1988 Stumpjumper — Honjo × SimWorks Fender Update

Not every change needs a full teardown or a parts manifesto.

This Stumpjumper — the UK-sourced counterpart to my Portland frame — recently received a small but meaningful addition: a set of Honjo × SimWorks aluminium fenders.

The bike was already sitting in a place I was happy with after the previous round of choices and adjustments. It rode well, looked balanced, and felt finished in the way these slow builds sometimes do.

But the idea of running proper full-coverage fenders kept lingering.

Honjo fenders have always carried a certain reverence in the randonneur world. The SimWorks collaboration adds a slightly modern interpretation while still keeping the beautifully finished aluminium and classic proportions that make Honjo pieces so distinctive.

Once installed, they changed the tone of the bike more than expected.

The polished alloy arcs complement the teal frame and silver components, giving the bike a slightly more all-season, all-terrain personality — something that feels just as comfortable rolling through damp lanes as it does on dry gravel or canal paths.

More practically, they make the bike far more usable year-round. No spray, no grit thrown onto the drivetrain, and far less hesitation when the weather inevitably turns.

It’s a small update.

But sometimes the smallest additions are the ones that quietly complete the bike.