How bad is it really (particularly for the engine) to ride without the front fender

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Apr 30, 2019 | 07:01 PM

No H2O

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Cruiser

Joined: Jan 2018

Posts: 235

Likes: 27

From: DC

How bad is it really (particularly for the engine) to ride without the front fender

I can no longer stand the look of the chunky front fender on my bike.
I can't seem to find a streamlined fender at a reasonable cost.
I know the water will splash on me and dirt will hit the engine area.
The question is, how bad is it really going to be for me and what is the risk to the engine?
For my self it's easy to determine, in other words if the water becomes intolerable I'll just put it back on.
For the dirt hitting the engine it's a different story, in other words, I won't know it perhaps until it's too late if some particle or small stone flys into some crevice it's not supposed to causing engine failure.

Last edited by No H2O; Apr 30, 2019 at 07:11 PM.

Apr 30, 2019 | 07:14 PM

rubberfrog

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2012

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From: Chandler, Arizona

How many rocks are an exceptable amount to hit your motor? How much crap are you OK with having in the cooling fins?

Apr 30, 2019 | 11:29 PM

YYCbob

Intermediate

Joined: Jun 2017

Posts: 39

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From: Surrey, BC

My bikes had no front fender for probably 10k miles, rear fender is shaved as well. No issues besides spray off the tires and it’s harder to keep clean.

May 1, 2019 | 02:19 AM

Hey Man

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Joined: Jun 2015

Posts: 10,284

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From: West Central FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubberfrog

How many rocks are an exceptable amount to hit your motor? How much crap are you OK with having in the cooling fins?

I ran with no front fender for years and I never noticed any of those things. But then I don't ride on a lot of gravel roads nor did I ride in a lot of mud.