The stock front fender on my 350A got lost before I bought it, so I have used a TZ type fiberglass one for a while. I never really liked that look, so went shopping. Yambits do not have repop 350 front fenders, but they have 2 versions for RD400s. Yesterday, I received the cheaper one of them. Looks good, actually, but feels really heavy. So on the digital kitchen scale it went. 1680g!! Almost 4 Lbs!!
I now wonder if OEM chromed steel front fenders are equally heavy. If someone could weigh their 400 fender, or even 350 fenders including the stays, it would be great.
Just to compare, I also weighed a custom alloy front fender for my XS650, that I had made byThe Tank Shop in the UK. It weighs 544 g (1 Lb 3oz) A pretty massive difference in unsprung weight, I would say. And that alloy fender is pretty close to stock size, not a cut down version. Now if someone could make a CF front fender for RDs :vroom:
its better to have the bracing of or similar to the stock fender in my experience, or a fork brace with a fiberglass/cf/titanium fender. 4 lbs is damn heavy though.
I do agree, but still wonder what oem350 and 400c/d chrome front fenders actually weigh. I suspect the one I got from Yambits is heavier than a stock one....
I have an OEM RD400D fender sitting in my garage right now but no means of weighing it :( If I figure out something I'll post it
Here is an R5 Fender with 2" bobbed off the front, and the two forward stays cut off. I don't have a stocker I can weigh. Also, an RD Fender is about 10mm wider, so heavier there too...
(https://oi665.photobucket.com/albums/vv14/edwinalsberg/F4663B1E-51A6-452A-9AF1-77270D4F59C7_zpsp6x0raes.jpeg) (https://s665.photobucket.com/user/edwinalsberg/media/F4663B1E-51A6-452A-9AF1-77270D4F59C7_zpsp6x0raes.jpeg.html)
(https://oi665.photobucket.com/albums/vv14/edwinalsberg/2D4D9091-B72C-4FF6-AB4F-8BAF1368F526_zpswfje1kxl.jpeg) (http://s665.photobucket.com/user/edwinalsberg/media/2D4D9091-B72C-4FF6-AB4F-8BAF1368F526_zpswfje1kxl.jpeg.html)
1235 grams modded...
Hmm, seems the Yambits reproduction may well be heavier than a genuine Yamaha 400C fender. 400 fenders have no stays at all...
(https://i.ibb.co/tPgjWTz/235-DB4-B9-7-B9-B-497-B-9-A2-C-E5-E7-E46-A13-DA.jpg)
Stock 76 RD400 front fender. Just happened to have mine off ;D
wow thats a big difference. :eek:
There goes that.. I was thinking of eventually getting a Yambits replacement as my fender has a little rash. Not worth the extra weight.
i don't believe that fender from yambits is 4 pounds. Is it made from 16 gauge or what?
This is the one I bought, they also have another, more expensive alternative that may be lighter.
https://yambits.co.uk/rd400c-mudguard-front-budget-option-p-7758.html?osCsid=nttoqo036s4ti0ibl17pv94nk0
It makes a 100 GBP alloy fender from TheTankShop seem extremely good value for money, if you like shiny bits :) http://thetankshop.com. Pretty sure one for an RD 18" front wheel would be less than 500 g. And almost as pretty as a chrome one.
1615 g is not quite 4 Lbs, rather 3 Lbs 9oz. Still extremely heavy IMHO. Although Frank B's stock fender is only 10 oz lighter, or 280 g.
Get a carbon fiber one from Japan, like mine, They weigh nothing and look the buisness :devil:
Quote from: rd400greenhorn on April 05, 2019, 09:19:27 AM
Get a carbon fiber one from Japan, like mine, They weigh nothing and look the buisness :devil:
Can you provide a link to these?
Thanks
https://www.maxmcdirect.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DA042CFCW2202
Quote from: Cdffiredad on April 05, 2019, 09:03:59 PM
https://www.maxmcdirect.com/proddetail.asp?prod=DA042CFCW2202
Thanks bud.
Thinking a bit more about it, maybe I'll take a fiberglass mould off that boat anchor fender, and make a fiberglass replica. And ask any auto paint shop to spray it whenever they are working on a Mercedes Benz in "Brilliantsilber". That is the shiniest, most sparkly silver metallic I know of.
you can have it dipped, will look dead like chrome. no direct use experience but have seen results 1st hand. its crazy.
http://www.justdipit.net/liquid-chrome
or find a shop that has a setup similar to this.
http://www.hydrodip.com/?ProductID=4165
https://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-RD-350-400-NOS-WHITE-FIBERGLASS-CAFE-FRONT-FENDER-/123730187046?nav=SEARCH
(https://www.ebay.com/itm/YAMAHA-RD-350-400-NOS-WHITE-FIBERGLASS-CAFE-FRONT-FENDER-/123730187046?nav=SEARCH)
Incase someone is keen for FG fender, link is not related to me.
Quote from: m in sc on April 10, 2019, 09:19:24 PM
you can have it dipped, will look dead like chrome. no direct use experience but have seen results 1st hand. its crazy.
http://www.justdipit.net/liquid-chrome
or find a shop that has a setup similar to this.
http://www.hydrodip.com/?ProductID=4165
With the difficulties finding decent oem chromed parts, there may be a market for chrome dipped fiberglass or carbon fiber parts. I definitely would be interested in front and rear fenders, taillight/license plate bracket, chain guard. Stock looking, lightweight and shiny would definitely be right !
That's a good price, I do a 18" fiberglass front fender for 80.00, very light also.
Quote from: Dvsrd on April 11, 2019, 08:07:18 AM
Quote from: m in sc on April 10, 2019, 09:19:24 PM
you can have it dipped, will look dead like chrome. no direct use experience but have seen results 1st hand. its crazy.
http://www.justdipit.net/liquid-chrome
or find a shop that has a setup similar to this.
http://www.hydrodip.com/?ProductID=4165
With the difficulties finding decent oem chromed parts, there may be a market for chrome dipped fiberglass or carbon fiber parts. I definitely would be interested in front and rear fenders, taillight/license plate bracket, chain guard. Stock looking, lightweight and shiny would definitely be right !
That would be cool! Even better if the front had some bracing in it. I'm sure there'd be a lot of interest.