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Rear Mudguard (Chrome Section)

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McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
I'm assuming Martin that you have ordered one from Vietnam, although this source has been discussed before I am not aware of any feedback from a member who has actually bought one.

I hope it meets or exceeds your expectations, it will be interesting to read how it turns out, best of luck.

Bryanj:
Wiring is same but the light unit might be the huge type as on F1 and the mounting bolt holes are at a different spacing

Martin6:

--- Quote from: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on May 29, 2025, 11:51:49 AM ---I'm assuming Martin that you have ordered one from Vietnam, although this source has been discussed before I am not aware of any feedback from a member who has actually bought one.

I hope it meets or exceeds your expectations, it will be interesting to read how it turns out, best of luck.

--- End quote ---

The mudguard and rear light assembly arrived this morning. I started on the swap at 2pm and finished at 8.30! ...There were problems.

First the good:
-The mudguard looks identical to the original, even made up the same way, with the pieces welded together as per stock. It even has an identical metal protector the rear light wires run through.
- The correct holes have their captive nuts.
- The guides are in the right place for the indicator wires.
- The hole spacings were difficult to measure, but are the same as my original, so it accepts the black UK version light assembly and number plate bracket.
- The chrome plate is fine, minor imperfections, but not anywhere visible and not significant.
- All the threads to the captive nuts are the same as stock.

The bad:
- The holes for the rear light wiring were in the right place, but they were smaller, so the 2 grommets would not fit.
- The whole mudguard was about 1/4" too wide for the gap between rear frame rails (between the indicator stalks) and the profile side to side is a fraction shallower. It's like the whole thing didn't quite get bent round enough. Looking at it side on, it looks right. It just doesn't quite have a deep enough curve looking at it from back to front view. I think that is why it was not fitting between the frame.

I retired for a cup of tea and a think.

I decided to give it a go. I was able to force the sides together sufficiently to slide it between the frame rails. It took ages to line the indicator bolts up and catch the thread in the captive nuts, but I got there. Even with these loose, there was no way the two bolts would go through the top frame cross member and catch the captive nuts in the top front of the mudguard. The standard bolts were at least 1/4" too short.

Another cup of tea.

I matched the thread to some longer bolts (screws) and was able to get them both started. I've tightened all four mounting bolts now. The top two are tight, but there is a 1/4" gap between the top of the mudguard and the top hat washers of the plastic front fender.

So that's how I've left it. I'm hoping the mudguard may steadily relax into the right profile under the tension of the fixing bolts, so that I can tighten the top screws further, over time. I would like to get to the point I can use the original bolts in there, but I'll give it more time before I try to swap them. Of course, I am running the risk that I'm introducing too much stress into the mudguard or its chrome plate. I'll not force it any more, just check to see if it can easily be tightened further, after a week or so. If not, I'll make a short spacer, to go on the two top bolts between the rear and front mudguard, so everything is vibration free.

Conclusion: The new mudguard looks very nice on the bike. It is definitely not a simple switch, as there are quality issues with the profile of the mudguard. Time will tell if worst case, that causes a terminal fail, or  best case, it relaxes and conforms to the right shape. For now, it looks right. The old mudguard I removed is pretty nasty, beyond repair.

Sorry this was a bit waffly. 👍

McCabe-Thiele (Ted):
Very informative write up, are you going to put a photo up of the final fitting?

The DS replica front mudguard was a bit of a pig on my 500 K1, the main problem was with the two stays not fitting correctly on the bottom of the forks as its a larger hole with a steel/rubber insert to make up the differeance. Lots of time spent loosening the stay to fender bolts, gentle beding etc.

Likewise the aftermarket plain steel rear mudguard on my 400NA was a pig to fit. I used some longer bolts to make it all fit by tightening thus pulling it into place, I think I actually ended up putting a washer between that and the plastic rear section to make it line up.

Laverda Dave:
Congratulations on getting a reasonable fit. The pattern 400/4 rear mudguard I fitted a few years ago had similar issues with the side profile preventing a proper line up. I did the same as you did, slightly bend the sides in to get it to fit into the frame.
It could have been far worse, it may have been labelled as a 'universal fit' you know, it fits nothing without major work!

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