Fenderectomy anyone?

[EASt]

As much as I love the styling of my ST, I've never really been able to get over the odious appearance of the tail end.

Lately, I've been pondering a federectomy more and more. I'd like to take an inch or two off of that rear mud-flap....er, I mean....fender.

I'm assuming that a Dremel with a cut-off wheel would be the trick, but does anyone have a way to plan it out so that I get a nice, even line that doesn't look like it was done by some guy with a Dremel tool?

How do I make it look good?

[billxp]

I would think a hacksaw would do the trick and be straighter.

[dannyk]

take the fender off, only 4 bolts hold it on, cut it in a bandsaw if you have or can locate one or just use a hand jig saw, take a couple of C clamps or locking vise grips and use a lenth of wood to act as a fence and clamp that to to the fender to give you a straight edge to use as a guide, finish up with the dremel or a file or a block of wood with some sand paper to give it a finished look, take your time. Danny:biker:

[MMOB]

The saddle bags rest against the fender. Don't cut too much off.

[Highrider]

+1 on taking the fender off and cutting with a band saw. If that option is not available, you can take a dremel tool witha rotozip bit and carefully cut it. A medium file to smooth out the cut in either method will give it a nice finished look.

[EASt]

Band saw...great thinking.

Thanks for the word of caution to MMOB - I hadn't thought of that. :-)

[tricky_micky]

As much as I love the styling of my ST, I've never really been able to get over the odious appearance of the tail end.

Lately, I've been pondering a federectomy more and more. I'd like to take an inch or two off of that rear mud-flap....er, I mean....fender.

I'm assuming that a Dremel with a cut-off wheel would be the trick, but does anyone have a way to plan it out so that I get a nice, even line that doesn't look like it was done by some guy with a Dremel tool?

How do I make it look good?

EAst

Leave it as it is LOL.

I would not purchase the St1300 becuase it looked so ugly from the rear. The light cluster was pooh and those triangular pipes were disgusting for the image.

I had gone thru two ST1100's and could not fault them, but the rear end of the 1300 really put me off the machine. I have even had guys walk up to me and say that the ST1300 looks similar to a Bergman Scooter :eek:

You may ask why I now have an ST1300, well it was because of the price of the bike, the change was too good to turn down.

I had been thru this before. My first St1100 was green, a smashing colour but was as rare as Chicken Teeth over here, but I got one. I ran that bike for 8 years till I was in the STealers one day and the boss took me to one side and said "Mick, it is about time you got a new ST, I have a blue one at a price you cant resist". This St1100 was blue, a Royal Air Force Blue as I looked at it.

I asked if he could change the blue to maroon LOL and he looked and laughed at me. We chatted away and the offer he gave me was untrue. I went away and pondered and after sleeping on it, I thought well, you dont look at the colour whilst you are riding the machine. I asked for an alram to be fitted, Baglux tank cover to be fitted and a couple of other things, he said YES, you have a deal.

I did not look back on that purchase and I became to like the colour.

When the ST1300 was launched I thought no way will I buy one of those because the back end of the bike was really ugly. As we all know, I now have an St1300 and I still think the back end is ugly, but when riding the machine, I dont have to look at it, is it really worth messing about with!

You know as well as we do, you have a brilliant machine just dont look at the rear of it too long LOL, I would suggest it is left as is, but that is my opinion.

[bcst1300]

eaST please be careful when you pick up a tourch and promise to speak for everyone. While not overly serious and I recognize maybe a little playfully you claim that we all don't like the butt end of our bikes but I for one think the triangular pipes and the taillight cluster are very attractive. I like the fender too.

Perhaps a poll?

[EASt]

eaST please be careful when you pick up a tourch and promise to speak for everyone. While not overly serious and I recognize maybe a little playfully you claim that we all don't like the butt end of our bikes but I for one think the triangular pipes and the taillight cluster are very attractive. I like the fender too.

Perhaps a poll?

I've got no beef with the pipes at all. Matter of fact, I find the triangular shape to be pleasing to my eye; very much like a nice space-ship warp drive or something.

Mostly, my problem with the arse of the ST1300 lies with the light cluster. I get the impression that it was intended to resemble the rear of a car instead of a motorcycle, and accordingly is the reason the ST1300 looks odd without its luggage on.

Micky has a valid point, though: I don't often gaze on the hind-end of my loved one (I'm talking about the ST) unless it's parked somewhere, and this is not the thing's natural state. Perhaps I should just leave it as nature intended.

[nm6r]

As Tim said, shortening the fender and maintaining the original shape on the bottom is a definite improvement. Moving the plate up so it is aligned with the bags finishes it off beautifully.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[EASt]

As Tim said, shortening the fender and maintaining the original shape on the bottom is a definite improvement. Moving the plate up so it is aligned with the bags finishes it off beautifully.

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

STPilot - that looks great!

Did you two just cut from the bottom up? I'm confused because it looks like you took about 4 to 5 inches off...and that round nub is still there.

Looking at my fender, that nub is only about 2 inches from the bottom.

I'm guessing that there's another one behind where the plate sits in its stock position?

[nm6r]

My fender and Tim's fender has been shortened 5". When you remove and/or relocated the plate higher, you will find a round casting mark that looks rather ugly until you drill the center of it and pop in the little 'nub' from down below. Then the finished product looks like the Hondaline ST1300 sport fender. :cool:

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[EASt]

My fender and Tim's fender has been shortened 5". When you remove and/or relocated the plate higher, you will find a round casting mark that looks rather ugly until you drill the center of it and pop in the little 'nub' from down below. Then the finished product looks like the Hondaline ST1300 sport fender. :cool:

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

Ah HA! I see now.

1) Band Saw with straight-edge clamped to it
2) Follow the original line and cut off bottom of fender
3) Clean up the cut with a file/Dremel/sand paper
4) Move the plate up where the reflector was
5) Transfer the casting mark

[Louie Louie]

How does the Fender Extender play into this, as a friend just forced me to order one from CST!!

[EASt]

How does the Fender Extender play into this, as a friend just forced me to order one from CST!!

This would be the anti-Fender Extender.

The Yin to the Yang.

[Mac]

How does the Fender Extender play into this, as a friend just forced me to order one from CST!!

The fender extender is for the front wheel. This cut is on the rear fender.


I'm wondering if it makes removing the rear wheel any easier?

[nm6r]

It makes no difference for removing the rear wheel. The rear fender still needs to be removed (4 allen heads).

Ray
http://www.frontiernet.net/~st1300rider/smile04Bikerwheelie.gif

[Gonzo]

So where do the rear-looking radar and the tail gunner blister go?
Gonzo

[EASt]

So where do the rear-looking radar and the tail gunner blister go?
Gonzo

I keep mine in the front glove box...doesn't everyone?

[crinteastwood]

Just in from lopping off about 3.5" - 4" off my rear fender - looooove it! - gives the back end a whole new look - always hated the length of the stocker. Only question now is - why did I wait so long? Made a template out of bristol board, taped it on and scored along the edge with an exacto knife - a few passes later and it practicaly fell off. Finished up with some fine grit paper and its a great thing.
Mick :04biker:

[Tor]

Man, that just looks so much better. I guess I'll be chopping it off this weekend.

BTW......Anyone know where I can order a decent looking license plate frame with custom text?

[JCorwin]

Man, that just looks so much better. I guess I'll be chopping it off this weekend.

BTW......Anyone know where I can order a decent looking license plate frame with custom text?


http://www.twochicks.com/

[ibuytoys]

Anybody have pics of their fenderrectomy?

[STPaulK]

Micky has a valid point, though: I don't often gaze on the hind-end of my loved one (I'm talking about the ST) unless it's parked somewhere, and this is not the thing's natural state. Perhaps I should just leave it as nature intended.

The fender on my VFR is worse yet. However I needed all the rear surface area I could find to apply reflective tape for nighttime visibility. You might consider using the 1300 fender for the same reason. We have a large Oldsmobile population in this state with failing eyesight. :p:

[saaz]

Any extra road grime over the back of the bike with a shorter fender?

[nm6r]

Anybody have pics of their fenderrectomy?

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=25548&d=1196094429


Any extra road grime over the back of the bike with a shorter fender?

No difference at all.


Ray