Widest fenders that easily fit a Joe Appa?

[Doug Van Cleve]

Howdy folks.

What are the widest fenders that fit a JA (650B, if it matters) without any manipulation?  I don’t have mine assembled yet, but I have SKS P50s that have previously been on the bike and a set of never mounted V-O 52mm Zeppelins.  If something wider fits without cutting etc. I would probably prefer that…

Thanks, Doug

[DavidP]

Hi Doug,

Luke recently posted that he was able to squeeze Flat 65s on his Atlantis but it wasn't a slam dunk. In the same thread, brizbarn posted that VO Fluted 63mm fenders just fit his 700c Joe.

I've been following such posts with interest as I consider fendering my Platypus.

-Dave

[Doug Van Cleve]

Thanks Dave!

Bummer that V-O 650B fenders max out at 58mm.  Honjos are out of my price range…  There is a 68mm(!) Tanaka that is “cheap” enough but I fear will require more manipulation than I prefer.  I’ve seen the really nice looking indentations for fork blades and seat stays, but I have no idea how to neatly do that and I’m pretty particular about stuff…

Doug

[Paul (GlennsBikeGarage)]

Doug,

I'm currently installing the Honjo H80 62mm smooth fenders on my daughter's 51cm Joe Appaloosa (650b) with 42mm Grand Bois tires. These fenders fit without any special bending, cutting, or manipulation and I would consider these the widest fender that will fit.  Hope that helps.

Paul

[Doug Van Cleve]

Thanks Paul!  Great info, I think Honjos are more scratch than I want to spend though :^(

I wonder if getting a set of the V-O 63mm 700c fenders with the plan to reshape them would be nuts?  Apparently you just gently bend them as if you’re trying to widen them and it tightens up the curve…  I suppose it would be pretty cool if it worked, and pretty darn lame if they ended up ugly or ruined…

Doug

[Edwin W]

Berthoud 60mm (700c) fit my 58cm Joe Appa fine with no manipulation.

Edwin

[DavidP]

Re-radiusing aluminum fenders is possible, the concern in this case is that the VO 63mm fenders are already as wide as will fit. I suppose it may possible to do the "widening" on most of the fender, leaving the places where it would hit frame/fork alone, and this line from the linked article may suggest that could work "You don't need to do a lot at a time. Little bits over the length of the fender can decrease the radius enough to work."

-Dave

[Doug Van Cleve]

Yikes, of course...  If they are already max width, widening them to fit the smaller radius is NOT a great idea after all.  Thanks for the reality check :^)

Doug

[Doug Van Cleve]

Thanks Edwin :^)  These might be my winner, cheaper than anything but on sale V-O and the widest (of the economical options) that will fit without manipulation...

Doug

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[Doug Van Cleve]

Not so fast, Doug!  Alas, there are no 60mm Berthoud 650B fenders that I can find, so it looks like the V-O 58mm wavies are the best easy choice after all...

Doug

[Mackenzy Albright]

Just FYI when I installed honjo smooth 62 fenders on my clementine they fit width wise, but decided to run a 2mm wider BB to avoid the need of cutting the fender for chain rub. Or maybe I ran a BB spacer? I can't remember off the top of my head now that I type this. But the included riv BB rubbed *slightly* on the fender when in the small chain wheel and largest rear cog and didn't feel like cutting up the fender.  

[Mr. Ray]

I bought my Berthoud 60mm x 650b here in stock.  If you have a front rack, buy the "long version" in the link otherwise buy the "short version":

https://berthoudcycles.fr/en/1406-stainless-smooth-fenders-650b-x-60mm-front-long-w-hardware-polished.html?_gl=1*4zzmn0*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTE3NjA2MTg2MS4xNjc4NDEwMzY0*_ga_LLD45P3CY9*MTY3ODQxMDM2NC4xLjEuMTY3ODQxMDM3MS41My4wLjA.

They also sell them in black.

[Doug Van Cleve]

Alrighty, maybe the correct response was "no U.S. retailers have 650B x 60 Berthouds" ;^)  Thanks for the info!  Any thoughts on the long vs. short for a bike that doesn't have a front rack now, but conceivably could in the future?

Doug

[Mr. Ray]

Doug, the "long" is 13 cm longer at the front of the fender for ALL sizes.  To keep the front of the fender from rattling and perhaps cracking prematurely over time, you can purchase an extra set of fender stays to secure the extended front to a fork stay (i.e. midpoint of fork).  I'm using a front rack so the longer front of the fender is attached to the rack platform using a fender clip.  Fender coverage is personal so you'll have to decide what length works for you.

That said, the Berthoud 650B x 60mm have very good coverage and are designed with no front mudflap necessary (think classic French 650B Randonneur).  Both front and back fender are slightly longer in length compared with Honjo or V.O. fenders in the 650B x 60mm size.  If you don't care for such excellent coverage, you can also use the Berthoud 26" x 60mm and re-size them to fit 650B.  The 26" x 60mm are readily available in the USA (i.e. Peter White and Bens Cycle).  I have never seen the Berthoud 650B x 60mm sold anywhere in the USA which is why I purchased direct from France. 

[Nick Payne]

I fitted VO 700 x 63mm mudguards (they actually measure 63.5mm wide) to my Appaloosa. They just fit with only a fraction of a millimetre clearance each side where they pass between the fork blades - I fitted plastic frame protector dots on the inside of the fork blades each side to prevent the paint being worn off by the fender.

Nick Payne

[Luke Hendrickson]

I’d like to take this opportunity to enthusiastically support the use of mudflaps, in particular the leather variety from Gilles Berthoud. So sick. 

[Doug Van Cleve]

Well I haven’t done anything with them yet, but I went ahead and ordered the 700C 63mm fenders while they were on sale.  My thought is that I just skip the centimeter or so where the fenders pass between the forks and the seat stays when I’m reshaping. I doubt the minor difference in width will be noticeable , but I can’t think of any reason why it shouldn’t work just fine.  I’ll update with pics when I get to work on them…

Doug

On Wed, Mar 22, 2023 at 4:02 PM Paul Yokanovich <pa...@paulyo.com> wrote:

That's an idea Doug, however by reshaping the 63mm 700c fender to fit the smaller diameter 650b you would be widening the fender.  You would probably want to start with a fender that's more narrower.

Paul

[J Schwartz]

Doug , if you're referring to the 63mm VO fenders.. They should fit.

I believe they are featured in this blog post from a few years ago on a 29" wheeled App with some mid-50mm tires

https://rivbike.tumblr.com/post/185091706269/who-rides-an-appaloosa-john-a-familiar-face-in