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Message started by ToesNose on 05/08/14 at 05:30:35

Title: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/08/14 at 05:30:35

Well I had some free time finally and got the front fender all done :D
Euro bars with 60's style round risers and bar end mirrors (still not sure if I like the bar end mirrors), speedo/tach on the bars, fork arm mounts for the headlight as well as headlight bucket painted, fork gators and finely the old Water Buffalo front fender I picked up mounted with home made fender struts.

So far I'm digging it 8-)
http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140508_073303_zps9lusklgj.jpg

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140508_080157_zpsqd4q2z5x.jpg

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by shorty on 05/08/14 at 05:33:32

very nice ;)

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by strang on 05/08/14 at 12:00:08

love it :D

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/09/14 at 04:24:19

Thanks Strang & Shorty, next will be the tough part the rear fender and seat ;D

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by wickedbiker on 05/09/14 at 05:00:49

WOW that bike looks sharp bro!!!

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by nickthe_human on 05/09/14 at 08:13:51

thumbs up! classic looking. 8-)

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by greenmonster on 05/09/14 at 09:25:55

I love the fender! Did it take much rework to make it fit? How much further than stock does it come down the wheel in the back?

I'd love to do something like that with mine. Riding in the PNW I have to deal with rain more often than I'd like and the stock fender does nothing for that. I've fab'd up a makeshift fender but even it leaves a lot to be desired.

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by strang on 05/09/14 at 10:58:36

What are the stays attached to? is there a spare bolt hole down there?

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/09/14 at 19:23:21

@ GreenMonster- It was a bit of work to make it fit, I had to cut off two of the fender mounting holes off the Water Buffalo fender and re-weld them, and the original struts were too short so I made my own. It covers probable close to twice the amount the stock S40 fender did, I'll measure it this weekend.

@Strang- LOL making a connection point for the fender struts is the main thing that held me up from finishing mounting it, I finally came across some plumbing mounts that are made to go over pipe to mount hangers and such off. I'll take some close up pics and post them up ;)

Thanks for the positive comments guys :D

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/09/14 at 19:27:33

Hmm next is a really bid decision, full rear fender with a Royal Enfield type single seat and a luggage rack...or....a Norton/BSA frame loop with a chrome shorty and a bench seat. Sigh I think there may be some troubled nights of sleep ahead of me trying to make a decision LOL ;D

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140509_092859_zpsqb9k1mda.jpg

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by WD on 05/09/14 at 20:03:39

Where is that full rear from? Part number, price, etc... the stock fender is my biggest gripe with the Savage, especially after fitting the 98 with an FL Shovelhead rear.

Just priced new fenders for Lisa's VS800 resurrection project... $606.89 for a couple fiberglass taildraggers... :o A 1996 800 Intruder isn't worth $600 in and of itself...

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/10/14 at 04:30:43

WD I picked it up off FleaBay for $139.99 the seller is 'bilsaid' here's a link to his listings http://www.ebay.com/sch/bilsaid/m.html?item=111312776224&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562 The one I got is thinner gauge metal so I'll be making a running metal support underneath then just use fender struts, in his listing for it he did state that it was lighter gauge metal.

So far I think I'm leaning towards the full rear fender ;)

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/10/14 at 06:31:35

The original S40 front fender covers 23" of tire, the Water Buffalo fender covers 38", not quite double but significantly more.

And here are pics of the plumbing '1 1/2" Split Ring Hanger'

http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140510_090421_zpszbkpuaiz.jpg

You can barely see it once it's mounted
http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140510_090444_zpsrqyrzf5h.jpg

HMMM SORRY IT SHOWS RIGHT SIDE UP ON PHOTOBUCKET....
http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/20140510_090506_zps4lmyuwlh.jpg

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by arteacher on 05/10/14 at 07:10:30

If you sold that fender as a kit I bet you would get some business. (hint hint). ;D
You would from me anyway.

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by S-P on 05/10/14 at 08:14:44

Very cool! What did you make the struts out of? Some close ups of how you mounted them to the fender too, please?

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 05/12/14 at 04:31:59

Hey S-P the fender came with struts that were chrome and shorter then I needed. The four bolt mounts on the fender are more then enough to keep it in place, the struts are just to stop flex/wiggling at the ends on the front fender so I made them out of 1/2" thick wall copper tubing and painted it. The copper tubing was slightly larger in diameter then the original struts so I reshaped the original brackets and used them.

Here's what the stock GT750 Water Buffalo front fender with struts looks like-
http://i792.photobucket.com/albums/yy206/bcrx2/Motorcycles/gt750waterbuffalostockfrontfender_zpsa84a8926.jpg

The rear fender will need structural struts to support the luggage rack/pillion seat so those will be made of steel ;)

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by mpescatori on 06/02/14 at 07:55:15

Hello ToesNose, I tried exactly the same instrument cluster as you; the tacho works fine, but the speedo underreads by a good 15%...
...meaning it reads some 10mph slower than it should at most speeds... :-X

What is your speedo's transmission ratio, please ? Methinks mine is too geared down... :-[

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by S-P on 06/02/14 at 09:23:26

I just found a GT750 front fender on Ebay for 28.00. Not pristine chrome but I'm going to paint it anyway. WHOO HOO!

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 06/02/14 at 19:51:49

Sorry to hear that mpescatori the speedo I got from Dime City actually corrected the stock speedo for me. :-?

@S-P GRATZ!!! :D

Title: Re: Front end getting there
Post by ToesNose on 08/15/15 at 13:54:11

Hey guys! I've been a lucky duck since December last year, my Wifey not harassing me about having two bikes and enjoying them. But I'm recently unemployed and it looks like the LS650 is the one to go, mainly because the standard seating position doesn't bother my hip on longer rides. I swapped the stock front fender back on, if anyone is interested in the modified Water Buffalo fender with struts I rigged up just shoot me an email ;)