Honjo'd Vanilla
 

Finally back in the saddle after a summer spent recovering from 2 herniated discs, I figured I'd get some projects finished. I have a cool repaint of my Fuji in the offing, but re-fendering my Vanilla has been on the list for a long time. The bike orginally had some beautiful body-color fenders fitted:

[IMG]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1378/...3d4d29d3_b.jpgVanilla 1 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

But after a few years I switched to fatter tires that would not fit inside the close-run setup Sacha crafted for this bike with the original conti skinny tires. Luckily, he believes in engineering in lots of flexibility, so there's plenty of clearance for fat rubber at the fork and stays. I got down to business and ordered a set of Honjos from Compass. They came well packaged, and with a very complete set of instructions and hardware. Not cheap at over $150, but the relative ease of installation was well worth it. Installing the VO ones of similar design has always left me mildly frustrated and cussing at the shop, but these were very well thought out and super-high quality construction.

Took a bit of fiddling around the TRP brakes, and the forward one required a rather radical bend to the stay to get around the bulk of the hydraulic cylinder, but in the end they worked out very well. No rattling over bumps, and when the stay clamps are loosened the fenders stay where they are without tension. Definitely a different look, I can't wait to see them in the sunlight tomorrow morning!

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/766/2...b20b7da7_k.jpg017 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5707/...310350d9_k.jpg013 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/690/2...e6057761_k.jpg007 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/669/2...96cb1c0c_k.jpg011 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

I'm going to take her out on a gravel canal towpath tomorrow to beat them around some and see how well the mounting hardware holds up. From how they feel though I think they're quite solid. So far a big thumbs up recommendation, the quality level compared to VO's is easily discernible.

Damn 'puter. One of you kind mods please delete this redundant thread, thanks

Nice! They're great fenders.

Stunning and done right...love it!!!!

those lugs are amazing,

Thanks, yeah Sacha White's an artist for sure. This rig's held up great too, it's not just show.

I've found the same with mine...damn nice rider. The paint is gorgeous, but not the most durable.

Concur, the paint is pretty fragile and seems to chip easier than my other bikes. I don't notice the chips when I'm riding though. so I consider it a minor complaint.

Gorgeously executed

Really looks fantastic.

You did a very nice job with the installation.

I must say I am a bit torn though. The original look with the painted to match fenders also looked top shelf, but they first must be functional I'd reckon.

Really gave it a "complete" look. imho

The ability to fit wider tires wins over aesthetic decisions.

At any rate, this bike is a total class act.

Thanks gomango, it really was pretty straightforward with the Honjos and Jan's detailed instructions. He sends them with the excellent article published in BQ awhile back on the topic, it makes it a snap. Frankly this was way easier than trying to fit a set of decent SKS plastic fantastics to a hybrid commuter with the wonky front derailleurs at the shop.

I meant to include this shot last night, it shows how I had to route the stays near the brakes (recognize your work on the wall DD?):

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5715/...531ac5ee_k.jpg014 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

No Mod is needed. You can always delete your own post.

OK, went back in the other one and try as I might, I can't find an option to "delete" a thread. Could you PM me some assist? I tried just deleting all the content, but that doesn't work.

The bike looks beautiful!!

And the fenders look great on there.

Dream bike.

Man that's nice

Nicely built. What tires did you end up using?

Just Cannot use the Front of the Bus racks with a Mudguard that extends that far Forward ..
Because , the spring hook pulls down on the top center of the front wheels ,
and that is what keeps the bike relatively steady up there.

I do think it's something he should address. There are no more beautiful paint jobs than his, but the chipping is a bit annoying. My Marnati with cheap Italian paint holds up better! I'm jealous that you have a stem ;)

Wow. I could not have designed a better dream bike with years of planning, stranded on a desert island.

I have only one question which I know is terrible to ask. I would expect with fenders, triple group, brooks saddle and disc brake etc that it would weigh about 25lbs?

How much does it weigh? :)

RobE30; I'm currently running the Cerf tires from Compass, I think they're listed as 28s but are closer to 30/31. THey roll nice, about the same as the Parigi-Roubaixs on my Colnago.

Epicus; Thanks for the compliment, I've never weighed her. I figure that's just not what it was built for and it's just a stat I don't really need to know. I know my Surly Cross Check runs close to 34 lbs kitted out, this feels about the same. It's not a small frame, it's a 62 at the seat post.

Keep coming back to the pics...stunning and just my size :) Perfect build imho.

Thanks guys. I got it out on the road today, hit some good potholes and such to see how she'd perform; nary a squeak nor rattle. The combo of a really well thought out frame with mounting points equidistant from the axle and really good fenders is a winner. I used exactly the one supplied leather washer for each frame contact and the circumference fit perfectly. If you've fiddled with fenders you know how rare that is.

Got it home and took a few more for the porn files:

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/646/2...a2425ae6_k.jpg002 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/772/2...2ad28016_k.jpg038 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5627/...b0e367f2_k.jpg035 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/601/2...4557347f_k.jpg034 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5695/...1ca4ea08_k.jpg021 by

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/586/2...786a0636_k.jpg020 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5735/...f29de47a_k.jpg017 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

If you notice there's no front hole on the brake bridge. The fender looks like it floats; the fender bolt is held vertically, it's an eye bolt captured by the rear bolt and held in place with large bent washers with rubber cushions. Genius mounting method.

[IMG]https://farm1.staticflickr.com/640/2...7d0ec694_k.jpg040 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5814/...425bc1b2_k.jpg031 by Mark, on Flickr[/IMG]

I really like this bike. To my eye, the painted fenders look better.
What color is that blue?

Yeah, I liked the painted ones better too, but they only worked for 25mm tires. I have no idea what exactly the color code is, but it's a very lightly pearl medium blue. It fades to a darker hue as the tubes curve, it's a very cool and unique paint job. Fragile, but gorgeous.