No front fender trend

SleekStreak · 02-13-2006

Seems like a growing trend in bike building (customs) these days is to completely forgo a front fender altogether. I've eve seen a couple of Mean Streaks that are minus the front fender. Aside from the obvious possibility of getting whacked in the face by road debris, any other drawbacks to removing the front that I'm not aware of here? Not that I'm seriously considering it... I'm just curious.

*Tod* · 02-13-2006

How about Excessive splash from just driving over wet pavement?

I mean all the way up under your headlight and stuff, yuck.

**2WheelFun** · 02-13-2006

Also, if you like paint and decals, flames, etc...you'd loose that by taking off the fender.

SleekStreak · 02-13-2006

WOW! Driving over wet surface was an obvious one I didn't even think of. Totally agree... Yuck! I can just imagine the nice rope of sticky gray grotesque gunk coming off the road. *shudder*

Purely for show bikes, I guess. I swear some of this bike designs are getting so "out there" to the point that they're practically unridable. Look great sitting there, but have to be a gymnist or contortionist to ride them comfortably. Hah!

cudaosix · 02-13-2006

On my bike no front fender would mean the coils becoming soaked with water on wet pavement. That cant be good.

uechi kid · 02-13-2006

Personaly, I'm not a fan of the no front fender trend.

**2WheelFun** · 02-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by uechi kid

Personaly, I'm not a fan of the no front fender trend.

Me neither!

Billy D. · 02-13-2006

I live down a Ga. clay road, I'm considering mudflaps.

Xlr8n · 02-13-2006

I think the trend comes mainly from custom choppers, which are going for the clean look to make the front end look even longer. On a stock geometry bike, it just doen't look as good IMO unless you're going to give the bike the whole retro-bobber treatment. I've seen a couple custom meanies done up with no front fender, but the ones that looked decent were definately more show than go, slammed to the ground and had after market wheels with a 21" front tire. Back in the day every one bought used KZ's and took off the front fender and added drag bars for the early 'street-fighter' look. Doesn't really have the same effect on todays style of stock cruisers. To each their own, but the look on an otherwise stock bike doesn't do much for me.

brother · 02-13-2006

I agree with that,I only think it looks good on some choppers also.

Frankt07 · 02-13-2006

how about also getting some of that road crap in the radiator fins and clogging it up. these bikes dont like to run hot.
im leaving mine on

Xlr8n · 02-13-2006

With the Meanie, the bottom 1/4 of the radiator does catch alot of debris, I wouldn't want to see how bad it would be with no fender.

Norm · 02-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by uechi kid

Personaly, I'm not a fan of the no front fender trend.

I'm not either, I had a chance to go for a ride when my front fender was off (getting repainted). I road about 200 mi that day, and had several stings in the face from tiny rocks. I was glad to get the fender back on

ciso · 02-13-2006

That is a very old mod dating back to the 50's if not further back. Was common for all the british twins. Have pictures of my Dad's bikes and all his riding buddies with no front fender, don't know why they did it though.

PresidentBigJon · 02-13-2006

I took mine off, didn't like the gap between the tire and fender. Reminded me too much of a dirtbike. With out the front fender the 21 in. front wheel looks a lot bigger and it looks a lot cleaner. I haven't had hardly any drawback, when I ride through puddles it splatters to the sides.

flynsouth · 02-13-2006

It's the difference between art to admire and a bike to drive. Customs are great if it's a straight line in sunny 70 degree weather to the local hangout. Other than that it's all about pain.

MeanWon · 02-13-2006

Not to mention the possible damage to the radiator from rocks and such.

Constrictor · 02-13-2006

Thats one of those things like a wafer thin seat, 300 series rear tire, 20 degree fork, and no rear suspension that looks great on a show bike but as for something you'd actually wanna drive, I dont think its a smart thing to do. I know there are probably many people who have done it and say theyve never had a problem with it, but theres also many people out there that use heroin too and haven't OD'd yet...

Plato · 02-13-2006

I go the other way, dreaming of putting drifter fenders on my Nomad

cjjtulsa · 02-13-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plato

I go the other way, dreaming of putting drifter fenders on my Nomad

I kind of the same way - I was thinking the Low & Mean fender looks kind of cool, and it's even bigger than the stock Meanie one.

02-13-2006	#1 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,970	No front fender trend Seems like a growing trend in bike building (customs) these days is to completely forgo a front fender altogether. I've eve seen a couple of Mean Streaks that are minus the front fender. Aside from the obvious possibility of getting whacked in the face by road debris, any other drawbacks to removing the front that I'm not aware of here? Not that I'm seriously considering it... I'm just curious. __________________ 2002 Kawasaki Mean Streak 1500 http://bookmanstudios.com/bikediary

02-13-2006	#2 (permalink)
Tod I yam what I yam Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 21,991	How about Excessive splash from just driving over wet pavement? I mean all the way up under your headlight and stuff, yuck. __________________ “Saying what we think gives us a wider conversational range than saying what we know.” - Cullen Hightower

02-13-2006	#3 (permalink)
2WheelFun the "fun" guy Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Albion, Washington "Pacific Northwest" Posts: 32,674	Also, if you like paint and decals, flames, etc...you'd loose that by taking off the fender. __________________ *KING KAHUNA* *2007 V2K LT* ****PICS** 2007 Brute Force 650i **PICS** I love the smell of SeaFoam in the morning**

02-13-2006	#4 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,970	WOW! Driving over wet surface was an obvious one I didn't even think of. Totally agree... Yuck! I can just imagine the nice rope of sticky gray grotesque gunk coming off the road. shudder Purely for show bikes, I guess. I swear some of this bike designs are getting so "out there" to the point that they're practically unridable. Look great sitting there, but have to be a gymnist or contortionist to ride them comfortably. Hah! __________________ 2002 Kawasaki Mean Streak 1500 http://bookmanstudios.com/bikediary

02-13-2006	#5 (permalink)
cudaosix Guitar nerd BTK Expert Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 3,542	On my bike no front fender would mean the coils becoming soaked with water on wet pavement. That cant be good. __________________ Over 40 MegaFonzies and rising 1980 KZ1000

02-13-2006	#6 (permalink)
uechi kid Extreme Forum Supporter Extreme Forum Supporter Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Antioch, Ca. Posts: 1,957	Personaly, I'm not a fan of the no front fender trend. __________________ "Carpe Diem"

02-13-2006	#8 (permalink)
Billy D. Loves Burning Rice! Forum Supporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SouthEast Georgia Posts: 3,286	I live down a Ga. clay road, I'm considering mudflaps.

02-13-2006	#9 (permalink)
Xlr8n Living on the dark side Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 2,541	I think the trend comes mainly from custom choppers, which are going for the clean look to make the front end look even longer. On a stock geometry bike, it just doen't look as good IMO unless you're going to give the bike the whole retro-bobber treatment. I've seen a couple custom meanies done up with no front fender, but the ones that looked decent were definately more show than go, slammed to the ground and had after market wheels with a 21" front tire. Back in the day every one bought used KZ's and took off the front fender and added drag bars for the early 'street-fighter' look. Doesn't really have the same effect on todays style of stock cruisers. To each their own, but the look on an otherwise stock bike doesn't do much for me. __________________ '03 1200 Sporty

02-13-2006	#10 (permalink)
brother Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,134	I agree with that,I only think it looks good on some choppers also.

02-13-2006	#11 (permalink)
Frankt07 Ridden like a Ford! BTK Expert Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Miami, Fl Posts: 4,041	how about also getting some of that road crap in the radiator fins and clogging it up. these bikes dont like to run hot. im leaving mine on __________________ 2001 Black Mustang GT 2005 Phantom Silver 1500 Classic Royal Purple synthetic oil in both

02-13-2006	#12 (permalink)
Xlr8n Living on the dark side Forum Supporter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: midwest Posts: 2,541	With the Meanie, the bottom 1/4 of the radiator does catch alot of debris, I wouldn't want to see how bad it would be with no fender. __________________ '03 1200 Sporty

02-13-2006	#14 (permalink)
ciso Refrigerator Magnet Test Engineer BTK Expert Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 493	That is a very old mod dating back to the 50's if not further back. Was common for all the british twins. Have pictures of my Dad's bikes and all his riding buddies with no front fender, don't know why they did it though.

02-13-2006	#15 (permalink)
PresidentBigJon Third Gear And Gaining BTK Intermediate Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Burleson, Texas Posts: 133	I took mine off, didn't like the gap between the tire and fender. Reminded me too much of a dirtbike. With out the front fender the 21 in. front wheel looks a lot bigger and it looks a lot cleaner. I haven't had hardly any drawback, when I ride through puddles it splatters to the sides.

02-13-2006	#16 (permalink)
flynsouth It's time for me to ride BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 806	It's the difference between art to admire and a bike to drive. Customs are great if it's a straight line in sunny 70 degree weather to the local hangout. Other than that it's all about pain. __________________ 2006 Midnight Nomad 2002 Pagan Gold Meanie Honda CR250R

02-13-2006	#17 (permalink)
MeanWon Uncle Bob's Love Child BTK Intermediate Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: OKC Posts: 267	Not to mention the possible damage to the radiator from rocks and such. __________________ '06 Ebony/Metallic Persimmon Red Meanstreak 2008 Concours 14

02-13-2006	#18 (permalink)
Constrictor Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Steger, IL Posts: 1,054	Thats one of those things like a wafer thin seat, 300 series rear tire, 20 degree fork, and no rear suspension that looks great on a show bike but as for something you'd actually wanna drive, I dont think its a smart thing to do. I know there are probably many people who have done it and say theyve never had a problem with it, but theres also many people out there that use heroin too and haven't OD'd yet... __________________ 2005 Magma Red Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 1998 Bright Red Pontiac Trans Am 405.5 RWHP 385.1 RWTQ 2004 Nighthawk Black Honda Accord EX 6-speed

02-13-2006	#19 (permalink)
Plato Forum Supporter Forum Supporter Join Date: May 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 2,603	I go the other way, dreaming of putting drifter fenders on my Nomad __________________ 05 Nomad/V&H Baggers/PCIII/Caddman Risers/Lights/Lowers/Chaps www.home.earthlink.net/~mthompson61

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