REAR FENDER BRACKETS BRAKING>>SAFETY ISSUE

[dundee]

I bought my Spyder in Jan 2008, I have 45,000 miles on my bike.

Here is the issue:
Rear fender side brackets (2) that hold the rear fender on broke at the 75 degree bend point where the fender attaches on both sides. It broke through both sides over time to the point where I had to remove the fender. This happened of course in a remote place where I had no tools.

If the fender had engaged the rear wheel during my ride my passenger would have I feel been hit bey the fender. A safety issue.

I stopped at my dealer where I bought my bike to show the failure, they RIDE NOW was not really interested!!! Said never seen this before... I had them report my failure to BRP. Have not heard from BRP either after 2 weeks.

I was going to replace the side brackets only to find that they are very expensive in the order of $500.00 each. Ride Now would not help by discount.

I ended up attaching the rear fender using 4 metal strips 1`/8 thick from ACE Hardware, drilled 4 holes into each side bracket, bent the metal strips to position the fender on top of the two side brackets and bolted the fender on. Total cost was $3.00.

Problem is these side brackets are used on all the current models.

Please inspect your rear fender attachments for cracks. I would like to hear if other owners have this problem.

Ride safe
Dundee

 

[Bob Denman]

Those have been "Failing prematurely", for years... :shocked:
BRP does now offer a fender that tucks up under the back of the bike; why not check them out as a possibility? :dontknow:

 

[arntufun]

I bought my Spyder in Jan 2008, I have 45,000 miles on my bike.

Here is the issue:
Rear fender side brackets (2) that hold the rear fender on broke at the 75 degree bend point where the fender attaches on both sides. It broke through both sides over time to the point where I had to remove the fender. This happened of course in a remote place where I had no tools.

If the fender had engaged the rear wheel during my ride my passenger would have I feel been hit bey the fender. A safety issue.

I stopped at my dealer where I bought my bike to show the failure, they RIDE NOW was not really interested!!! Said never seen this before... I had them report my failure to BRP. Have not heard from BRP either after 2 weeks.

I was going to replace the side brackets only to find that they are very expensive in the order of $500.00 each. Ride Now would not help by discount.

I ended up attaching the rear fender using 4 metal strips 1`/8 thick from ACE Hardware, drilled 4 holes into each side bracket, bent the metal strips to position the fender on top of the two side brackets and bolted the fender on. Total cost was $3.00.

Problem is these side brackets are used on all the current models.

Please inspect your rear fender attachments for cracks. I would like to hear if other owners have this problem.

Ride safe
Dundee

I don't think they are anywhere near $500.00 a piece.......They are $65.00 here:thumbup:

http://www.robsperformance.com/oemp...008/09-_Body_And_Accessories_Rear/46138/46157

 

[Bob Denman]

That looks like about $130 bucks or so for just the basics...
But it's a part that they haven't improved; it's likely going to just fail again! :shocked:

 

[Chupaca]

Little checking..!!

cheapcycleparts.com has the for a lot less. Your quote must have been for the whole assembly. Some have had them welded some have added some reinforcements. All seems to depend on the roads and their condition. Many never have a problem. Like Bob said brp and others are offering a replacement fender system...:thumbup:

 

[ARCTIC]

Probably ONLY last another 45,000.

That looks like about $130 bucks or so for just the basics...
But it's a part that they haven't improved; it's likely going to just fail again! :shocked:

The safety concern is weak and self admitted by your own actions of cobbling it together.

 

[smporter420]

Mine broke too in my 2012, there 65 bucks on brp site.

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[Sarge707]

My rear fender was about to puncture the rear tire so I solved the solution?

 

[tobor9]

Mine broke and both BRP & BEST won't fix so i had it welded by a motorcycle shop,that new sport fender is $300. and does not look like it should cost so much,need to see one in person but can't afford right now. BRP should replace with a better fender for free as it is a safety hazard but it will take someone to get hurt for them act.

 

[joet82]

just had mine break on me after 54000 miles and 4 years of riding. have known of my crack for a while, and it finally broke. Why didn't BRP FIX this issue when it first came up?

 

[Bob Denman]

:gaah:

 

[OJ UK]

I don't wish to pee on anyone's bonfire here but 6 years old with 45,000 miles seems to be
a reasonable life span for a component such as a fender strut which is subjected to vibration
and wind load. Nothing on a machine such as this is going to last forever.
I've been riding bikes for most of my life and damage to parts due to vibration goes with the
territory.....ask almost any HD owner!

 

[coz]

it has been improved

the 2013 bikes have a triangular gusset type bracket below the main bracket to strengthen the whole assembly. the old style have been cracking since day one.

 

[joet82]

I have been riding with it cracked for a couple years now, and it just finally broke....sucky thing is that my BEST warrenty expired on the 3rd of this month.

 

[Bob Denman]

I don't wish to pee on anyone's bonfire here but 6 years old with 45,000 miles seems to be
a reasonable life span for a component such as a fender strut which is subjected to vibration
and wind load. Nothing on a machine such as this is going to last forever.
I've been riding bikes for most of my life and damage to parts due to vibration goes with the
territory.....ask almost any HD owner!

Thank you... :agree:

 

[tobor9]

I'm sorry OJ UK, but if the fender on your car fell off after a couple of years would you think this is OK?I don't think parts of my RS should fall off and maybe cause me to wreak,if that rear fender had broken at hwy. speed the power wire for the plate light could have caused it to be pulled in and jam the rear tire,I don't want to think what that would have been like! This is also true if the front fender breaks at speed,not good! BRP needs to make this right, the rear fender bracket is so thin the welder had to use a small low power welder to fix it as the metal was too thin and would burn right thought,all they have to do is make them with a heaver gauge bracket,does not seem like too much to ask for in a vehicle like this!

 

[DrewNJ]

I'm sorry OJ UK, but if the fender on your car fell off after a couple of years would you think this is OK?I don't think parts of my RS should fall off and maybe cause me to wreak,if that rear fender had broken at hwy. speed the power wire for the plate light could have caused it to be pulled in and jam the rear tire,I don't want to think what that would have been like! This is also true if the front fender breaks at speed,not good! BRP needs to make this right, the rear fender bracket is so thin the welder had to use a small low power welder to fix it as the metal was too thin and would burn right thought,all they have to do is make them with a heaver gauge bracket,does not seem like too much to ask for in a vehicle like this!

they did improve the brackets for 2013 with the reinforced area Coz mentioned.
the problem with making it out of thicker gauge metal is the weight. its already a VERY heavy fender thats hung back there with only a handful of small bolts.

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[DrewNJ]

Also, I saw what looked to be a good fix last year. The guy used some round bar that he bent and had welded along that area. This allowed him to weld a good bead along both edges of the crack on the inside so it wasn't visible.

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[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HEAVY

they did improve the brackets for 2013 with the reinforced area Coz mentioned.
the problem with making it out of thicker gauge metal is the weight. its already a VERY heavy fender thats hung back there with only a handful of small bolts.

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:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:..:gaah:...NJ are you serious .....they could double / triple the thickness of the brackets ,& the % increase in the weight of the Spyder wouldn't matter. Then you could practically stand on the fender, and those TINY BOLTS would hold it just fine ..................If you want an example of OVER ENGINEERING for NO useful purpose look at their TRAILER HITCH ......that's strong enough to pull my car :yikes: , however you can ONLY tow 400 lbs. MAX and a tongue weight of 40 lbs.MAX......go figure :banghead::banghead::banghead: Mikeguyver...:thumbup:

 

[DrewNJ]

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:..:gaah:...NJ are you serious .....they could double / triple the thickness of the brackets ,& the % increase in the weight of the Spyder wouldn't matter. Then you could practically stand on the fender, and those TINY BOLTS would hold it just fine ..................If you want an example of OVER ENGINEERING for NO useful purpose look at their TRAILER HITCH ......that's strong enough to pull my car :yikes: , however you can ONLY tow 400 lbs. MAX and a tongue weight of 40 lbs.MAX......go figure :banghead::banghead::banghead: Mikeguyver...:thumbup:

whatever you say chief...

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