De- tailing

[Colette]

What are the benefits to cutting the tail end off the rear plastic thingy (technical term ) on your bike?

Aside from the cosmetic change in appearance, what are the benefits, if any?

Also, would this be worth doing on a ZZR 600?

Thanks,
Colette

[Barrabob]

On hot summer days when you are getting stuck into it on a chip seal road you will be able to spray hot rocks at the bikes trying to catch you .

Its a cosmetic thing the fender is there to stop rocks and assorted debris being spat out the back at cars and such but in a lot of cases it looks damn ugly so we remove it and fit a little bracket for the nuber plate and indicaters.

Have seen the stock fender wobbling around at track days but you cant see it if your sitting on top of the bike.

[mattyv74]

Hey hey, check out Karen's (miss zzr) fendorectomy thread. Cant find the addy, but some one on here will.
She did it to her zzr6 and it looks trick

[Colette]

Thanks for that Bob and ta also Matty - I didn't realise Karen had done hers.

If anyone locates the thread, please post it.

[aardvark]

Try here:
http://www.ksrc-au.com/html/zzr_fenderectomy.html

I haven't done my bike, because personally, it gives me the shits following people who have done it...

[Nanna10r]

The ugly big fender wil stop some stuff being tossed at those behind you n will also stop Dirt n junk being thrown up on the tailight n rear ducktail top when you ride over roadworks. But they look ugly n hide the Rear tyre imo. Chop it off Colette. Even a coupla inches will look better n still give some protection.
Cheers Brett

[Colette]

Is that an offer to help me with it when you come to Sydney, Brett?

[JamesLaugesen]

I just did my ZXR, photos online soon so I'll chuck 'em on here. No photos of the "prcedure" though. It's very simple.

Happy to give you a hand if you want Collette.

QuinDaddy (a previous KSRC member... now owns a Hooo... honn... yeah ) and I are planning another one of our many "tinkering days" soon.
Will be at his massive bike-friendly house in Turrumurra; park the bikes inside the house - pretty close to heavan Hahaha.
Anyway, if you wanted to join us for some tinkering you're more than welcome.

Will head up the old road for a quick blurt too.

James

[Colette]

Sounds good to me, James! Will PM you my contact details.

Hahaha, hope it's not going to be like the plastic surgery bug, where you go in to get one thing done and end up doing a whole number of extra procedures!!

[javaman]

Resale price will be better with the fender I reckon ...

I like my fender.

[Neka79]

but remember..wen it rains ur bike will get coated in mud & roadgrime!!...mine is always filthy at the back cos i cut it so short...also not good for burnouts-rubber goes everywhere...looks trick tho...

[JamesLaugesen]

Does it really make that much difference Neka? I've never noticed.
Most bikes seem to have the fender too high, almost inline with the rear of the wheel which -by the look of it- would only really stop stuff from flicking up _past_ the back of the bike, not onto the tail.
Only bikes I've seen that really have a realistic rear fender are some of the Buels, BMWs, etc.

[ty]

but remember..wen it rains ur bike will get coated in mud & roadgrime!!...mine is always filthy at the back cos i cut it so short...also not good for burnouts-rubber goes everywhere...looks trick tho...

My stock fender goes pretty low - and I still get the back filthy when it rains - goes up and inside the rain cover too.
So I'd doubt it'd make any difference.
I don't think it makes any difference with rocks etc either. Any rocks that hit me when I'm behind another rider have come up from near the bottom of the tyre, where any fender has no effect, not from half way up the tyre where a fender might.
ty

[icebreaker]

Resale price will be better with the fender I reckon ...

I like my fender.

yes and no.. You've hacked it.. it's no longer original.. which means it's upto the buyer as too whether they want that, because to reverse it means a whole new under tale section (the plack plastic lining i mean)

I cut mine, didn't care either way. and most people who do it don't care,
and a for the buyer well a more attractive bike can aid sale, but it goes both ways, some people want a bike in original condition. I figure it's split down the middle either way. Hotted up/Stock, there's a market there either way.

Dan

[Neka79]

ok..by law the tail piece is MEANT to extend past the wheel-looking at it side on..so its the furthermost part of the bike at the back..if that makes sense...
if uve seen mine, i cut mine right off-looks like no undertail-and ever since i cut it off it made a huge difference to how much mess i get on my ductail..not that it didnt do it b4, but its worse...just thought id bring it up...