Fender Extenda and Bash Plate clearance???

[3putt]

Well, as some of you know I posted last summer that I broke my fender due to flexing of the fender on offroad hard hits (rocks and square edge stuff). Now, I am not so sure that is what happened. After reading about RED CAT mods to his bash plate I decided to go out and re-examine my fender extenda (I repaired the original fender with CF). I have found that the FE shows signs of impact on the end and has curled/folded slightly from where it appears it hit the 3/16" proud end of the H&B bash plate.

Not sure how I am going to fix, might sand off 1" of the tip of the FE or maybe weld on an extension to the bash plate.

I made a video to try and show the clearance down there. Not much, appears maybe less than 1/4". I took a short run and hit the front brake hard to compress the forks but could barely get it down to that point.

 

[avc8130]

That is terrifying.

ac

 

[fredz43]

As I mentioned in another thread, after seeing the damage to a fender in a thread in ADV, I cut 4 inches off of my FE. I would have removed the whole thing, but I did too good a job glueing it on.

 

[3putt]

Yeah, a real parodox, I love the protection from rocks and junk, but no way can we have it hitting the bash plate. I must have missed your post Fredz43.

I took off about an 1". I think from the looks of mine it has been hitting or scraping some. Think I will take the H&B plate off and grind a sharp taper to the top of that piece.

Before:

After:

 

[dcstrom]

Is that melted area from the header pipe ? ??? Or did that happen when it broke?

Yeah, a real parodox, I love the protection from rocks and junk, but no way can we have it hitting the bash plate. I must have missed your post Fredz43.

I took off about an 1". I think from the looks of mine it has been hitting or scraping some. Think I will take the H&B plate off and grind a sharp taper to the top of that piece.

Before:

After:

 

[3putt]

When the fender broke I tried to ride/limp with it flopping, didn't make it very far. We were many miles offroad. Pipes burned those marks. I had my tankbag only, and just happened to have some electrical tape and it held.

 

[Don in Lodi]

There's a point there where it looks like the extender deflects with contact. I'd say that's zero clearance. Well damn, I sure liked the looks of the extender. I guess I'll be cutting mine down as well.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

I decided to go with adding an extension to the skid plate. It was fairly easy and I hope will eliminate the threat.

I had to remove the middle screw because it reduced the clearance between the plate and the FE. I'll use just the two screws now and consider a counter-sunk screw if necessary.

 

[EricV]

Yeah, it kinda sucks, but at least we don't have a radiator to stress about being directly behind the fender splash. I broke off my fender with the fender extender because it hooked on my Rumbux skid plate/crash bar. Turns out Rumbux actually moved the skid plate back a bit after reports of the tire hitting the skid plate at full depression. Hmm, ok, guess there just isn't room there for a longer filter and bash plate.

It's just a geometry issue here. Most any skid plate will catch the fender extender if used. We really don't need it, since there is no radiator behind the wheel, but like many, I bought one for the reduced spuge factor. Now wishing I hadn't.

The deflector seems like a good idea. As is trimming the fender extender a couple/three inches.

 

[Don in Lodi]

I broke off my fender with the fender extender because it hooked on my Rumbux skid plate/crash bar.
I bought one for the reduced spuge factor. Now wishing I hadn't.

I haven't looked yet Eric, have you gotten a price and availability on a new fender yet?

 

[Don in Lodi]

I decided to go with adding an extension to the skid plate. It was fairly easy and I hope will eliminate the threat.
I had to remove the middle screw because it reduced the clearance between the plate and the FE. I'll use just the two screws now and consider a counter-sunk screw if necessary.

You know, that's sad and somewhat funny; that extension of the bash plate does exactly what the extender was meant for. ::010::

 

[3putt]

I haven't looked yet Eric, have you gotten a price and availability on a new fender yet?

I bought new fender last summer, $136 IIRC. I repaired my old one with CF so continue to use it.

Just wonder how the 21" wheel will fare, probably they will have to modify the bash plate.

 

[EricV]

I haven't looked yet Eric, have you gotten a price and availability on a new fender yet?

I don't plan on replacing the fender. I'll probably trim the extender down and use some PVC cement and parts of the fender extender to repair the stock fender. FWIW, I order most of my Yamaha stuff from Part Shark and their price on the front fender is $77.59 for p/n 23P-21511-00-P2

 

[markjenn]

My plan is to cut off about 1" from my FE. (I have the SW-Motech plate.) I've eyeballed the geometry down there pretty closely and I'm reasonably certain this will provide sufficient clearance.

Personally, I would be uncomfortable with the solution where you extend the bash plate, accepting that they're going to make contact, but making it so they don't "catch". It may not be a big deal, but my take is that you really want to avoid anything in your steered wheel assembly contacting the rest of the bike through the full suspension travel.

- Mark

 

[gfoulke]

My plan is to cut off about 1" from my FE. (I have the SW-Motech plate.) I've eyeballed the geometry down there pretty closely and I'm reasonably certain this will provide sufficient clearance.

Personally, I would be uncomfortable with the solution where you extend the bash plate, accepting that they're going to make contact, but making it so they don't "catch". It may not be a big deal, but my take is that you really want to avoid anything in your steered wheel assembly contacting the rest of the bike through the full suspension travel.

- Mark

::026:: I agree... the goal here would be to ensure avoidance of ANY contact.

 

[EricV]

Personally, I would be uncomfortable with the solution where you extend the bash plate, accepting that they're going to make contact, but making it so they don't "catch". It may not be a big deal, but my take is that you really want to avoid anything in your steered wheel assembly contacting the rest of the bike through the full suspension travel.

A valid observation.

I'm in a slightly different situation in that even if I include in the paperwork that the Rumbux is not suitable for use with a fender extender, someone's going to use the combo anyway. Do I want to add a flip guard to prevent a catch situation, or simply say "I told you not to do that" if a customer snaps off a fender?

 

[GoNotShow]

Well, I"m not sure where everyone got their Fender Extenda, but I ordered mine from Twisted Throttle and I distinctly remember the product description saying: "NOT INTENDED FOR USE WITH SKID PLATES". So, the fact that some people are having clearance issues doesn't surprise me at all.

I installed mine knowing full well that there could be issues and planned on cutting it down if necessary. However, I did some eye balling in the garage before installing and to me it looked like it would be OK. And so far no clearance issues for me and my Alt Rider skid plate. I haven't done a lot of gnarly off roading, but I have hit some deep ruts and have bottomed or almost bottomed the forks a few times and didn't have an issue. YMMV.

 

[ThatsLife]

A valid observation.

I'm in a slightly different situation in that even if I include in the paperwork that the Rumbux is not suitable for use with a fender extender, someone's going to use the combo anyway. Do I want to add a flip guard to prevent a catch situation, or simply say "I told you not to do that" if a customer snaps off a fender?

I'd say just include the warning to make them aware of the consequences. Ultimately, it's like a pack of cigarettes, you're leaving the decision to heed the warning or not up to the customer.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

WARNING!! Do not do what I did in the picture on the last page if you have lowered your bike. It will not fix the problem. My wife got fender lock today while riding her 1" lowered Tenere. The front is also lowered 13mm. She was riding a dirt road (first time on this bike) at about 30mph when she hit a decent pot hole. I heard her tell me over the Bluetooth that the bike just went stiff and she stopping. I went back and found the FE inside the skid plate. Crap, I rode that bike over 9000 miles and never heard a thing of this issue. I hear about it a few days ago and it happens on the very next ride. What are the odds?

I've bent the extra piece I built way back towards the engine. That will do for now. I'll give the FE a hair cut when we get back. Glad the fender didn't break.

Be careful out there.

 

[markjenn]

I went back and found the FE inside the skid plate. Crap, I rode that bike over 9000 miles and never heard a thing of this issue. I hear about it a few days ago and it happens on the very next ride. What are the odds?

I'd surmise that your wife probably hits potholes a lot harder than you do. (I'd check your spokes too.) And did you lower the bike specifically for her? This might have been the additional push to get it - quite literally - over the edge.

- Mark