Rear Fender Removal

[Firefly]

I'm considering removing my rear fender as many have done. The side mounting 'arms' are cracked really bad.

My concern is splatter...

Can anyone who has done this tell me how much worse road splatter is? Does it get up on the rider?

 

[SpyderWolf]

I am tagging along, as this is something I have been curious about for a while as well.

 

[aka1004]

i thought about it when my rear bracket was torn and was waiting for replacement. i really liked the look but someone had posted it's like a geyser behind the spyder when raining so i gave up the idea.
repair was done under the warranty thou.

 

[WizardMaster]

Here, I'll make this real short and sweet. This was from one of our excursions that we got caught in the rain (And I was not happy since I had to clean 3 machines after this ride). This is the wife riding on the rain soaked highway. Nobody complained about getting wet, dirty, soaked, etc including the princess on the back that complains about EVERYTHING (I guess thay all do at that age!!!)

View attachment 6102

 

[patches]

I have had mine off for 2 years now and don't have too many problems unless it is just a downpour and the roads are puddled, then the passenger does get a bit wet but I never notice anything. If it was just me riding, I would never notice it off.

 

[dltang]

I know when I ride behind Brian in the wet weather there is a good rooster tail. If I don't want to get splattered, I have to either stay way back (that will never happen) or get in the front. I do notice the back of his bike gets a lot dirtier without the fender as well if the roads are wet. If he gets splattered or not, he will have to chime in. I could have swore one night in the last week or so he came home in the rain and said something about his back being really wet since not having the rear fender, but I could be wrong. Hopefully, he will say something.

Dan, I know what you mean about those cracked brackets though, I had mine replaced and now the brackets where they were bolted on have broken. Brian just welded new ones for me yesterday. I would love to do something different and still keep my back fender or at least a portion of it though.

 

[Jester]

Years ago, one of my trucks got a ticket for no mud flaps when his 'rooster tail' got so high it was washing the windshield of the cop car behind!nojoke

Check the laws in your state about fenders just in case!

 

[RShrimp]

I have been fenderless since day one. Never noticed any disadvantage.
If it does spray water up, I am long gone before it comes down.
I do have a trunk on the rear, but really, no disadvantage at all for me not having it.
Just dont hang your tag under the tail lights. While it looks like it will have plenty of clearance, It will hit the tire, even when riding one up, when the road gets rough.
With the tag up here it works fine:

With it down here it WILL hit!

 

[M2Wild]

Without the fender bracket you will need to remove your upper belt guard which might increase your chance of catching a rock in your drive belt.

 

[Donzo]

I had my fender off for almost a year - I got sick of all the mess on my top case and passenger area of the seat. Its fine in dry weather but, even going through a small stream of water from sprinklers and the back end of the bike is dirty.....

 

[Sarge707]

I have been fenderless since day one. Never noticed any disadvantage.
If it does spray water up, I am long gone before it comes down.
I do have a trunk on the rear, but really, no disadvantage at all for me not having it.
Just dont hang your tag under the tail lights. While it looks like it will have plenty of clearance, It will hit the tire, even when riding one up, when the road gets rough.
With the tag up here it works fine:

With it down here it WILL hit!

With your license in the upper position it Seems to me your blocking a large portion of your lights and the license will be a backstop for the water flow??:yikes:
I wish the fender went a few more inches forward because I have to clean the over wheel plastic cover as it is!:roflblack:

 

[WizardMaster]

Without the fender bracket you will need to remove your upper belt guard which might increase your chance of catching a rock in your drive belt.

You have just as much of a chance of winning the Lottery as this happening. Have had this one off for over a year on the SPyder and dont have one on my current Harley or my last Harley.

 

[Firefly]

Well-- I did it.... Mounted using the Evoluzione kit I had laying around. Not sure about 'bottoming out'... but will keep an eye on things.

 

[j45p3r]

Your swing arm doesn't have any scratches in it from the fender brackets? I had mine off the other day to replace my rear tire and found that the brackets had worn through the paint on the swing arm.

 

[capt.jim]

i made a rear spoiler from and old motorcycle tailpeice to keep my wife dry and happy

 

[RShrimp]

With your license in the upper position it Seems to me your blocking a large portion of your lights and the license will be a backstop for the water flow??:yikes:
I wish the fender went a few more inches forward because I have to clean the over wheel plastic cover as it is!:roflblack:

Yep, it does so I added additional tail lights (59 Caddy LED bullets)
If you ride in the rain you will have to clean it, with or without a fender.

 

[bcspyder]

Well-- I did it.... Mounted using the Evoluzione kit I had laying around. Not sure about 'bottoming out'... but will keep an eye on things.

I have a small chip to remind me that it will hit the fender. I tightened up the rear shock and it has been ok since. I would highly reccommend giving the mount a little bend outward. I also added a plate frame and put a small piece of weatherstripping foam on the backside of the bottom edge. Can't see it but it will protect the spot where it would contact the high point of the fender should I bottom out.

UPDATE Sorry I didn't realize that you were removing the fender and adding the plate relocation. I have obviously kept my fender on although I cut off the plate mount.

 

[Firefly]

Your swing arm doesn't have any scratches in it from the fender brackets? I had mine off the other day to replace my rear tire and found that the brackets had worn through the paint on the swing arm.

Mine has some marks on it-- along with some rust where the paint was scratched off. Will hit it with some paint sometime soon.

Going to take the broken brackets to the dealer next time I go so they can get me some new ones. Should be covered under warranty.

Still getting used to the look with out the fender--- but I can already tell that cleaning the rear wheel is going to be MUCH easier!

 

[SpyderGirl]

We had no choice when we left TN back home to CA on our cross-country trip. The brackets were cracked bad so we had to remove the rear fender... and OF COURSE it rained on our way through Arkansas and the passenger was drenched from behind in a matter of minutes. Also rode on dry pavement and had a nice smattering of road crap all over the back of my saddlebags and under my trunk.... I love the way it looks without.... but no, it's going back on.... shorter.... but it will be there nonetheless. To each is his own. :doorag:

 

[Firefly]

Since I rarely ride 2-up and avoid the rain like the plague, I think this will work okay for me.

Mine also had the weld to the swing-arm break off on the muffler side.

So far so good without it. I figure if the roads are dirty enough to 'splatter', the Spyder would need a good wash anyway.