Favorite Fenders for 650x42 tire?

[Nick Merrell]

Hi all,

I have a Raleigh Portage that needs a set of fenders. I am looking at the Velo Orange Zeppelin because they seem to be built specifically for a 650b wheel. I have installed a lot of the SKS Bluemels in the past, but they don't have a 650b specific option, so I worry the fit may not be precise. 

What do you use and like the best? I am open to any suggestions. 

Thanks,

Nick

[Michael Mann]

I have VO Wavy fenders on two different bikes. One running 650b x 42, and one running 650b x 47 and they work fantastic. Plus I get compliments on their appearance pretty regularly, especially the silver ones. Highly recommend.

Mike M

Sent from my iPhone

On Sep 21, 2023, at 12:50 PM, Nick Merrell <nickme...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

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[Greg Achtem]

Been awhile since I looked but for metal fenders it seems to be Velo-Orange (inexpensive) and Honjo (Rene Herse, Simworks, others?) ($$).

Way back at the beginning of the 650B renewal some folks were using a wide, 26 inch SKS fender that was said to work perfectly for 650B x 38, 42.

Greg

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[Anthony Pappalardo]

My 1^st choice would be Honjo hammered, preferably hammered and fluted. I got a set of the fluted from Honjo fenders (jitensha.com), they were just advertised as hammered. Search Results for “fenders 650b” – Rene Herse Cycles used to have the hammered, but haven't for a number of years. 2^nd choice would be smooth aluminum, either Honjo or Velo Orange 650b Smooth Fenders, 58mm (velo-orange.com).

I've never tried the Zeppelins, but do have a set of 700c Velo-Orange faceted, which are okay, but I probably would steer away from them unless on a good sale. They're good fenders, just not as aesthetic as I thought they would be.

Of course, no accounting for taste.

TonyP

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From: 65...@googlegroups.com <65...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Nick Merrell <nickme...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2023 2:50 PM
To: 650b <65...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [650B] Favorite Fenders for 650x42 tire?

 

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[23wr...@gmail.com]

I have used the VO Zeppelin, VO Hammered and Honjo's on 650B bike builds. Although more work to install, if I did it again it would be all Honjo's.

Cheers

David

[Bernard Duhon]

 

I have a hard time drawing a straight line with a ruler.

So VO’s predrilled fenders are where I go.

 

Snakeskin “hammered”  for my 650 b wheel just fine. 50 mm great coverage to the gravel king 42 ( measures 40mm)

 

The fluted 650b 52mm graces my 26 inch wheels . were re-radioused for my 26 wheel just fine. 52 mm barely gives coverage to the a 47 mm tire (actual measurement) but more than enough for 1.8 or 1.75 (measures 42 mm

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[Josh Zielinski]

A(nother) vote for VO Zeppelins.

JZ

Oregon (fender land)

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[esoterica etc]

Hey Nick,

It would ultimately depend on how wide of a fender you could fit. Do you know for a fact that the Zeppelin will fit? It's been several years since I owned my Raleigh Portage (an '86, and mine came with the original fenders), but if I were you, I'd measure the width between the front fork blades and the rear triangle to see how wide of a fender it will accept. The widest tire I was able to run comfortably under the original fenders was 38mm, so I imagine those fenders were somewhere about 45-48mm wide. The original fenders didn't touch the fork blades or the stays, but it was real close, so I imagine you could probably fit the VO Snakeskin fender at 50mm, but maybe less likely the VO Zeppelin fender at 52mm wide. 

FWIW, I've used both those fenders in silver on different bikes, as well as a black 700c Zeppelin, and I've been happy with the functionality and look of all of them. Good luck with your search, hope you find something that works. Cheers,

~Mark

Kailua, HI

On Sep 21, 2023, at 09:50, Nick Merrell <nickme...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi all,

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[Alex Israel]

Another fan of VO Zeppelins. I got extra stays so I could run one stay up front - without the rack mounting point I didn’t like the long wobbly extension. These are mounted over 42mm Hetres (actual I think was around 40 but it’s been a while since I measured) and I like the coverage. I had to dimple slightly at the fork legs and chainstays and just did so carefully with a couple adjustable wrenches.

And don’t forget Anton’s excellent fender install guide!

https://somervillebikes.wordpress.com/2020/03/01/how-to-install-metal-fenders-part-i-achieving-a-proper-arc-radius/

Alex in CO

[Andy G]

I have Sim Works Turtle 58s for the nicer bike, and Planet Bike Cascadias for the other 2. All are 650b wheels, but on the winter commuter I have 2.6" tires and the 29" fenders fit that better than the 650 version.

https://www.sim.works/collections/fenders-simworks-by-honjo

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[Pat Smith]

I think I accidently responded privately but I've used both VO and Tanaka and I prefer the Tanaka fenders due to the low profile hardware to reduce toe overlap. The VO are easier to install for sure. Soma used to carry a wider range of the Tanaka fenders but don't seem to have 650 x 50 at the moment unless you want them painted white to match their old Grand Rando frame color. 

I'll probably spring for the Honjo fenders from Soma next time they have a 20% off sale to re-do the fenders on my 650 x 42 gravelking bike. It's got mis-matched fenders right now, a 26" x 58 front and 700 x 42 rear leftover from other builds. Honjo at Simworks use custom hardware that is more akin to VO's - it protrudes more where the stays meet the fender exacerbating toe overlap.

Smitty in DC 

[Brad]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Berthoud fenders.   If you can't get them here, they will ship them from France at a very reasonable price and quickly.  Stainless steel with some pre-drilling and pre-denting for the fork (or not if that is your preference).

[David Cummings]

Another VO fender fan here - I have them on bikes with tires from 38mm to 52mm. All the important points have been made, but I’ll emphasize them:

1. Get fenders at least 10mm wider than your tires. 
2. Make sure you have clearance to the sides and above the tire (~10mm above)
3. Slightly low clearance on the side can be addressed by dimpling the fender so it fits between the frame. 
4. Follow Anton’s guide to re-radius the fenders so the lines are clean and so are your clothes. ;) Follow his guide in general for installation - it’s excellent.
5. Some kind of texture in the fender hides imperfection. Smooth fenders work fine if you a) don’t care or b) like to polish and wax aluminum and pound out the occasional dent. 

I can’t tell you how many times my fellow riders have scoffed at my fenders only to finish a group ride with a skunk stripe. You are making the right call. Plus, I now think anything but a bike with suspension looks naked without fenders. 

Cheers,

David in MT

[Steve Palincsar]

These fenders on my JP Weigle are Velo Orange Zeppelins, reprofiled (note the reshaped tips) and painted with a frame-colored stripe in the center.  Peter has built a number of randonneur bicycles that are equipped with these same fenders.  I don't think you can ask for a better endorsement than that.  This bike is very similar to the 2017 Herse-Weigle CdM entry, without the extreme weight-saving measures.  It was Peter's bike in 2018; I acquired it in 2019.

-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Will Vautrain]

I like the SKS fenders. They are not 650b specific (they do make them 650b specific but in 65mm width), but they have enough give in order to adjust the fender line well. They are also cheap and easy to install, and usually bounce back into shape rather than permanently deform if they get knocked around a bit. They are lightweight and have breakaway tabs for the front.

They probably won't pass muster for a haute bicycle, but for a more utilitarian build, they're great, IMO.

[Steve Palincsar]

On 9/23/23 12:24 PM, Will Vautrain wrote:

I like the SKS fenders. They are not 650b specific (they do make them 650b specific but in 65mm width), but they have enough give in order to adjust the fender line well. They are also cheap and easy to install, and usually bounce back into shape rather than permanently deform if they get knocked around a bit. They are lightweight and have breakaway tabs for the front.

They probably won't pass muster for a haute bicycle, but for a more utilitarian build, they're great, IMO.

Here's my Alchemy eRonin, an e-assist gravel bike.  The fenders are the now-discontinued SKS Longboards in 50mm.  The tires are 48mm Rene Herse Switchback Hill.  They were supposed to be for 26" and 650B (27.5)

Their web site currently lists two fender sets for 27.5/29", Bluemels and Bluemels STYLE.  https://sks-us.com/collections/fenders/products/bluemels-fender-set-27-5-29-wheels

Supposedly easier to install than Honjos, except for a couple of things: I had to make my own rear mounting bracket, nothing in their kit would work, and those little eye-bolts at the top of the fender stays were extremely difficult, they kept falling off.  I'm pretty sure the Bluemels use the same eyebolts.  If you thought the Honjo eyebolts were hard, these are an order of magnitude worse.

[lena...@gmail.com]

Lots of helpful hints here. I will add that I found great value in flaps, especially on the front fender. I consider flaps a standard part of my fender installs.

Lena

Bellevue WA USA

[ericni...@gmail.com]

The VO Zeppelins are nice, but I did have one crack at the brake bridge once. The back half of the fender ended up in a dumpster midway through a 400k brevet. I’m careful with fender installation and minimizing internal stress. In that case, I think the root cause was a long and heavy buddy flap that caused a twisting vibration mode in the fender. Might have eventually cracked any fender. 

Honjos seem to be of better quality and finish, but with a price. Tanaka products tend to run heavy. 

Metal fenders with a rolled edge tend to spill less water out the sides. Not noticeable most of the time, but beneficial in certain conditions.  

Eric in NH 

[fordb...@gmail.com]

I too have the Velo Orange Zeppelin fenders. I believe they're 52mm over 42mm tires on my Raleigh Competition. They give good coverage, but I need a flap on the front. 

Ford

Ghent, NY

[JohnS]

Another positive vote for the VO fenders. I have had them on my Crust LB-canti for 3 plus years, no issues and do the job fine.

JohnS

[njh...@gmail.com]

The Berthoud stainless mudguards get my vote. They make their 650B mudguards in 40mm, 50mm, and 60mm widths - I have the 50mm and 60mm widths installed on bikes. Here are the 60mm width (plus their leather mudflap) over Switchback Hill tyres. I also have their 700C mudguards on a couple of bikes and the 26" size on one of my wife's bikes.

NIck Payne

[Austin Martin]

Here's my Portage with some SKS fenders on it! Technically they were 700c but worked just fine. 38s in the photo but have also run them with 42s. In both cases the clearance was VERY tight/non-existent but it allowed me to bike through the Portland winter happily! 

[David Hays]

VO Zeppelins on my Homer and Honjos on my 1984 Mercian. Both running Hetre 650b's. I'll take the Honjos any day. 

Cheers

David

Williamsville, New York

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[Patrick B. Smith]

What size honjo? 50mm?

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[Will Vautrain]

As long as we're playing show and tell, here is the first iteration of my Soma Grand Randonneur V1 when I built it up back in 2015, with SKS P50's and Baby Shoe Pass tires. I probably could have paid more attention to the fender line in the back but the fenders work and they were not that hard to install, at least in my opinion. I used sections of sparkling wine cork as spacers at the chain stay and seat stay bridges.