AltRider Fork Guards Arrived Today...

[KendallT]

Like some of you, I have been looking around for a set of "affordable" fork leg guards.
Yes, I think they will provide some protection... but if I'm being completely honest, this is a strictly a cosmetic purchase for me. I just dig the looks of the front end of the World Crosser and wanted to try and replicate it.

I really like the looks of the ones that forum member Danman2540 is selling, but I am lazy and wanted something that needed zero finishing and that I could just pop on the bike.

I'm working pretty late hours this week and probably won't get them installed until this Saturday or Sunday; I'll post some more pictures and an update then.

First impressions: I like em'. Compared to the carbon fiber World Crosser guards, they are very affordable. They are light weight and seem very sturdy. The finish looks great and they come with everything I'll need to install them... including thread locker. As far as design goes, they are a little more angular than the World Crosser's and Danman2540's; I suppose that's just going to be personal preference. I'm torn, as part of me likes the angular design and the other part of me prefers the smoother style. And kudos to AltRider, I ordered them on Sunday and they showed up today (Wednesday).

The only thing I don't like (and this is my fault) are the giant AltRider logos on them. I was "hoping" that they were just decals that I could peel off and replace with either red or charcoal Yamaha logos to match my ES. The logos are either extremely thin and well adhered decals or they have been painted on. I've sent AltRider and email to ask before I take a heat gun to them (yep, I should have done that before I ordered them).

Figured I'd start a post in case anyone else is considering them.

 

[Firefight911]

I have a set that I was given. Never installed, bare metal with decals, never out of package. Someone can hit me if they want them.

 

[barkingllizard]

The only thing I don't like (and this is my fault) are the giant AltRider logos on them. I was "hoping" that they were just decals that I could peel off and replace with either red or charcoal Yamaha logos to match my ES. The logos are either extremely thin and well adhered decals or they have been painted on. I've sent AltRider and email to ask before I take a heat gun to them (yep, I should have done that before I ordered them).

interested in their response, as I am considering AltRider fork guards, but would rather have my own advertising.....

 

[Purificator81]

I have a set that I was given. Never installed, bare metal with decals, never out of package. Someone can hit me if they want them.

Pm sent


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[KendallT]

interested in their response, as I am considering AltRider fork guards, but would rather have my own advertising.....

Received a quick response from Altrider... the logos have been printed on. Personally I don't know of a way that I can remove them without mucking up the black finish. The logos are so thin, you can barely feel the raised letters...I think I may have a solution; it is going to involve a few thin coats of flat black plastidip, a 5" Yamaha decal and some red pin-striping. I'm thinking I can match up the looks to the rear frame panels. We'll see... good news is that if it looks like crap, I can peel everything off. So much for a quick install

Personally, I really like AltRider products... I just don't want their logos all over my bike, especially ones so big.

 

[Snooze]

You could remove the decals, give the area a light scuff with scotchbrite and repaint the whole thing. Just a thought.

 

[KendallT]

Yeah, it does not appear there is anyway to remove the logos with out damaging the finish as they are screenprinted on. Snooze, I considered that and I may wind up going that route. This weekend I'm going to try and find some matte black plastidip. I think as think as thin as the logos are and with the texture of the plastidip... with several thin layers, I think I can get by without scuffing them up.

 

[doc187]

Why not wrap them in carbon fiber vinyl? That's cheep, easily replaceable, and looks more like the worldcrosser.

 

[oKLRider]

I have a set that I was given. Never installed, bare metal with decals, never out of package. Someone can hit me if they want them.

PM sent.

 

[Goldwing]

They do look good but $600 is too rich for me!

 

[KendallT]

It took me a lot longer than I had hoped and I'm still not super happy with the results.... but here it is.
I definitely didn't like the big white logo on them and then I didn't care for the shinny finish on a mostly matte bike. I tried a couple of different finishes, but they never quite looked like they belonged on the bike. I settled on just some flat black Krylon with a matte clear coat. I wanted them to look like they could have come stock on the bike; like I said, I'm still not super happy with them. As much as I thought they'd improve the looks... I think I might like it better sans guards. Oh well, I'm getting ready to head out on a 2000 mile trip... I'll see how they do and probably wind up taking them off when I get back.

Oh, and heres the kicker... while I was taking pictures of them I realized I put the logo on upside down on the left side (no, out of embarrassment I have not included pictures). I placed the tuning forks at the top of each guard, this caused the Yamaha lettering to be facing the wrong way on the left side. My wife says I'm crazy and I know most won't even notice, but it's driving me nuts. I'll probably wind up sanding them back down and just wrapping them in a vinyl "carbon fiber" wrap if I wind up keeping them.

 

[Xt1200zsupertenere]

It took me a lot longer than I had hoped and I'm still not super happy with the results.... but here it is.
I definitely didn't like the big white logo on them and then I didn't care for the shinny finish on a mostly matte bike. I tried a couple of different finishes, but they never quite looked like they belonged on the bike. I settled on just some flat black Krylon with a matte clear coat. I wanted them to look like they could have come stock on the bike; like I said, I'm still not super happy with them. As much as I thought they'd improve the looks... I think I might like it better sans guards. Oh well, I'm getting ready to head out on a 2000 mile trip... I'll see how they do and probably wind up taking them off when I get back.

Oh, and heres the kicker... while I was taking pictures of them I realized I put the logo on upside down on the left side (no, out of embarrassment I have not included pictures). I placed the tuning forks at the top of each guard, this caused the Yamaha lettering to be facing the wrong way on the left side. My wife says I'm crazy and I know most won't even notice, but it's driving me nuts. I'll probably wind up sanding them back down and just wrapping them in a vinyl "carbon fiber" wrap if I wind up keeping them.

Do you think of stand-ins Yamaha logo ?? I orderd on ebay .... US -seller i think

 

[KendallT]

I actually like those decals a lot. I even like the ones I wound up going with... I just had my head up my butt when I put them on there and then clear coated over them. When I get back from my trip I'll just take em back down to bare metal and start over. Thanks for the heads up on the vertical logos though.