Front fender?

[TriumPhil]

Consider reducing your front tire size down to a 140, Scholle, or even a 130 if your R3 doesn't have ABS brakes (the 130 will defeat the proper operation of your ABS ). You will be amazed at how much lighter and more responsive (better handling) the smaller front tires makes your Beast feel and behave and they will look and fit great under the smaller, Suzuki front tin!

My recommendations based on actual usage:

Michelin Commander II, 140/75 R17: http://motorcycle.michelinman.com/tires/michelin-commander-ii

Bridgestone Exedra Max, 130/70 ZR17: http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/exedra/max.html

 

[Scholle]

Phil,

great idea for the new world, but not for the old one. Here you have to respect the manufacturers recommandation. That means, for the Rocket you have the choice only between the Metzeler and the Avon, nothing else or jail

 

[TriumPhil]

Yikes, Scholle, I knew that your motor vehicle regulations over yonder are stricter than ours , but that seems a bit extreme! Is the 240 Exedra Max for the rear a homologated tire for the R3 in Europe? My gut says it isn't, even though it's superior to the OEM Metz in nearly every way.

Does that mean that a car tire mounted on the rear subjects the rider to execution on the spot if apprehended?

 

[1olbull]

What Phil said -go to a 140 in Avon Cobra or Michelin Commander.

 

[Lonzol]

Lonnie,

I got a Suzuki front fender and tried to adapt it to my Rocket. It worked fine as described by you but I noticed, that the clearance between the fender and the front tire is just a few mm, maybe 2 or 3 mm. This seems to be too little as the tire will expand at high speed and will probable touch the fender. Maybe this is of no importance at typical low speed as in the US, but at top speed on the german autobahn this effect could become dangerous.

On your bikes pics the clearance seems to be better. Maybe due to the fact that you ride Bridgestone tires with less radius instead of Metzeler?

Regards, Georg

Georg,

I actually thought that the 109 fender gave me more clearance??????? BTW that is an Avon in the stock size on my bike, I'll see if I can find some front wheel closeups.

Lonnie

 

[Lonzol]

Georg,

As you can see I've done this mod on two different Rockets without any difficulty. As I said I run the Avon Cobra front in the 150 and have had my bike to 126 mph by the gps with no problem......

You did trim down the "boss" on the rear of each fork leg, correct???? If I recall I took about 1/2 inch (about 12.5 mm) off. This is the only way I can see that there might be the potential for the fender rubbing. Where is the tire close to the fender?

Hope this helps, I'll try and go get some better pictures tomorrow.

Lonnie

 

[TriumPhil]

Doesn't that have everything to do with how you mounted it based on where you drilled it out, Lonzol?

I looked at doing this a couple of years ago when I started using the smaller, lower front tires, thinking that all that extra space that the 150 used to take up didn't look too appealing. Either I was lazy or afraid to do it at that time and since, the look of all that negative space under the front tin has sort of grown on me. still i'd have to chalk the result up to slothfulness or fear.

 

[1olbull]

Georg,
As you can see I've done this mod on two different Rockets without any difficulty. As I said I run the Avon Cobra front in the 150 and have had my bike to 126 mph by the gps with no problem......
You did trim down the "boss" on the rear of each fork leg, correct???? If I recall I took about 1/2 inch (about 12.5 mm) off. This is the only way I can see that there might be the potential for the fender rubbing. Where is the tire close to the fender?
Hope this helps, I'll try and go get some better pictures tomorrow.
Lonnie

Boy, I sure like that rear rack!!!

 

[TriumPhil]

What rack, Steve??? All I see on the rear is the door to an old woodburning stove.

 

[Lonzol]

Doesn't that have everything to do with how you mounted it based on where you drilled it out, Lonzol?

I looked at doing this a couple of years ago when I started using the smaller, lower front tires, thinking that all that extra space that the 150 used to take up didn't look too appealing. Either I was lazy or afraid to do it at that time and since, the look of all that negative space under the front tin has sort of grown on me. still i'd have to chalk the result up to slothfulness or fear.

Yea Phil you are right,

If I remember correctly, I made the adapter plates to fit the R3 bolt pattern on the front of the fork lowers and mounted them. Then the "boss" on the rear of the lower, (after having the mentioned metal removed) fits inside the bolt recess on the fender, (wheel off so the fender can be "squeezed to get over the boss). I then used the boss to pivot the fender, ( with the wheel temporarily back in place), until the clearance was uniform and marked the holes from the fender to the adapter plates. Then I just drilled and tapped the holes to finish mounting the fender. If you allow the boss to be the pivot point and get the tire clearance uniform, it works out great, (at least it did for me.....twice).

Hope this is clear as mud....... LOL