Front Fender issue

14kmtnman

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May 18, 2014
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476
Location
Yakima, WA
I was checking over the bike (2013 with 50k miles) before our day long ride yesterday after washing it for the time in about 6 or 7 months and found this. It was not there when I rebuilt the forks last fall. An across the top of the front fender crack almost perpendicular to the length. No, I have not been riding thru the brush or trees. As far as I remember there has not been any issues with rocks getting caught in between the fender and the tire. There are no other scratches or marks in the front end area. Very strange place to get a crack in the fender. Has anybody else seen or experienced this?
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Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
Odd place for something to have fallen on it too. I Swiffer my bike daily before I ride it. That is something I would have noticed.
 

Saint rob

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May 26, 2019
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327
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Northwest UK
Have you got anything mounted underneath the headlight or replaced the horn underneath the bottom yoke so that under full compression something is hitting it from above?
 

Highwayman

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Jun 25, 2019
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394
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Southern California
That was my 1st thought also. Looks like hitting something on compression. Did you raise the forks in the clamps when you went through them? Doesn't look like a crack, more of an impact indentation.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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Wasn't this you 2 weeks ago?
Because of the forks flexing/compression/skidplate, my extender broke too, which also cracked the fender. I was off roading, going thru a rock garden and was able to go back and pick up the pieces. I wound up cutting the extender down by about 3-4 inches rounding off the edges and epoxied the fender back together using a drywall wire mesh base under the epoxy. the repair is still in place after 8 years and lots of miles.

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Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
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I picked up one of the Harbor Freight hot air plastic welders and have been pleasantly surprised at how well the thing works. If you go this route, nearly all motorcycle plastics are ABS and you can buy spools of it made for 3D printing, or bum some from somebody with a 3D printer. Just don't use the more common PLA.
 

14kmtnman

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May 18, 2014
Messages
476
Location
Yakima, WA
Sierra1 - LOL My bike has never seen nor will ever feel a Swiffer

Checkswrecks - yes that was me, talking about what happened 8 years ago. With the new heaver spring rate and thicker oil in the forks, I have not bottomed out yet, that I know of. Since moving here, most of my riding has been on pavement, or smooth gravel. I do have an aftermarket soundblaster horn that has been in place for about 8 yrs. After looking at the horn just now, it appears to be on the same angle as the mark and the crack. It must have happened when it was transported from Denver to here back in January in a moving van semi trailer. Bummer. Looks like I'll do the same as with the fender extender, metal drywall repair screen and epoxy glue.

Thanks for all of the advice.
 
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