cycle wings, fenders, mud guards

[Patrick]

Whatever your want to call them !

I've been doing a bit of research on cycle wings. The ones I have from Marlin weigh in at 1.566kg and 1.658kg. You can get some nice, but expensive carbon ones from here:

http://www.fluke-motorsport.co.uk/pr...products_id=62

They weigh in at 400grams each giving a 2.4Kg reduction in unsprung weight - and a lot less stress on the mud guard stays (mine broke after 50 miles of driving).

The man at fluke has said that they will fit over 205/60/R15 on 15x7J as I have on there at the moment.

I'm seriously considering getting a set of these for both performance terms and peace of mind.

I'm spending too much time thinking and not enough driving at the moment

[peterux]

Hi Patrick,
i've bought a pair of these.....
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...EOIBSA:GB:1123
for my 9" Borbet wheels but have not fitted them yet.
There is a variety of wings for sale on eBay inc carbon fibre types,

Peter

[Patrick]

That's a much more sensible price! How much do yours weigh?

[peterux]

Sorry Patrick, they are stored round in my lock-up so will have to wait till the next time I go round. They are fibreglass like the Marlin ones, so probably not a lot of diffrence in weight. Let me know if you are itching to make a decision and i'll go and dig one out with a torch. Space is a premium in my house garage so anything not needed immediately is stored in the old lock-up.
Peter

[Patrick]

That's OK Peter I decided to get some Carbon ones, found a place a lot cheaper than fluke.

Thanks

[5EXi girl]

Sounds interesting. What has stopped us from using carbon is the price but this does seem to be coming down some. Keep me posted if you will :-)
Thanks
Terry

[Patrick]

Originally Posted by 5EXi girl

Sounds interesting. What has stopped us from using carbon is the price but this does seem to be coming down some. Keep me posted if you will :-)
Thanks
Terry

Hi Terry,

I got them from http://www.stingraymotorsport.com/sh...roducts_id=208 - still expensive but it will make me feel better knowing there is less weight floating around on the mud guard stays.

BTW I stuck mine in the post yesterday so you should get them today.

Patrick

[MartinClan]

Mmmmm they look cool even to a mean old cynic like me



I want some....

Robin

[Patrick]

I saw a rear diffuser which also looks cool, but at £650 is a bit much

Now I have the dilemma if I should paint them or not

[MartinClan]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Now I have the dilemma if I should paint them or not

Absolutely NOT - painting them will make them heavier!!

[peterux]

hmmm...
Interesting website.
Carbon Fibre Mudflaps would look nice on those front wings?

Peter

[Patrick]

I want to see how far round the wings go before looking at mud flaps, but yeah that would be a good match!

[Patrick]

First point, don't buy from stingray motorsport. I ordered and paid for special delivery on the 12th. I chased them early this week and they said it was sent out the day after I ordered. They finally turned up today post mark said sent on the 19th! Also was sent normal parcel post not special delivery.

After closer inspection the items didn't even come from Stingray there were badged and sent from: http://www.carbonmods.co.uk/ - so you may as well order them directly there!

Anyway on the positive side they look good:


Carbon wings next to original

Carbon weave! Pretty!

The new wing is not quite a wide as the original and follows a slightly tigher curve.

You can hardly see any difference between the two

The wing over a 225 wide tyre, the thread is covered. Some of the bubble sticks out but that's an MOT pass.

Side of a 225 / 45 / R17 tyre

On the 205 width tyre - fits perfectly!

Side view on a 205/60/R15 tyre.

[Mike]

Patrick

Your new carbon cycle wings look like they will really suit the sporster.

Just seeing your different collection of wheels, and having a good trawlthrough your web site (looking extremely professional these days) I am interested in why you tried 5 stud wheel conversions and then went away from them. I have a forf suspension, but am considering a 5 stud conversion to be able to use BMW compact sports alloys. Did you abandon the idea of the 5 stud conversion - if so why?

Ps thanks for the IT lesson/support

Mike

[Patrick]

Thanks After putting new pads on the front they were rubbing on the spacers which is the main reason I decided not use them. I plan to chuck them on eBay some day

That wheel is a spare for my daily driver - I fitted 9J's on the back after one got dinged on a speed bump after a puncture. So I've got a spare one knocking about the garage now The other 5 studs were on my Compact - after my brother had it for a while he swapped them for some different ones. I also have another set of spare 15's that were on my granddads car! (He has the wheels that were on my daily driver when new! I now have a set of Alpina's)

A better way to do a 5 stud conversion would be to get trailing arms from a Compact or Z3 and ask Marlin to convert an E36 front end Less unsprung weight as well.