The guys at Suzuki put the fender there for a functional reason, not for looks. I'm worried that if I perform this cosmetic surgery on my bike, the rear tire will kick up some stones and break my taillight or nick my rear fairing. Do I really have to worry about this at all?
My inner fender is trimmed to just below the license place. I've never had any problems. I'd say 50% at least of the GS riders here have done a fenderectomy and I've never heard one person say it was a bad idea (well, one guy did, but he hadn't done a fenderectomy, he just thought it was dumb).
I don't think you'll regret it. If you ride in the rain on a regular basis, you might want to keep it.
what difference would riding in the rain do to your riding? Or is it courtesy for other people BEHIND you?
I have done the mod to my 05 F it cleans up the look of the rear quite nice. [ FREE ] I also noticed that in the rain the [ ROOSTER TAIL ] I now have makes the cars hang back farther making my ride much safer. Good looks and safety to boot all for FREE!
When I bought my bike, the previous owner had done a fenderectomy up to the bottom of the license plate. This means I can't really compare, but I think there have been two things that have happened:
1. More spray in the rain, both at the car behind you and on the back of my bike
2. Weakened the integrity of the rear fender, causing the wide rear turn signals to vibrate a lot at some speeds (I never noticed the signals vibrating, but my dad mentions it when he follows me).
If it wasn't done when I got my bike, I'm not sure if I would have done it... But one of these days I plan on getting shorter (Buell) turnsignals that hopefully won't vibrate so much
The only reason the fender is that long to begin with is for licence plates in the UK and other countries... It isnt going to effect anything if you dont have a plate that is that big.. cut it off.. It looks soo much better! :thumb:
Its a DOT thing to have it so low I believe or maybe the european as someone said. Like 18 wheelers are required to have mud flap to protect cars windshields or something to that effect. Mine is cut right below the licence plate and I have never had any mud spray on my back or rocks fly up at me. Nor have I noticed the high speed vibration. I would take a rotozip or some small cutting tool, draw a line, and use a file to finish it off. Its a pretty innocent and hazard free mod, also free in the way of cost!
-ash
I've been thinking about doing this on my 05 bike, but I'm still not sure... :icon_confused:
but anyway, if you had this procedure done and want to go 'back in time' and restore the fender, I found this informative guide to do it for only $4.95 :icon_mrgreen:
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15947
you do get more water spraying up on the taillight but you dont get any on your back.
I completely eliminated the fender... Only drawback was the undertail getting a little dirty.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/fettcols/tail.jpg)
I cut mine right below the plate... I ride in the rain a lot... It does spray more on your tail light and the guy behind you, but that's pretty much it.
Quote from: fettcols on February 14, 2006, 11:52:14 AM
I completely eliminated the fender... Only drawback was the undertail getting a little dirty.
The inner fender is there to stop Camerys, right?
you could always cut the rear fender, drill in a couple of holes and attatch a rubber mudflap when it looks like there will be rain.
Quote from: Jake D on February 14, 2006, 12:59:08 PM
Quote from: fettcols on February 14, 2006, 11:52:14 AM
I completely eliminated the fender... Only drawback was the undertail getting a little dirty.
The inner fender is there to stop Camerys, right?
Well, the swingarm and rear wheel did a good job of that. You should have seen it, my plate scratched a good fifteen inches back his hood.
Remember that an object released from a rotating body will have a velocity perpendicular to the radius of rotation.
In my little illustration below you will see that it is not possible to get wet. The tangent line extending from the back of the taillight to the surface of the tire proves this. This is the maximum angle water can be expected to travel past the taillight, negating the effects of gravity.
You can also see just how ineffective the stock fender is. The fender ends right along the tangent line, so it offers no increased protection over the taillight!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/horteniv/GSfender.jpg)
Cut it off! 8)
Quote from: GeeP on February 14, 2006, 06:44:20 PM(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/horteniv/GSfender.jpg)
Cut it off! 8)
Math is hardI vote for cut-it-off too... :thumb:
Yay math! That's well illustrated.
I kinda like the look of the rooster-tail that pops off of bikes without rear fenders. Makes it look like a jet-ski!
will a fenderectomy decrease the actual value (moneywise) of a 2005?
I'm getting convinced to do it, but I want to be sure.
Would putting a hugger on keep some of the dirty, muckymuck from under the tail, on the headlight, etc?
Quote from: subc on February 14, 2006, 09:37:04 PM
will a fenderectomy decrease the actual value (moneywise) of a 2005?
Nope. Not unless the buyer is extremely picky.
Hey PANDY - what happened to ur avatar?
Look how nice it looks sans fender:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/all_out_of_gum/Moto%20Mods/IMG_0487.jpg)
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on February 14, 2006, 11:19:30 PM
Look how nice it looks sans fender:
(SOME IMAGE HERE)
theres like... no fender whatsoever! :o
what happened to the turn signals?
They are teh integrated!!!!!!!111one!1
Quote from: 2005-GS500-PDX on February 14, 2006, 11:19:30 PM
Look how nice it looks sans fender:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/all_out_of_gum/Moto%20Mods/IMG_0487.jpg)
That is sweet! I'd love to do that, but I'd have an issue with legality in my area. :cry:
2005-GS500-PDX - Can you take a picture from the back? I'd like to see what it's like for the car behind you.
Here are some pic's at different angles.
Ok I'm not awake yet. . . . follow this link to see some pic's at different angles
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=21819.0
BTW if you do a search you will see alot of photos of what different people have done
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/all_out_of_gum/Moto%20Mods/IMG_0486.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v604/all_out_of_gum/Moto%20Mods/PDR_0320.jpg)
Quote from: annguyen1981 on February 14, 2006, 10:54:15 PM
Hey PANDY - what happened to ur avatar?
I feel like being blank right now. ;)
I like what this guy did... Looks nice:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24137.0
:thumb:
i have a spare fender that's already been cut if anyone's interested. email for shipping info. davipu@yahoo.com i want 10 bucks for it.
Here's what i did for my gs500f:
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b171/ImJustPondering/gs500f_FenderTurnSignals.jpg)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b171/ImJustPondering/back.jpg)
:thumb:
Quote from: GeeP on February 14, 2006, 06:44:20 PMIn my little illustration below you will see that it is not possible to get wet. The tangent line extending from the back of the taillight to the surface of the tire proves this. This is the maximum angle water can be expected to travel past the taillight, negating the effects of gravity.
Good concept but you forgot something. Water being lauched up in the air can be pulled to the rider's back. The rider will have higher airpressure on his front and sides and lower pressure on his/her back...
If it's wet, you're going to get wet.. fender or no fender... that's what makes it fun..
Quote from: badkarma506 on February 15, 2006, 12:46:11 PM
i have a spare fender that's already been cut if anyone's interested. email for shipping info. davipu@yahoo.com i want 10 bucks for it.
badkarma506 - Just sent you an email
Quote from: fettcols on February 15, 2006, 03:42:02 PM
Quote from: GeeP on February 14, 2006, 06:44:20 PMIn my little illustration below you will see that it is not possible to get wet. The tangent line extending from the back of the taillight to the surface of the tire proves this. This is the maximum angle water can be expected to travel past the taillight, negating the effects of gravity.
Good concept but you forgot something. Water being lauched up in the air can be pulled to the rider's back. The rider will have higher airpressure on his front and sides and lower pressure on his/her back...
If it's wet, you're going to get wet.. fender or no fender... that's what makes it fun..
how about the whole issue of speed? you have to have certain speed to pull water of the ground. then again, you are moving forward as fast speeds, while the water is not, and then theres tghe wind resistance... maybe it pull the water away from you even more.
in other words, by the time the water you launched up tries to hit the tail, you are not there anymore, but a few meters ahead.
If you've ever driven a hatchback car or SUV (Blazers) with snow on the roof, you'll know that the snow will get sucked into the rear windows. Same with dirt, sand, AND water.
Quote from: ImJustPondering on February 15, 2006, 03:26:44 PM
Here's what i did for my gs500f:
IMAGES POSTED
hey
ImJustPondering, I really like your instructions, and I hope you don't mind, but I mirrored your images for future reference (if there's a problem let me know and I'll remove then). I am sure I will follow your example and do my bike too very soon :thumb:
here are the mirrored images:
(http://anfume.com/ihost/thumb/37.jpeg) (http://anfume.com/ihost/view/37) (http://anfume.com/ihost/thumb/38.jpeg) (http://anfume.com/ihost/view/38)
Quote from: annguyen1981 on February 15, 2006, 09:40:16 PM
If you've ever driven a hatchback car or SUV (Blazers) with snow on the roof, you'll know that the snow will get sucked into the rear windows. Same with dirt, sand, AND water.
+1, which is why a lot of hatchbacks and SUV's and vans have a rear window wiper, I assume.
I have had my fenderectomy for a while, logged probably 8,000-9,000 miles on the bike since I have done it and I have never had a problem whatsoever. I think it looks a LOT better and I am 110% glad that I did it.
However, If I was concerned about resale, I probably would not have done it. Resale values are usually higher when the bike is completely stock and well maintained, from what I've noticed. Would you want to buy a bike with parts hacked off with a saw? :dunno_white:
I'm not too concerned with resale value, but do you really think that a fenderectomy would bring less $$$?
I don't think it is a significant issue, no.
But iamgine two bikes, identical mileage and maintenance and everything except one had a hacked off fender and the other didn't. Which would you buy?
Some people are skeptical of buying a bike with pieced hacked off, but not everyone. :thumb:
Quote from: everyone on February 15, 2006, 09:40:16 PM
If you've ever driven a hatchback car or SUV (Blazers) with snow on the roof, you'll know that the snow will get sucked into the rear windows. Same with dirt, sand, AND water.
let me settle this because you're all talking about theory. I had my fender eliminated to the fullest extent (http://pantablo500.tripod.com/id48.html) and NEVER got water on my back. the taillight got dirty but not my seat or my person. so STFU, lol....
Quote from: badkarma506 on February 15, 2006, 12:46:11 PM
i have a spare fender that's already been cut if anyone's interested. email for shipping info. davipu@yahoo.com i want 10 bucks for it.
couldnt stay away, eh? you gave yourself up posting your email....nice to have you back, now be-have.
if you had a pile of gs parts and didn't want to deal with paypal/ebay whare whould you try to sell them?
like you'd be safe from paypal here...
Quote from: badkarma506 on February 16, 2006, 12:36:08 AM
if you had a pile of gs parts and didn't want to deal with paypal/ebay whare whould you try to sell them?
craigs?
Quote from: RVertigo on February 15, 2006, 11:02:28 AM
I like what this guy did... Looks nice:
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24137.0
:thumb:
Thanks for the compliment on her. I had the rear disassembled to take the back fender completely out and then decided that I like having a place to hold the tool kit. Up close you can still see the edges from the side, but that will be taken care of as soon as I have another day off and my dremmell doesn't die mid-cut like it did that day. Only thing I had to change was drilling 2 new holes to mount the license bracket.
And I wouldn't worry about resale on just a cut fender. Most people won't realize that somethings missing if you clean it up nice, and once they get it and get on this site for a week, they'll want to do it anyways :icon_mrgreen: