About time I did something..

Well I'm going to register the bike today.. so last night I played in the garage:
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Ehhhh.. idk about that hiney..

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I like where this is going..

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Mhhh.. much better.

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Cowl on with Sargent seat.. Sorry about the pictures.. I'm no James B or Jay.

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Next item to get the ax...
Hindle high mount is sitting on the shelf..

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Back in her cubby for now..

Nice bike, just in time for the beginning of riding season.  Fifty degrees in Hartford next week :)

That fender-ectomy is why I don't ride behind TimmyTheCop if I can avoid it.  Looks nice, but crap just flies off the rear tire.

I've contemplated removing mine.  Nice job!

Fixed some of the pictures.. :)

Looks great, but as mentioned it throws crap everywhere!   :tongue:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 28 February 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

Looks great, but as mentioned it throws crap everywhere!   :tongue:

What if soneone puts on a Huggger like tthis http://www.powerbron...3&col_id=831892 ?

I do it on all my bikes.. Even my motard that I go offroad with.. :huh:
I would assume the hugger would help a bit.

[image: View Post]ndmeistr, on 28 February 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

What if soneone puts aon a Huggger like tthis http://www.powerbron...3&col_id=831892 ?



Doubt it, it keeps crap of your rear shock, but that is about it.....

Looks relatively simple.  I want to try it.  What was the process, tools, etc?

[image: View Post]realistdreamer, on 28 February 2012 - 03:48 PM, said:

Looks relatively simple.  I want to try it.  What was the process, tools, etc?

Process? Um, Hacksaw! And go slow. Use a fine blade. -

Funny how goofy the stockish fender looks since I havent seen one in quite a while. - When I did mine, I was thinking about the extra crap slung at the tailight so I kinda went a half way route.....
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I did mine with tin snips and a bottle of gin.
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Did the same for my 4th gen many years ago. had to dremel out the blnking plastic panel they had on the bottom of the light bezel (boy, that plastic was really tough!) and silicone glue in a prismed clear plastic lens.
I really hated the way the DOT laws forced Honda to add on the ugly license plate light wart on the tail of our bikes while the rest of the world get to have cleaner tail assemblies.

Beck
95 VFR

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As requested...
The process:
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[image: View Post]ndmeistr, on 28 February 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Baileyrock, on 28 February 2012 - 11:06 AM, said:

Looks great, but as mentioned it throws crap everywhere!   :tongue:

What if soneone puts on a Huggger like tthis http://www.powerbron...3&col_id=831892 ?

Not gunna lie, that looks kinda nice...very tempting...

-Mike

Looks interesting and cleans up the back end nicely.  Curious as to whether you notice more junk on the back of your jacket or if it's totally irrelevant?

Ahh the dremel. Dont know what i would do without one.

[image: View Post]BillyZ, on 29 February 2012 - 12:48 AM, said:

Ahh the dremel. Dont know what i would do without one.

um...........tin snips and gin.

[image: View Post]y2kvfr, on 28 February 2012 - 10:49 AM, said:

That fender-ectomy is why I don't ride behind TimmyTheCop if I can avoid it.  Looks nice, but crap just flies off the rear tire.

I've contemplated removing mine.  Nice job!
I cracked the underside of my brand new Thurn clear lens rear light on the NY trip in October. No fender and lots of gravel...
MiniCarver's was already modded for a clear license plate light on the underside, but not sealed well. He got enough mud in it that I thought he had blown a bulb. Turns out it still worked, but was coated with gunk.
Travis, keep the fender...

God made dirt and dirt don't hurt :tongue:

[image: View Post]Matasickle, on 29 February 2012 - 08:06 AM, said:

God made dirt and dirt don't hurt :tongue:
Thurn makes clear lens led tail lights, and they are not inexpensive. My oem was broken too, but I just thought it was from the couple times I backed it into something in the garage.
It does look better, but in hindsight I'd prefer to not have a cracked tail light. You pays your money, you makes your choice. My next 5th gen will have a fender.

[image: View Post]KPerham, on 29 February 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

My next 5th gen will have a fender.

There is one on e-pay right now. Why wait? :laugh:

For anyone wanting to do the "halfway" fenderectomy, here's a suggestion:

-Remove the red reflector under the taillight.
-Remove the license plate bracket.
-Remove half of the license plate light off the license plate bracket.
-Drill corresponding holes to mount the half-light where the red reflector used to live.
-Figure out where your license plate needs to sit, underneath the new plate light.
-Trim fender accordingly at the bottom of the license plate and round the edges as desired.
-Affix license plate.
-Enjoy.

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Or you could get a black license plate frame with built-in LEDs.
http://www.radiantz....ame%20black.jpg

I think this mod looks great on bikes... It really cleans up the tail section.

However, I am an all weather rider. This is the worst thing you could ever do to a bike.
This will funnel every drop of dirty, oily, muddy water on a damp road on to you, your gear and your bike.
Fenders are your friend.


With that said, I have a fiberglass fender eliminator for a fifth gen.
If someone local to Murphy, NC wants it, it is yours for 50.00.

I did it as well, but I made a plate light, by cutting a hole in the tail light and gluing a piece of clear lens over it.

It's held up well for about 2 years, and no leaks.

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[image: View Post]gr8vfr, on 29 February 2012 - 07:13 PM, said:

However, I am an all weather rider. This is the worst thing you could ever do to a bike.
This will funnel every drop of dirty, oily, muddy water on a damp road on to you, your gear and your bike.
Fenders are your friend.

That's a little drastic.  I ride everyday as well and there isn't THAT much stuff than can go up, make a 90 degree turn, and attack your back.  I mean if you are riding in the rain, aren't you wet anyway?  Now let me tell you about the times I have ridden through a thunderstorm on a naked bike with no front fender.......

Well, you all inspired me to chop my fender tonight.  It was an unusually nice 70 degree F winter day in Indiana today, so I rode around to get the stuff I needed.  I picked up a black painted plate frame, some stainless plate screws, and a set of little 4" long waterproof LED strips to serve as lights for the license plate.

I went the conservative route and only chopped off about 3" of the fender.  I have a set of Corbin Beetle Bags that mount with a bracket that attaches to the fender....so in case I decide to put them back on the bike at some point, I cut just below the old holes for the old license plate light where that bracket mounts.  It's still a drastic improvement in looks I think.

Thanks for the motivation/inspiration.

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[image: View Post]ggathagan, on 29 February 2012 - 04:07 PM, said:

Or you could get a black license plate frame with built-in LEDs.
http://www.radiantz....ame%20black.jpg

Signal Dynamics has several options too.
http://signaldynamic...emart&Itemid=77

Thanks for the inspiration.  Took some snips, my drill and decided a fenderectomy was in order on my new 2000 VFR.  Came out very well.  I decided to buy a new license plate cover and found a great 3 LED stick-on light at the local honda dealer for $9.

Sorry for the horrible camera phone pics - Thanks moto

Finished fenderectomy - side view
[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=582] Fenderectomy side view Finished product - side view Album: Fenderectomy Uploaded 03 Mar 2012 - 00:28


Cool LED light for $9
[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=582] Fenderectomy LED LED light found at Honda Dealer for fenderectomy Album: Fenderectomy Uploaded 03 Mar 2012 - 00:28


I'll get the rear view with lights up soon.  I think I installed the lighting crooked - Doh!

Here's the final shots

Another side view
[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=582] Fenderectomy side2 Album: Fenderectomy Uploaded 03 Mar 2012 - 16:47


Rear angle

[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=582] Fenderectomy rear2 Album: Fenderectomy Uploaded 03 Mar 2012 - 16:47

And the close up rear.  Here you can see that I botched aligning the LED light.  It's on their tight so it'll have to be one those things that I just forget about and replace when it dies (or never)
[image: index.php?app=gallery&module=images&section=img_ctrl&img=582] fenderectomy rear close Album: Fenderectomy Uploaded 03 Mar 2012 - 16:47