I debated on whether or not to cut off that hideous flap on the ass end of my 06. Well I finally did it today with just the blade from a hackswaw and DAMN what a huge difference it makes. It only took 5 minutes and with the hacksaw the cut was pretty well clean. It opened up the ass end and now it looks awesome. So if anybody else has debated over this, trust me you will like the end result. I know thread is useless without pics. I will work on that. 

If this thread was for pics of peoples GS's with a fenderoctamy, it'd probably be the longest thread here. I'm not saying that to sound like a d*ck, I'm just saying that it looks ten million times better than without one.

I bought my 97 GS new and never cut the fender off.  Bought my 02 GS with 4k miles on it and it was cut off already.  Fortunately I added a Givi trunk the following spring and it now catches the dirty road spray that was landing on my back.  Fenders are there for a reason and some of us ride in all kinds of weather, not just on sunny days.   

What Jack said - lack of fender is a terrible thing for all weather riders. I'll be putting some fender back on my pre-ectomized bike for just that reason.

+1 Jack and DoD, I'm pissed off with getting mud (Last mile of my 70 to work is a dirt road) all over the front of the engine and my luggage, I'm looking at ways to extend both mudguards.
I'm noticing from pics here that some earlier models seem to have a longer front one, can anyone confirm this?

I ride everyday, i don't intentionally go out when the weather is crappy, but I consistently get caught in the rain. I can't see how road spray could get on you, it would have to travel pretty far, but what do I know. Anyway, mine is cut off and it definitely looks better, plus the plate is like a mini fender.

You guys are afraid of a little mud. How ridiculous. There is nothing to be afraid of, it will wash off. Mud can be a lot of fun . More so in a 4x4 but a little spray from the road is nothing to get upset about.

Well, I fly an open cockpit biplane for work (well, I call it work cos I get paid!) and on cooler days I often leave my bike gear on, so if I'm muddy it gets all over the upholstery. The boss doesn't like that!

And, do you leave all the windows open in your car when its raining?

I cut my fender and have ridden in some rediculous conditions and haven't had a problem with water spray coming up on my back.

When I get caught in the rain I get covered in far more spray from the other vehicles than could ever be thrown from my bike!  I don't see what all the fuss is about. 

Quote from: the mole on August 14, 2008, 09:34:18 PM
I'm noticing from pics here that some earlier models seem to have a longer front one, can anyone confirm this?

The GS500E thru 2000 had a mudflap screwed on the front fender to extend it, part 8 in fiche diagram.  The 01 and later ones came without the mud flap but it could be added easily.  Fenders are same length w/o flap.

http://images.powersportsnetwork.com/fiche/images/Suzuki/1997/Motorcycles/2104_37.gif

He77!  I agree that the rear fenders can come in mighty handy; but do they have to be so damned ugly?

prs

my 05 came cut from the P.O. and im glad it was already done.  I ride it rain or shine and if its raining i already know im going to get wet and a little spray from the rear wheel is nothing compaired to what i get from whats falling from the sky.  I got home the other day and the only part of me that was dry was my back everytthing else was soaked.  For me as soon as i get my integrated taillight blinker i will be removing the rest of the rear section and mounting my lic plate else where.

nothing wrong with getting a little dirty. CUT IT OFF..

Quote from: Pigeonroost on August 15, 2008, 09:49:45 AM
He77!  I agree that the rear fenders can come in mighty handy; but do they have to be so damned ugly?

Perhaps not, but ugly is in the eye of the beholder, too. I was first thinking of swapping with someone who had not ectomized and wanted to, but am now leaning towards a whole new fender, one with rather more coverage than the stock unit - and perhaps a different shape. I don't know when, if ever, I'll get to this little project, but I can bet that 70% of the response here will be that it's even worse than stock, doesn't match the lines of the bike, or some such commentary. The style police here seem to have a race-bike bent.