So I picked up a some HD rigid leather saddlebags off craigslist for ridiculous cheap. Finally got to installing them and once I jacked up the big and got the fender/strut bolts out the rear fender. Well one the pieces that came off dissasembly was the rear fender brace(part 25 on diagram).
I know that brace supports the license plate but I don't have a license plate there anymore. Is that brace important for distributing weight for the passenger or anything? Just trying to figure out if I need to go through all the trouble of taking it back apart just to put a this brace on? Thanks in advance!

 

Dump that useless weight...mine came out years ago.

 

That brace is also the mount for the passenger seat.

 

That's what I was afraid of when riding 2up damaging the rear fender. Pixie do you 2up without the brace?

 

Yeah I have a nut that goes on the other side of the fender, never had issues. If you're really worried use a washer and a nut. That thing kept falling out every time I fiddled with the fender bolts.