F800GS: High-fender Options

[Maddaddy]

Originally Posted by bxr140

2. I'd be concerned with poo flying over the [what looks like a] stock beak--in my experience, that's already a problem with the fender installed.

You ride through poo???

[bxr140]

Originally Posted by Maddaddy

You ride through poo???

I try not to, but I always seem to end up in shitty situations.

[Bartron]

Finished...for now as there will always be something to play with.

For the fork guards, I bastardized a standard F800GS fender which costs about the same money as a set of fork guards and does not require mounts to be made. The cable guides finally came in so I installed those as well.

Of course, now that my fork seal is definitely blown, as it started leaking again, I'll have to look after that too. Luckily, the dealer figures it me be warranty-able. That would be sweet.

Here are the fork guards:





The cable guides:



And the finished product:



Thanks for all the input everyone. I'm looking forward to testing this out soon - whenever my seat comes in and that fork is sealed.

[gpracer171]

Barton,

How are the guards regarding rigidity? WIll they bounce around and hit the fork tubes? Just curious with how they perform without a top support and only 2 mounting screws at the bottom.

Also, lets see a side shot of the final product. I want to see the side look without the beak.

[Bartron]

GP,

Based on my finger push test, they seem fairly rigid. The plastic is thick although tends more to crack than bend so we'll see how it goes. I like the OEM look to them and the lack of fabricating mounts. There is at least 1cm clearance and there's nothing that could get underneath the stanchion and on the sliders to get caught.

I'm waiting for my seat so I'll post some side profiles then.....unless I get tired of hanging out on here and go for a ride.

B

Also, I will need some sort of clear adhesive plastic to stick onto the stanchions where they occasionally contact the brake lines to protect the lines. Anyone have any guesses where I could pick that up?

[gpracer171]

Originally Posted by Bartron

B

Also, I will need some sort of clear adhesive plastic to stick onto the stanchions where they occasionally contact the brake lines to protect the lines. Anyone have any guesses where I could pick that up?

Many motorcycle shops for both MX and Road racing. carry this clear plastic. It is normally where they have the number plate backgrounds. I picked some up to cover a couple of spots on the bike for about $6. also consider checking out a window tint shop. Many do the 3M clear bra installs. This stuff would also work for your needs.

[Revelstoker]

Congratulations. Looks good Bartron. Waiting for the May Long Weekend to see how it all works! I'm secretly keeping my fingers crossed that your seat doesn't arrive by then and you ride for a couple of thousand km's standing up...

[Bartron]

Originally Posted by Revelstoker

Congratulations. Looks good Bartron. Waiting for the May Long Weekend to see how it all works! I'm secretly keeping my fingers crossed that your seat doesn't arrive by then and you ride for a couple of thousand km's standing up...

Thanks buddy. I can't wait to do it all over again but this time let's keep the venison limited to the bar-b-que! Standing up? Ha! I'm currently riding on some rolled up towels and a sheep skin! Gotta do whatcha gotta do.

[RobTheRigger]

I'm really digging the high fenders, guys. I've thought about doing this to my 6 fiddy, but I don't know what to do about the fuggly mudguard bolt holes.

Rob

[Bartron]

Originally Posted by RobTheRigger

I'm really digging the high fenders, guys. I've thought about doing this to my 6 fiddy, but I don't know what to do about the fuggly mudguard bolt holes.

Rob

Thanks man, I'm diggin' the look more and more everyday! If you're thinking about converting the F650, take some pics of how things look and post em up. I'm sure you'd get some ideas for those bolt-holes. Plus, the pics would help us figure out which bolt holes you're talking about.

[Bartron]

So the fork protectors I fashioned from the stock fender seem to be doing the trick. So far, the highway testing was uneventful and they did not bend back or cause any drama.

[RobTheRigger]

Originally Posted by Bartron

Thanks man, I'm diggin' the look more and more everyday! If you're thinking about converting the F650, take some pics of how things look and post em up. I'm sure you'd get some ideas for those bolt-holes. Plus, the pics would help us figure out which bolt holes you're talking about.

Here's a pic of said holes. Short of machining them off, there's just no hiding those things.

Rob

[Bartron]

Originally Posted by RobTheRigger

Here's a pic of said holes. Short of machining them off, there's just no hiding those things.

Rob

That makes it much easier to visualize. The rear one I would ignore and leave as be and the two front ones would make for easy brake-line-guide placement. I assume you have a cross-brace? How much clearance does it leave for the tire with the fender off?

IIRC, the old 650 Dakars had a little metal wedge you could add on which would essentially 'fillet' the mud off the tire if it got too thick. This way the mud would be 'cut' instead of jamming up against the fork brace.

To be honest, I haven't seen many conventional fork set-ups go with high-fenders but if you search around you may get some more ideas.

Good luck!

[RobTheRigger]

Don't forget, the Dakar is a high-fendered bike with conventional forks.

Rob

[bxr140]

As is every dirt bike ever made with conventional forks...