Hey Mike, thanks for your work on this. I was inspired by your design and leveraged it on to my DR using a Yam WR250 mudguard and a Superbrace. I cut the mudguard sides and fabricated an aluminum brace out of some spare 3mm 7075 Alum I had on hand cut more or less to your dimensions. It turned out quite well and has certainly strengthened things up. I included the tail section on the brace aft of the triple clamp for added strength of the mudguard. Passed my prelim road test. Thanks again!
I have changed to a Polisport SM mud guard but I am not running the fork brace. Looks like I have something else to consider if I decide to add the brace. Thanks for the information.
The fork brace really stiffens up the front end and makes it handle much better. Vince Strang (Vince Strang Motorcycles - DR specialist) had a steering damper fitted and took it off after he fitted the brace. He said cut 25mm off the OEM mudguard. Next video I'll show it marked up, cut and fitted. Thanks for watching. 👍🏻😀
True - I have heard of people doing that. I think that it has been reported that in muddy conditions it fills up quickly. I've seen a few with a low mudguard and it makes the front end look a bit stick like. Tall and skinny. Anyway, it a possibility. I do like the high guard though 😀
@@lifelongmotorcycling The high guard does look better. You won't have any problems jamming up with mud with the gap you have between the tyre and the fork brace if you mount it an top of the brace. Maybe a little "beak" type thing under the headlight would break it up. DR's are great, there's so many things you can do to them without worrying about resale value etc.
@@coobye The DR is infinitely customisable because it's been about a long time and there are so many parts available. That's its attraction - you can make it your own bike. "Resale Value"?! Never selling it! 😀 Thanks for the comments. 👍🏻
@@lifelongmotorcycling Haha, that's what I said about my first two DR's😂. Keeping this one though. Sorry to hear about your hip. How did you break it. Weren't you planning a trip soon?.
@@coobye Embarrassingly, I got knocked off my bicycle by another bicycle! Shattered my hip...so I now have a new one. And there was nothing wrong with my old one! And yes...we had a big trip planned in April 😭 I bought this DR brand new. One of the last available in Australia. Will never be able to get another one new. Keeper 😀
Unfortunately DR650 front forks don't provide any bolt-mounting points, so you really need the fork brace to provide a mounting support for a lowered front mudguard , which will significantly reduce wind-drag on the open road. When buying an aftermarket mudguard, remember that DR650 and DRZ400 mounting holes are not quite identical {out by a couple of mm.}; so for a precise fit, it's probably best to buy an undrilled version, and then make your own template for accurate drilling yourself. o
Thanks. Interesting the RMZ250 mudguard that I bought has exactly the same hole pattern. It might be an RM for DR version! I have noticed on other videos that the hole pattern is different on other guards. "Fits all" by definition "fits none" 😀 Thanks for the comments.
Hey Mike, thanks for your work on this. I was inspired by your design and leveraged it on to my DR using a Yam WR250 mudguard and a Superbrace. I cut the mudguard sides and fabricated an aluminum brace out of some spare 3mm 7075 Alum I had on hand cut more or less to your dimensions. It turned out quite well and has certainly strengthened things up. I included the tail section on the brace aft of the triple clamp for added strength of the mudguard. Passed my prelim road test. Thanks again!
Glad I could help....the DR is great for self mods 😀
Great video ride safe
I have changed to a Polisport SM mud guard but I am not running the fork brace. Looks like I have something else to consider if I decide to add the brace. Thanks for the information.
The fork brace really stiffens up the front end and makes it handle much better.
Vince Strang (Vince Strang Motorcycles - DR specialist) had a steering damper fitted and took it off after he fitted the brace. He said cut 25mm off the OEM mudguard.
Next video I'll show it marked up, cut and fitted.
Thanks for watching. 👍🏻😀
You could always mount a low mudguard to the fork brace. It would give better protection and also be better at highway speeds and cross winds.
True - I have heard of people doing that.
I think that it has been reported that in muddy conditions it fills up quickly.
I've seen a few with a low mudguard and it makes the front end look a bit stick like. Tall and skinny.
Anyway, it a possibility. I do like the high guard though 😀
@@lifelongmotorcycling The high guard does look better. You won't have any problems jamming up with mud with the gap you have between the tyre and the fork brace if you mount it an top of the brace. Maybe a little "beak" type thing under the headlight would break it up. DR's are great, there's so many things you can do to them without worrying about resale value etc.
@@coobye The DR is infinitely customisable because it's been about a long time and there are so many parts available. That's its attraction - you can make it your own bike.
"Resale Value"?! Never selling it! 😀
Thanks for the comments. 👍🏻
@@lifelongmotorcycling Haha, that's what I said about my first two DR's😂. Keeping this one though.
Sorry to hear about your hip. How did you break it. Weren't you planning a trip soon?.
@@coobye Embarrassingly, I got knocked off my bicycle by another bicycle! Shattered my hip...so I now have a new one. And there was nothing wrong with my old one!
And yes...we had a big trip planned in April 😭
I bought this DR brand new. One of the last available in Australia. Will never be able to get another one new. Keeper 😀
Unfortunately DR650 front forks don't provide any bolt-mounting points, so you really need the fork brace to provide a mounting support for a lowered front mudguard , which will significantly reduce wind-drag on the open road.
When buying an aftermarket mudguard, remember that DR650 and DRZ400 mounting holes are not quite identical {out by a couple of mm.}; so for a precise fit, it's probably best to buy an undrilled version, and then make your own template for accurate drilling yourself.
o
Thanks.
Interesting the RMZ250 mudguard that I bought has exactly the same hole pattern. It might be an RM for DR version! I have noticed on other videos that the hole pattern is different on other guards. "Fits all" by definition "fits none" 😀
Thanks for the comments.