Why doesn't MG paint the rear fender?

[bad Chad]

Most of the v7 models come with black rear fenders, regardless of the rest of the bike.  Is it just a cost savings, if so, seems dumb, it can't possibly cost much more to paint a fender can it?

[Dirk_S]

Maybe they accidentally put an extra 0 in their purchase order for black ABS?

I just assumed it was an aesthetic decision that bridged between classically colored fenders and “we love black everything please please give us more black parts.”

[Perazzimx14]

Adds too much weight over the rear wheel. Kills performance.

[SmithSwede]

The white 2103 Stone has a painted white rear fender. 

That’s one reason why it is the prettiest bike Guzzi ever made.   

I upped the preload on the shock a bit to compensate for the extra weight.

[Guzzistajohn]

Luigi the fender guy never gets the wrong fender if they are all black <shrug>

[twowheeladdict]

My Carbon came with Carbon Fiber Fenders.

The Rough came with Aluminum Fenders.

My thoughts are that Moto Guzzi left the Stone Fenders black so the owners could a) leave them alone, b) custom paint them, or c) replace them with Moto Guzzi custom fenders. 

[Huzo]

I’d like my V85 with no black on the engine and gearbox.

[v85kris]

I’d like my V85 with no black on the engine and gearbox.

+1, too much black!

[twowheeladdict]

I’d like my V85 with no black on the engine and gearbox.

What color would you prefer?  You can get them painted. 

I remember when my Uncle came home with a first year Honda CBX He had the engine custom painted, added a frame mounted racing fairing and clipons.  With 6 into 6 exhaust pipes it was a bike that got noticed. 

[Ncdan]

What color would you prefer?  You can get them painted. 

I remember when my Uncle came home with a first year Honda CBX He had the engine custom painted, added a frame mounted racing fairing and clipons.  With 6 into 6 exhaust pipes it was a bike that got noticed.

I’d love to see a picture of that bike as they were a marvel of engineering feat.

[Huzo]

What color would you prefer?  You can get them painted. 

I remember when my Uncle came home with a first year Honda CBX He had the engine custom painted, added a frame mounted racing fairing and clipons.  With 6 into 6 exhaust pipes it was a bike that got noticed.

That would involve removal of the engine/gearbox, which I would be prepared to do, but getting ALL the black off would involve stripping the engine..
A bridge too far.

[ampm7]

I see what you say as, I don't understand why on the orange V9 that the rear fender is not painted orange also. Instead of a matte black...yuck! I just don't like matte black. Maybe matte orange is what should have happened. One thing after painting everything except airplanes, gloss paint repels moisture better than matte paints. I do like shine!

[SIR REAL ED]

I’d love to see a picture of that bike as they were a marvel of engineering feat.

1978 was a watershed year for the Big Four.

About a year ago I gave a neighbor the copy of Cycle magazine 1978 that covered the intro of that bike.  Pre-internet, some magazine articles were a treasure chest of technical information and anecdotes.

From that article, one of the Honda engineers wanted to do something special with the exhaust system.  So they decided to make the bike sound like an F-4 Phantom jet.  They nailed it.  The head of the project Imirajiri IIRC, (same guy who designed the 6 cylinder GP bikes) rode the bike with the phantom exhaust.  He said at 90 mph you felt like you were doing 200 mph.  He decided "We can't sell bikes like this to the public!"

[SIR REAL ED]

Most of the v7 models come with black rear fenders, regardless of the rest of the bike.  Is it just a cost savings, if so, seems dumb, it can't possibly cost much more to paint a fender can it?

It's like black shoes or a black belt.  It goes with everything.

[twowheeladdict]

That would involve removal of the engine/gearbox, which I would be prepared to do, but getting ALL the black off would involve stripping the engine..
A bridge too far.

So, if you could, what color?  Raw Aluminum?

[twowheeladdict]

I’d love to see a picture of that bike as they were a marvel of engineering feat.

I have one print with the bike in the photo, but mostly my Grandfather and Grandkids in the photo. 

[Huzo]

So, if you could, what color?  Raw Aluminum?

Silver painted like my Norge.

[John Ulrich]

Black blends in with the tire.  A lot of people remove the rear fender and relocate the light.

[Wildroamer]

I do like the aluminum on the Milano, but think the black looks great on the Specials, etc. I don't like plastic bits in general on bikes, cars, etc. I splurged and swapped out the injector covers for that reason. If there was a decent looking option to do the same with the plastic starter cover, I'd be set.🙂

[John Croucher]

 :boxing

Roll your own.  The front and rear Jackal fenders cut down and chromed.

[sign216]

The white 2103 Stone has a painted white rear fender. 

That’s one reason why it is the prettiest bike Guzzi ever made.   

I upped the preload on the shock a bit to compensate for the extra weight.

My '09 V7 has a white rear fender, to match the other white bodywork.

[mechanicsavant]

Ya save a $ here ya save a $ there & the next thing ya know the list price is around your knees .

[s1120]

Its a lot cheaper to order up a gross of black fenders, and just go with it. No thought to as what goes where, and if you have the right fender to go with the right tank/sidecovers. Its not a lot...  but when your producing something like a car, or motorcycle pennys can matter. Time and money.. 

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

Its a lot cheaper to order up a gross of black fenders, and just go with it. No thought to as what goes where, and if you have the right fender to go with the right tank/sidecovers. Its not a lot...  but when your producing something like a car, or motorcycle pennys can matter. Time and money..

Thats it, thats the answer

If the front and rear fenders, side covers, and tank were all color matched you'll get yourself into the old pickle where hotdogs come 10 per pack and buns come 8 per pack

[Joliet Jim]

that was the one thing the British motorcycle industry could be proud of. The chrome fenders on my 75 Trident still look new.

[Ncdan]

that was the one thing the British motorcycle industry could be proud of. The chrome fenders on my 75 Trident still look new.

From 5ft the front chrome front fender on my 83 CB1000 looks like but up close there are small rust spots, I guess that’s what they are.  After a light steel wool going over it’s still visible up close. 

[Dirk_S]

I think folks are forgetting that the early V7s indeed had BOTH genders painted. From recollection, only the V7III began painting just the front, leaving the rear black. I agree that it could be a bit of cost savings... but it does give it a slightly fresh take on a classic look. Who knows for sure?

[Gappy]

Maybe it is is painted black because you bought a Piaggio instead of a Moto Guzzi. Mine is painted.

[Roebling3]

If MG is too cheap to put all metal fuel filters on small blocks; it's hard to imagine them springing $ to color rear fenders. Painting my 3 series racer I learned the side covers (once you got rid of factory paint), had to be covered 1st w/special primer.   R3~