DSS pattern mudguard for 400/4

[Harold 400/4]

Happy New Year to all.
Has anyone bought a DSS pattern front mudguard for a 400/4 recently?? Can you let me know what the quality of chrome finish is like, and also if they fit ok?? Is there much of a difference compared with a genuine Honda mudguard?
Many thanks
Harold

[Trigger]

The difference is the quality. Yes, they fit OK and the chrome is good but, check it at the rear as some have a small dent.
Opp's, the small dent was on a run of CB550 and CB750's.

[martin_uk]

I fitted one and was OK, but had to put some tension on stays to line up fixings.

Bought a new Honda genuine one for my CB750F1 from CSMNL and was surprised at the grind marks on stays which had  not removed  before chroming.

[Orcade-Ian]

I have 2 genuine Honda ones, bought many years ago when they were cheap and the OE chrome quality was not fantastic even back then.  The main blade always had what looked like brush marks and the stays still had the press marks in them and only polished on the easy access areas, like a lot of Honda stuff.
I've just bought back my old early 400/4 from my Cousin and was contemplating buying another new one and had considered one of these replicas.
Temporarily I've put one of the new ones on this recent addition, which was really intended for my 'minter', but that one is still a way from being finished, the other new one is on the 350/4.
Can anyone really tell the DS copy from a genuine, not restored original?  If so, what is the real giveaway?

[Clem2112]

I bought a new genuine front mudguard from David Silver 4 years ago when they cost £125
The original on the bike was a bit pitted and the re-plating cost was about the same as the new item.

The new mudguard has some differences like the speedo cable guide being made from thick wire and not pressed from sheet . The rolled edge of the guard is less pronounced too.
So even the genuine item has changed over four decades....
Different supplier probably and a few cost reducing mods along the way.

One thing I meant to do at the time and didn't was to coat the back with silver paint ! - slapped wrist for that oversight.
Surface rust on the back was treated with Jenolite, then primed and painted, finally.
I also attended to the rear one which someone had protected years before.... rust was starting on the back of that too.
 Finishing touch to help preserve both was to spray ACF-50 all over - hopefully this will add years of life to the shiny bits.

[Lynx]

I bought a DSS front mudguard last year. I'm very pleased with it. Comes with all screws and rubbers to fit. Mine went straight on, no problem. I've painted the inside of the guard and stays with silver Hammerite to help protect from rusting out.

[Drew400]

I too fitted one last year. The stays took a bit of pressure to line up with the holes. It's now in place, but I've left on the plastic wrap as the bike's still being rebuilt so can't yet comment on the quality of the chrome nor the rusting-out potential. That said, I doubt mine will ever need to guard for any mud!

Cheers, D.

[tom400f]

Drew - it's pretty much a standard thing to paint the underside with hammerite - OEM or otherwise. I would recommend it anyway.

[Drew400]

Ok, ta, Tom. I'll add to my CB400 to-do list. Cheers, D.

[Clem2112]

.... and not forgetting ...

to invest in the elixir of long life that is ACF-50 !

[Harold 400/4]

Many thanks for your comments. More cash heading to DSS!
Cheers. Harold