Chop or Not

I was cleaning up my fork lowers for my 650 Domi and was wondering if I should chop the fender ears off? Cafe bikes don't need big fenders, so why have the ears?

Can't put 'em back on once they're off Cafe, why not just remove the sharp edges and polish the lot up?

davamb wrote:Can't put 'em back on once they're off Cafe, why not just remove the sharp edges and polish the lot up?

I did that on my Commando, so I know how much work it was but still didnt have the look.



I think it looks so much cleaner with out the ears , not to mention the 2LS break looks so good.




Is there any structural reason not to chop?

Caferider wrote:Is there any structural reason not to chop?

NO.

Paul,

Thats easy..... I'm off to the shop with a hack saw on my mind.

I did that on my green café racer ( http://www.pbase.com/jeandr/image/110241280 ) It gives the forks a cleaner look IMOHO.

Jean

Jeandr wrote:I did that on my green café racer ( http://www.pbase.com/jeandr/image/110241280 ) It gives the forks a cleaner look IMOHO.

Jean

I thought so ....but your too late for the words of encouragement.


A few steps later

Caferider wrote:Is there any structural reason not to chop?

Saying that removing the forkbrace ears has no structural effect, and then totally removing the strengthening buttress between the slider and the axle mount support are 2 different things... !

Phil Irving commented somewhere on the practice of thinning down the fork-axle mounting point on fork sliders, as new items, and commented that this encouraged flex.

Having said that, Manx Norton fork sliders have no ears - but if you look at a genuine set, they have been thickened around the axle mount supports. They are also forged, since cast items proved to be weak..

Superbike /Japanese /Ducati lower forks parts are MASSIVE, if you study them.
They read this lesson well.

Nice bike...

I wonder which is better, keeping the mounting ears with their sharp machined edges able to promoto cracks or remove them while at the same time removing the sharp machined edges At any rate, a "café racer" is never subjected to the stresses a real racer would see.

Jean

Jeandr wrote:I wonder which is better, keeping the mounting ears with their sharp machined edges able to promoto cracks or remove them while at the same time removing the sharp machined edges At any rate, a "café racer" is never subjected to the stresses a real racer would see.

Jean

Jean, I know we think a lot a like, and as usual I couldn't agree with you more. I'm not going to put this bike through anything like it would get if it was a real race bike...........if it looks like its doing the Ton sitting still I don't mind if I only get to do 65 on the highway.





I love the look now and can't wait to finish the rest of the bike.

Ok Greg, you win. Very nice.