| Author | Message | ||
     Cheez2158 |
I bought a 97 awhile back and when I bought it he gave me all the original parts and some that are either aftermarket or for another bike. He gave me 2 rear fenders the one is OEM but there is also a carbon fiber one with a license plate holder cast into it. It looks like it fits very close to the rear tire. Wondering if anyone knows if it could be trimmed to the OEM size and mount on a S1. The hole pattern appears to fit up. i will try to post pics . thanks in advance cheez | ||
| Davefl |
That is the OEM fender for a S1. Please don't trim it. If you don't like or want it sell it and buy one that you like. | ||
| Tombo |
I agree with Dave, it is hard to find an original S1 fender that has not been trimmed. All original S1 rear fenders were carbon fiber with the license plate holder built in, but the 96 was actually painted black from the factory because the carbon work was rough. | ||
| Cheez2158 |
Thanks guys i dont want to tear up a good part. I was going to do some changes on her this winter and wanted to make sure of what I had before anything got altered. i also have the shorter plastic fender so for now itll work. Again thanks for the input | ||
| Tombo |
The shorter fender probably came off a different model Buell, either an S3 , X1, or M2. These models used plastic fenders while most after market fenders were carbon fiber. I am currently not running an inner fender on my S1 and like the look, but there are downsides to that (like more dirt to clean).  | ||
| Cheez2158 |
That makes sense the bike came with the M2 seat and rear plastics and the manta tank on it. That would explain both fenders. I am in the process of putting the S1 parts back on and just wanted to keep the bike a little cleaner hence the fender. | ||
| Ratbuell |
This is the original, factory S1/S1W rear hugger:  It is carbon fiber, with the plate holder built-in. There is a wiring pigtail that goes (I want to say) to the left front corner of the hugger/swingarm and plugs in, for the tag light. If this is the fender you have, PLEASE keep it intact - they are getting more and more rare as more people cut them down. They're a spectacular piece of carbon fiber workmanship, and I think they help "make the bike". When I see an S1 without this hugger, I wonder "what happened to it?" and look for cut-lines to see if it's a cut-down version of the original. If it is, I cry a little bit inside. Look closely at the one you have, if this is it. Study the craftsmanship. The grain of the CF. And last but not least - pick it up. Feel how light it is, compared to how "big" it is. Please, don't cut it. Whether you want to run it on your bike or not...don't cut it. I was lucky enough to find an uncut original for my bike, and I will never change it. Ever. | ||
| S1owner |
I use the smaller hugger fender i like the look with out but not the dirt! | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I'm hoping to make one some day for my M2(with S1 tail) the mounting for the new swingarm doesn't match up. I have a beat up fender to use as a template. Here's the other side of a nice looking example.  I have been told even the early S1 fenders were carbon, but were painted with the black texture finish due to their early finish quality. Late model ('99+) fenders are painted fiberglass or plastic. | ||
| Tombo |
The 96 S1 is the only Buell to have a painted carbon fiber rear fender. I have seen a few with the textured paint stripped off and the carbon work was not very pretty compared to the 97 and 98 fenders I have seen that were never painted. I have also known of a few that have cracked and far too many that have been cut down. Mine is currently sitting on a shelf with a growing stock of tube frame parts. Also sitting on my shelves is the original air cleaner box, which was also slightly different for the 96 S1s. | ||
| Court |
The process used Vynylon and was adapted as part of the "form follows function" thinking. Making the carbon fiber parts wasn' t hard but doing all the trimming and polishing was. Vynylon allowed the piece to benefit from the light weight of carbon fiber and be manufactured at a rate that would keep pace with bike production. Brankin would likely have been involved in the process. | ||
| Tombo |
Court, do you know if that same process was used on the 96 S1 air box? It feels heavier than carbon, more like fiberglass, but looks like the 97 and up air boxes that were plastic. A lot of innovation at Buell, I am sure it was an exciting place to be around. Even the few times I visited the plant you could feel the energy. |
