This is for info purposes and a thank you to fellow HDF members.

I posted pics of my rear fender after I removed the bumper and was promptly educated about the need for a "hidden" bracket to avoid potential breaks in the saddlebag brackets.

I learned that the rear bumper is used to "tie" the left & right saddlebag supports to the rear fender and just "removing it" can cause some grief.

That's where the hidden bracket (part # 91140-04 ) comes into play.

Thanks guys.

Here is the fender bumper properly removed with the hidden bracket in place.

As you can see it's not 100% "hidden" but I can live with it and at least it was done correctly.

 

Looks good.

 

Thanks for the info. Had a buddy remove his and I know he did not put the hidden bracket. Will past this on.

 

I did that to mine a couple of years ago and the one thing is I wish I would have powder coated the bracket before I mounted it. I guarantee that you will start looking at it and start wishing it was powder coated black LOL.

 

I just did the same thing 10 minutes ago.

I was going to run without until I read the stories of cracked s/b supports. Thanks to the information and advise I obtained here, that won't happen.

 

That looks real nice.

 

I need to do this. I pulled the front one 2 years ago and keep putting this off. Looks much better.

 

Did the exact mod last week lol.

 

It's strange that we both used the same p/n yet the brackets look different. I read somewhere there is a part number that 91140-04 superseded, I don't remember the exact number but it ended in 98. I wonder if yours was the older design, or mine?

Interesting, when installed they look the same. Being that mine has less bends it probably cost less to MFG yet they charge the same price for both.

Regardless, $41.00 is a cheap insurance policy.

****EDIT****
I just looked at the box, and although when I went to the dealer and requested the 91140-04 p/n, the box he gave me has 91140-98, and it's dated 10/09/09...????
So, for future reference you can ask for either or.

 

looks better without the bumper