high or low front mudguard?
 

Hi there,
I'm planning to drive around Australia on my Tenere and will cover a high mileage on dirtroads and through deserts.
Does a high or low front mudguard make a big difference in driving through the sand. Will I have more problems (like a sandlock) with a lower one (as on a tenere)?

thanks for your replies,

Roland

A low fender isn't a problem in sand, only in mud, when it will clog and stop the front wheel.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

One thing you may notice with the higher mudguard is the noise and they do move around even with the metal support.

They do look good though!!

Julio

Maybe I’m too fussy but I’m converting my Tenere to a low mudguard since I think that the high guard minimizes the airflow over the cylinder head. We don’t have much mud in Egypt so getting a stuck front wheel is not really an issue for me.

I’m also making a full fairing for the bike (like the KTM Rally bike) for more comfortable travel and because I think the low mudguard look stupid on bike without one.

Just wondering about the mud issue: The first few stages in the Dakar rally where all mud, how did the KTM with their low fairing manage to run so well?

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A.B.
www.ShortWheelbase.com

I moved my R80 mudgaurd from the yoke to the fork brace as I was fed up getting covered in crap all the time, even on roads that were only wet the front wheel would spray s**t all over my legs and the engine, since I moved it no worries, allthough mud may be a different thing, but I can always move it back again.

Hi Guys

Just covered 4600 miles last month with a new strenghted tall mudguard on my r100 GS in Morocco. The extra strenghing that Cray engineering did worked a treat. It did not move around much even at 100 mph. I also didn't get soaked by spray from the torrential rain in the Atlas mountains. It also seemed to keep the sand out of my face too. So really chuffed with it.

Julio

If your using a 3AJ I would advise a low mudguard.Yamaha put it low because the previous model had overheating problems with the high one due to reduced airflow over the cylinder head,and this could be an issue in Oz.I have done many miles off road in mud,snow,rocks,sand & gravel and had no problems,but if you're still worried I woukd suggest drilling holes or cutting slots along the top of you mudguard to help disperse any build up that may occur.

Happy travels,
Griff.