Bouncy front mudguard.

[utopia]

Having replaced the std 120/60 front tyre on my M750 with a (slightly taller) 120/70, I've had trouble with my std front mudguard bouncing and fouling the tyre.
The mudguard has been modified by shortening it at front and back, then fitting a carbon fender extender, comme ca .....

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u644/photopia132/P1020852_zps7cad41jj.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/photopia132/media/P1020852_zps7cad41jj.jpg.html)

I like the look and, in combination with a high-fitted bellypan, it keeps a lot of road dirt off the motor.
But the std mudguard is a bit flexy anyway and my mods have made things slightly worse such that the fender extender fouls the tyre on bumpy roads.
I've been looking for a secondhand carbon mudguard in the hope that it would be more rigid, but they're not as common now in the std pattern as they were a couple of years ago.
And anyway, I suspect that even in full carbon, the problem of flex will still be borderline, and so ....

I was wondering about fitting one of these from a 996.

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u644/photopia132/_57_zpstdqlazlo.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/photopia132/media/_57_zpstdqlazlo.jpg.html)

They look as if the extra material and general design in the area where the "legs" join the front of the "blade" will (might ?) make them a little more rigid.
Does anyone have one of these on their monster (or 996) and could they confirm (or otherwise) that they are more rigid than the std monster guard ?

Ta very much.

[DrD]

I have something similar from Limberger, DE on my M900
Much more rigid than the poly original.
That said I think I should have got the OE style in carbon from them

[Dukedesmo]

Jeff, I did a lot of test fitting of mudguards on mine as I was concerned about the Monster mudguard for 2 reasons; it is very flexible (even in CF), it offers little protection to the fork tubes from stonechips.

916/996 mudguards are much more rigid and give good protection to the fork tubes, they are a little shorter at the front but, crucially much shorter at the back where they offer no protection to your engine at all - this is why I decided not to use one on my Monster although I'm still toying with the idea of better protection to the forks so maybe a 916 guard with an extension would be a good option?

I did make some extra guard plates from CF to cover the lower part of the fork tubes on mine though.

I also considered ST2/ST4 mudguard as they appear to offer good fork protection and are longer at the rear, although maybe not as long as a Monster? but I've not pursued this any further yet.

BTW a 1098/1198 front mudguard is the same fitting and offers even more fork protection/rigidity than the 916 type, it also 'looks' to be more aerodynamic? and that is what I've got on my 916 but, again it is very short at the back.

If you want to see for yourself I have both a 916 and 1098 mudguards in my workshop, I'm keeping them for originality (916, in case I revert to standard) and 1098 (spare) but you could pop over and try them for size.

I also have a carbon Monster mudguard on my Monster if you want to compare flexibility against the plastic. :thumbsup:

[utopia]

That said I think I should have got the OE style in carbon from them

Why so ?
Perhaps because the original style suits the bike better visually ?
That was my thinking too.
However, I might be prepared to sacrifice something (not too much, but something) in the looks department if it improves on the functionality.

My plan would be to extend the rear again, as I did with my original one.
This may of course make it more bouncy again but it sounds like the basic guard starts from a much more rigid standpoint.
Maybe I can do a bit of sculpting too.

Ta for the info.
That's just what I was hoping to hear.

[utopia]

Tim ... that is much useful info .... as usual.
It is particularly useful to know that the std pattern in carbon is not significantly more rigid than the plastic one.
That could have saved me a bunch of wasted time and money.
Thanks very much.

It would seem that there are many reasons for me to pay you a visit in the near future.
Expect a phonecall.

...... ps.
I'm probably going to the Bike Shed Show on sat.
And Donington WSB on sunday.
If you fancy either of those ?

[Mr Gazza]

Jeff, I'm fairly sure that the carbon blade that you pictured is actually an after market one for an SS model as the mounting holes are too close together and high, for any of the Super bikes with bands..??...Compare to the picture of your present 'guard.

To repeat my comments already made... I found that my 'guard became much more rigid when I fitted brand new bands..Remarkably so.

I also concluded that fitting an extender made the (carbon) guard far too floppy.

I do have an SS front Mudguard in red plastic, wasting space in my attic.
It's not cracked but it does need re-painting as the paint has cracked away from the plastic in one spot on one of the legs...Has the early model hole spacing though.

Yours if you want it.

[Dirty]

Regardless of flex or protection I think the 916 is a better looking guard :)

[Nottsbiker]

Yes that carbon mudguard is from a 900ss or similar as the 996 had the same mudguard as the 916 / 748 etc

I've got two options ready for my 900 - 916 = not sure if it will look right + Sport Classic = much cleaner than any other Ducati mudguard and very minimalist (not sure if suitable option for your needs)

Original Monster 'guard looks naff imho and even the 900ss one is a huge improvement looks-wise

[Darkness]

Smeagol has / had a sport classic front guard.
There is a thread on here from when JMo was having a fire sale:

UK Monster Owners Club Forum » .: Wanted and Offered :. » For Sale » Smeegal for Sale... 2002 M602ie - excellent condition.

[Darkness]

How do you post a link to another thread?

These are the photo's

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr289/JMoandpiglet/Bikes%20for%20sale/P1010447_zpsd134a65a.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr289/JMoandpiglet/Bikes%20for%20sale/P1010455_2_zps6214623d.jpg

http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr289/JMoandpiglet/Bikes%20for%20sale/P1010448_zps8f609c93.jpg

Sport Classic front mudguard
http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr289/JMoandpiglet/Bikes%20for%20sale/P1010452_zpsb5d26bb2.jpg

[slob]

How do you post a link to another thread?

just copy and paste from the address bar in your browser
http://ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50319

[Darren69]

You occasionally see the DP aluminium mudguards and other bodywork for Monsters pop up on ebay.

[Darkness]

just copy and paste from the address bar in your browser
http://ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=50319

Ahh, the joy of Apple: the address shows as just:

ukmonster.co.uk

But if you copy and paste it, it grows to:

http://www.ukmonster.co.uk/monster/showthread.php?t=53909

Thanks Rob. I've now learnt something new today, so now know nearly twice as much as before. I wonder what I've forgotten?

[slob]

My 916 muguard is quite different to the one pictured above, it's flared and flat at the back, presumably to aid airflow to the radiator.

stuff on Apples seems to just work, I just never find them intuitive

[Darren69]

If this is any help? My standard DP carbon mudguard with 120/70 tyre and I'm still able to get my fingers between easily with room to spare, without moving the guard.

http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx341/DarrenS69/Monster%20mudguard/015_zps0fwrr0ub.jpg (http://s770.photobucket.com/user/DarrenS69/media/Monster%20mudguard/015_zps0fwrr0ub.jpg.html)

[utopia]

Thanks for your help, everyone.

Today I bought one of the 996 guards, secondhand and damaged at the rear, for £25 on ebay.
This one has the correct, 70mm hole spacings for the plastic fixing clips.
Voila !

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u644/photopia132/996%20mudguard%201_zpsat7zch9t.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/photopia132/media/996%20mudguard%201_zpsat7zch9t.jpg.html)

And the damage at the rear.

http://i1326.photobucket.com/albums/u644/photopia132/996%20mudguard%202_zpskw0x2ssm.jpg (http://s1326.photobucket.com/user/photopia132/media/996%20mudguard%202_zpskw0x2ssm.jpg.html)

I was also given another faulty mudguard (thanks Rob) which may yield a useable blade section.
The plan is to use this, or my existing carbon fender extender if its long enough, to extend the rear.
I intend to laminate the two pieces together, using twill-weave fibreglass and epoxy resin.
I will also look at the possibility of adding extra stiffening in a similar fashion if it seems necessary but the design of the legs/blade interface looks fairly stiff already.
My extension "cantilever" will obviously test that a bit more sternly though ..... we shall see.
Who knows how neat the appearance will be when its finished, but I don't really mind visible repairs if they're tidy and durable, and I can always paint it if all else fails.

[Nottsbiker]

You could always paint over the damage and keep some of the carbon visible for a neat double whammy.

[utopia]

Yes, I might get away with just painting the back section.
Although, I did a similar repair to a carbon hugger recently and found that once coated in resin, the twill weave glassfibre virtually disappears, leaving the carbon below showing through nicely.
It is also very thin and conforms well to curved surfaces.
As long as I can keep everything flat enough to be able to get a smooth surface, I reckon it might be ok unpainted.
And such repairs, in my opinion, don't detract from the appearance of the bike. In fact they add personality and a kind of patina.