole on the stock fender. I also ziptied the wire to the stock bracket so it doesn't flop around.

The bottom two bolts are the stock bolts from the licence plate holder. I added the top two bolts for extra support. Also, I used some small screws to help hold the three plastic pieces together. See the diagram below to see how I put everything together.

I think this mod is great! Not only does the new fender look better than the stock one, it's cheap! Only $4.95 for a black rubbermaid wastepaper basket. I've had a hard time convincing friends and family that my new fender isn't stock. They look at me in disbelief when I tell them it's made from a rubbermaid trash can.

I hope everyone enjoys this post!
~Tim "

I could post pictures if anyone wants them. I did this mod and have been very happy with it. 4000 miles and counting.

Well I guess without seeing it I really have no clue how it looks. Mine was free and looks good to me so I'm super happy with it! biggrin.gif

"me"
All you'll need is a standard Rubbermaid office wastepaper basket and a strong pair of scissors (extra bolts and nuts are optional). What you can make is this:

[image: IPB Image]
Fender1.jpg

[image: IPB Image]
Fender4.JPG

I made my fender at long as I could given the size of the wastebasket I bought. You could make a bigger fender if you got a bigger trash can, but why would you want to do that? You can always cut yours to a different length if desired.

[image: IPB Image]
Fender3.jpg

After removing the original fender, I put the stock fender bracket back on the bike. I also purchased some shorts bolts and nuts. Since the original mounts on the licence plate holder are taller than rubbermaid fender, I stacked some extra pieces together to build up the thickness (see next photo). The power supply for the licence plate light goes through a hole drilled in the new fender. I drilled this hole in a similar location to the hole on the stock fender. I also ziptied the wire to the stock bracket so it doesn't flop around.

The bottom two bolts are the stock bolts from the licence plate holder. I added the top two bolts for extra support. Also, I used some small screws to help hold the three plastic pieces together. See the diagram below to see how I put everything together.

[image: IPB Image]
FenderDiagram.JPG

[image: IPB Image]
FenderMount.jpg

I think this mod is great! Not only does the new fender look better than the stock one, it's cheap! Only $4.95 for a black rubbermaid wastepaper basket. I've had a hard time convincing friends and family that my new fender isn't stock. They look at me in disbelief when I tell them it's made from a rubbermaid trash can.

I hope everyone enjoys this post!
~Tim

Update: Since doing this mod, I've installed factory hard bags on the bike. This does require a bit of modification to the rubbermaid fender, but it's pretty easy to figure out. You won't need all the extra panels of plastic behind the fender anymore if you enlarge the mounting holes a little bit on the new bracket that comes with the hardbags. If anybody is curious as to how it works, let me know and I can go snap some pics and give a more detailed description of what I did. fing02.gif

I didn't need to do any additional mods for my OEM hardbag brackets. I just flexed the rubber to allow room for the bolt and nut install.

I am glad you still had the full directions with pictures.

HenryCdn, Jul 30 2006, 11:19 AM
I didn't need to do any additional mods for my OEM hardbag brackets. I just flexed the rubber to allow room for the bolt and nut install.

I am glad you still had the full directions with pictures.

Yeah, that is true, you don't need to do any extra modifications to the fender, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. goofy.gif

Yep that's exactly what I did Works GREAT!!

wfeffer.....I did the same thing after I installed my 'tunes: ...BTW....nice write-up!


[image: IPB Image]
Pict1766.jpg ...another gratuitous 'Tunes shot...


Although, with the 'tunes I think I was able to use the upper two holes on the stock bracket, so I was able to cut the clearance a bit. Not too bad IMO.....YMMV....


[image: IPB Image]
Pict1765.jpg Gratuitous 'Tunes shot

wfeffer, very nice writeup and good quality photos. And I suppose you were actually taunting all of us with your clear lenses. beer.gif

dutchinterceptor, Aug 2 2006, 09:40 AM
wfeffer, very nice writeup and good quality photos. And I suppose you were actually taunting all of us with your clear lenses. beer.gif

I have clear lenses? I hadn't noticed rolleyes.gif Thanks for the compliment

I did exactly the same thing. All though I have to say I like the way Sebspeed did his, that looks even better so I may go back and fab something up.

phantomx, Aug 2 2006, 08:52 PM
I did exactly the same thing. All though I have to say I like the way Sebspeed did his, that looks even better so I may go back and fab something up.

Phantomx, do yourself a favor and get a couple of heavy people to sit on your bike before you finalize your bracket, I got back from an 80 mile ride today and saw that the lic. plate came into contact with the tire(probably during a wheelie rolleyes.gif ) , and it got bent out of shape. I'm going to angle it upwards a bit.

SEBSPEED, Aug 2 2006, 09:13 PM
Phantomx, do yourself a favor and get a couple of heavy people to sit on your bike before you finalize your bracket, I got back from an 80 mile ride today and saw that the lic. plate came into contact with the tire(probably during a wheelie rolleyes.gif ) , and it got bent out of shape. I'm going to angle it upwards a bit.

Sweet. I have to especially careful then because I flipped the triangle on the SSS so it's now a 3/4" lower. I may have to push the tag out almost to the end of the exhaust then, hmmm wonder how that will work....

phantomx, Aug 2 2006, 09:17 PM
Sweet. I have to especially careful then because I flipped the triangle on the SSS so it's now a 3/4" lower. I may have to push the tag out almost to the end of the exhaust then, hmmm wonder how that will work....

Or lay it flat so they can't see it until they walk up to write you the ticket!! goofy.gif

wfeffer,

Followed your lead and did the same modification. Really pleased with the results. Thanks for the idea. beer.gif

Just did the "wfeffer" mod- it came out excellent!

I had the Competetion Werkes eliminator and didn't like the way it looked- I thought the license plate was set too far in.

Thanks, man!

And yet another way of acomplishing the same thing, just different. This is done with the hardbag bracket though.
[image: gallery_185_557_269265.jpg]
new muffler pics new muffler pics

[image: gallery_185_557_223264.jpg]
new muffler pics new muffler pics

seadooloo, Mar 27 2007, 08:00 PMAnd yet another way of acomplishing the same thing, just different. This is done with the hardbag bracket though.
[image: gallery_185_557_269265.jpg]
new muffler pics new muffler pics

[image: gallery_185_557_223264.jpg]
new muffler pics new muffler pics

Looks real nice with the painted hugger! Sweet!