FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Q - What does 'C' Section or 'D' Section mean?
A - This is a description of the cross section or profile of the guard. The photos below show a few examples but there is no strict definition so use these as a guide to help us all speak the same language. Generally a 'C' Section guard has a continuous curve from one side to the other whereas a 'D' Section has flattish sides and top. A Panama Hat style has the rolled edges protruding beyond the sides of the guard.
Q - Why do some guards have rolled edges and some don't?
A - Most British, European, Japanese and Australian manufacturers used rolled edges to add stiffness and strength to the guards. It also provided a safe edge for handling and meant that lighter gauge steel could be used, thus keeping weight down. Most American manufacturers opted instead for a heavier gauge steel to maintain stiffness and had a plain cut edge. Our rollers are made to reproduce the original whichever way they were made.
Q - Can I give you the tyre size on my bike so you can make a guard for it based on that size?
A - We need more information than the tyre size. As it is moved further away from the top of the tyre, the guard radius increases. If it remained a constant, then the guard would look out of shape to the tyre as it is moved further away. A good starting point is to compare the gap or overlap of the inside edge of the guard with the outside (tread) of the tyre. If you don't have an old guard, we will need measurements to frame mounting points.
Q - What are the narrowest and the widest guards you make?
A - The narrowest we make is 66mm or 2.6 inches. The widest is 186 mm or 7.37 inches. This is because they are rolled on form rollers which are machined to the exact profile of the guard. We can in many cases make an adjustment to the finished width by up to 10% depending on the depth of the profile.
Q - Can you make a new profile of a guard if it’s not in your sets already?
A - Yes, we can but we would need to be confident of a reasonable number of sales to commission the production of new rollers and the R&D needed to make the first sets. We have just successfully done this for flat-tank Norton guards and 1926-34 Harley Pup fenders. We are also happy to discuss a shared investment if you have a custom or very rare shape in mind.
Q - Do you do bulk orders?
A - Yes, we do bulk orders and offer a discount on an order of 6 or more of the same guard.
Q - How quickly can you make my guard?
A - We have a large number of blank guards in stock. If we have the one in stock that you require then you could have it the same day. If we have to do a run to make the required profile, then it will be placed in the queue. Our aim for a long time was to have a maximum turnaround time of 30 days from receipt of a deposit, growing demand has pushed that out to about 3 months.
Q - Why the need for a 50% deposit?
A - Each guard is made to your requirements and we need to set up the tooling for each one. Because there are literally hundreds of different types we can’t afford to have them all on the shelf in the hope that we might sell them, so a 50% deposit means you are a serious buyer so we have to get serious about making the perfect guard for you.
Q - Do you charge postage?
A - Yes. The cost of the custom boxing and postage charges are added to the total price. The custom boxing and packaging is approx $30 and weighs normally 1.5 to 1.9kg for an average pair of guards. Here is a link to the Australia Post international calculator CLICK HERE. Just enter your weight estimate and destination country. Most pairs to USA, UK & EU are less than AU$150. Sending to NZ is cheaper than to QLD.
For Australian customers, here are a couple of examples: 5-6KG to Sydney/Melbourne $45, North QLD $55, Once again add approx $30 for packaging.
Q - Where is your workshop? Can I visit?
A - Our workshop is in Donnybrook, Western Australia about 2 hours South of Perth. Visits can be arranged if you contact us preferably by email. We have many groups visit and know that you should plan for an hour because there will be many questions.
Q - Can you make car fenders?
A - There are some open wheelers and vintage sports cars (see the Alvis race-car guards HERE in our mudguards section) that use cycle guards we can make. We also make custom guards for hotrods (see some HERE) and other vehicles, these are all based on cycle guard profiles that have a side to side symmetry. We also custom make spare wheel covers.
Q - Can you make my guards in Aluminium or Stainless Steel?
A - Yes, most can be rolled in aluminium (or copper), but please talk with us about your requirements. We are no longer able to source malleable grade Stainless Steel and other grades work-harden to a point where they either crack or damage our rollers, so Stainless Steel guards are no longer available.
Q - Do you make mudguard stays and brackets?
A - There are so many variations on stays that we can't possibly try to match so we are staying with our speciality for now and just making mudguards and fenders. With brackets it has become necessary to make some because they are an integral part of the guard, but we don’t yet have a full range of patterns.
Q - Do you charge GST? (Australian Goods and Services Tax)
A - Yes GST is added to the cost of the guard for domestic Australian sales. No GST is payable on guards that we send out of Australia.
Q - Do you send guards or fenders overseas?
A - Yes, we can send our guards anywhere in the world that a postal service or courier is available.
Q - Can I insure my guards against post office loss?
A - Yes you can, or we can insure them through the Australian Post Office system if required. The cost is about 4% of the value insured.
Q - Do I need to send you my rusty sample guard so you can make a new one?
A - Yes there may be occasions where the best option is for us to have your sample guard on the bench in front of us, however, in most cases we will already have drawings or templates to work with and may only need some measurements or photos of your sample or your bike. We can advise you on how to package your guard if necessary to minimize potential damage and postage costs.