These tins are really tin!
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
These tins are really tin!
At least on the Softail Low Rider.
I noticed that the front fender on my "new" (to me) 2019 Low Rider was a little tweaked when it showed up at my house last week, like someone had fallen on the front of it and bent it. Dealer in Florida said the bike was perfect. Shipper said he didn't see anything when he picked it up, and showed me pics of it strapped down in the truck. Left me with kind of a conundrum. Dealer gave me a screaming deal (like a trade-in price) and the shipper was an independent who also gave me a good deal (unless he bent the &*^#!@ fender!!)
Long story short, I pulled the front of the fender up and felt along the edge on the side where you could feel it buckled a little bit, and I was able to re-form the rolled edge with my fingers! Honestly, you wouldn't see it now unless I showed you. But the metal on that fender feels awfully damned thin.
For comparison, I felt the fenders on my 2003 Dyna and will say they are MUCH STIFFER than the fenders on this 2019 Low Rider.
Anybody else notice this? It's like they're made out of aluminum.
UPDATE: Just checked it with a magnet - definitely made out of steel, but whoa are these flimsy! Anybody else have an older Harley sitting around to compare to?
I noticed that the front fender on my "new" (to me) 2019 Low Rider was a little tweaked when it showed up at my house last week, like someone had fallen on the front of it and bent it. Dealer in Florida said the bike was perfect. Shipper said he didn't see anything when he picked it up, and showed me pics of it strapped down in the truck. Left me with kind of a conundrum. Dealer gave me a screaming deal (like a trade-in price) and the shipper was an independent who also gave me a good deal (unless he bent the &*^#!@ fender!!)
Long story short, I pulled the front of the fender up and felt along the edge on the side where you could feel it buckled a little bit, and I was able to re-form the rolled edge with my fingers! Honestly, you wouldn't see it now unless I showed you. But the metal on that fender feels awfully damned thin.
For comparison, I felt the fenders on my 2003 Dyna and will say they are MUCH STIFFER than the fenders on this 2019 Low Rider.
Anybody else notice this? It's like they're made out of aluminum.
UPDATE: Just checked it with a magnet - definitely made out of steel, but whoa are these flimsy! Anybody else have an older Harley sitting around to compare to?
Last edited by AJ88V; Jan 27, 2019 at 08:25 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1,985
From: Cleveland Zoo
At least on the Softail Low Rider.
I noticed that the front fender on my "new" (to me) 2019 Low Rider was a little tweaked when it showed up at my house last week, like someone had fallen on the front of it and bent it. Dealer in Florida said the bike was perfect. Shipper said he didn't see anything when he picked it up, and showed me pics of it strapped down in the truck. Left me with kind of a conundrum. Dealer gave me a screaming deal (like a trade-in price) and the shipper was an independent who also gave me a good deal (unless he bent the &*^#!@ fender!!)
Long story short, I pulled the front of the fender up and felt along the edge on the side where you could feel it buckled a little bit, and I was able to re-form the rolled edge with my fingers! Honestly, you wouldn't see it now unless I showed you. But the metal on that fender feels awfully damned thin.
For comparison, I felt the fenders on my 2003 Dyna and will say they are MUCH STIFFER than the fenders on this 2019 Low Rider.
Anybody else notice this? It's like they're made out of aluminum.
UPDATE: Just checked it with a magnet - definitely made out of steel, but whoa are these flimsy! Anybody else have an older Harley sitting around to compare to?
I noticed that the front fender on my "new" (to me) 2019 Low Rider was a little tweaked when it showed up at my house last week, like someone had fallen on the front of it and bent it. Dealer in Florida said the bike was perfect. Shipper said he didn't see anything when he picked it up, and showed me pics of it strapped down in the truck. Left me with kind of a conundrum. Dealer gave me a screaming deal (like a trade-in price) and the shipper was an independent who also gave me a good deal (unless he bent the &*^#!@ fender!!)
Long story short, I pulled the front of the fender up and felt along the edge on the side where you could feel it buckled a little bit, and I was able to re-form the rolled edge with my fingers! Honestly, you wouldn't see it now unless I showed you. But the metal on that fender feels awfully damned thin.
For comparison, I felt the fenders on my 2003 Dyna and will say they are MUCH STIFFER than the fenders on this 2019 Low Rider.
Anybody else notice this? It's like they're made out of aluminum.
UPDATE: Just checked it with a magnet - definitely made out of steel, but whoa are these flimsy! Anybody else have an older Harley sitting around to compare to?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
What really gets me is how thin the metal is. I was looking at this passenger seat for bare fenders that sticks on with suction cups. First review said his lady liked it,but it dented the fender. Could definitely see that on the new M8 Softail, but not on my old Dyna. I mean it's like night and day for stiffness between the two.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,642
Likes: 1,985
From: Cleveland Zoo
Probably. There's a rub mark in the clear coat. Wondering if the previous owner had a tool bag strapped on the front.
What really gets me is how thin the metal is. I was looking at this passenger seat for bare fenders that sticks on with suction cups. First review said his lady liked it,but it dented the fender. Could definitely see that on the new M8 Softail, but not on my old Dyna. I mean it's like night and day for stiffness between the two.
What really gets me is how thin the metal is. I was looking at this passenger seat for bare fenders that sticks on with suction cups. First review said his lady liked it,but it dented the fender. Could definitely see that on the new M8 Softail, but not on my old Dyna. I mean it's like night and day for stiffness between the two.
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Joined: Jun 2010
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Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Yes. Much thinner and flimsier than previous years. Paint too...my black fork legs on my Dyna are still in good shape after 40,000 miles. My ‘18 Heritage had several rock chips in the first 6 months. Love the Heritage, but materials and finish quality seem a bit lesser.
Last edited by Thingfish; Jan 28, 2019 at 10:40 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 178
Likes: 47
From: montecello
its all about saving weight ,like cars these days , you get hit with a pebble and you have a dent on your car . the thin, tin, doesnt bother me.anything to make the bike lighter for me is a plus ,(better handling) but I have to agree about the paint , they went cheap on it .I got scratch marks on my rear fender from removing the seat . and I was being carefull . I was like wtf .
Last edited by XXTHESANDMANXX; Jan 28, 2019 at 06:04 PM.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
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From: NoVa
Well, I don't really think this was about saving weight. If you've ever held a support bracket for the mid controls, or a Harley exhaust pipe, you know you could easily carve way more weight out of those than they could ever save on the two fenders. Personally, I think HD made a mistake making the fenders so light weight and expect there to be a robust aftermarket of decently strong fenders for sale in a few years.
FWIW, I looked up the list price on a new front fender for the Low Rider - $424 unpainted! - and the LR has one of the smallest fenders of the new Softy lineup.
FWIW, I looked up the list price on a new front fender for the Low Rider - $424 unpainted! - and the LR has one of the smallest fenders of the new Softy lineup.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 178
Likes: 47
From: montecello
Well, I don't really think this was about saving weight. If you've ever held a support bracket for the mid controls, or a Harley exhaust pipe, you know you could easily carve way more weight out of those than they could ever save on the two fenders. Personally, I think HD made a mistake making the fenders so light weight and expect there to be a robust aftermarket of decently strong fenders for sale in a few years.
FWIW, I looked up the list price on a new front fender for the Low Rider - $424 unpainted! - and the LR has one of the smallest fenders of the new Softy lineup.
FWIW, I looked up the list price on a new front fender for the Low Rider - $424 unpainted! - and the LR has one of the smallest fenders of the new Softy lineup.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
if HD where to make lighter stock mufflers , let say titanium . then ,they would have to increase the price and aftermarket pipes usually dont have cats or baffles , , ,if they where to make lighter support brackets people would complain that they are not safe or are cheap, which one do you think will last longer a stock heavy steel support bracket or an aftermarket thin metal support bracket . there is always a reason for someone to complain . a fender is cosmetic .so in there eyes I guess they said lets make this lighter .,if you look at some of the parts from Japanese bikes there fenders are plastic ,( Honda fury ) . I noticed you have a hayabusa as one of your bikes , I too rode a hayabusa , there mufflers are super heavy. there front fender are plastic , and even with that the bike was a pig yes it was fast I had a 99 the first year ungoverned . so I know . ,as I stated before , the fender being light is superficial , I would rather have a light front fender for better steering that a heavy one that I have to muscle into a turn cause of the extra weight .when you look at the whole picture If an aftermarket fender maker was to try and sell a front fender do you think they are going to make it 5 pounds heaver than the stock one , how do you think they would sell .as a former superbike rider you should know that weight is the enemy of handling when it comes to motorcycles .
Honestly, I think I'd rather have a plastic front fender on my new Low Rider (HERESY!!). At least that plastic flexes back into shape from small impacts. I don't think HD saved anywhere near 5 pounds on the fenders, maybe a 1/2 lb tops front and rear, and doubt it has any measurable impact on the steering of the bike.
Part of my decision to buy a new Harley is that I may be getting too old (almost 60) for something like the Busa, let alone a modern sportbike. Buying the Dyna last summer opened my eyes to that. I enjoyed sitting upright and seeing the sights, and cruising slower and not being so frustrated by cars because the bike is just so much slower than the Busa - still satisfying as a motorcycle, but in a completely different way that I hadn't appreciated in my 40+ years of street riding.
Definitely NOT trying to start an argument here with you, Sandman (or anybody else). You're a thoughtful poster and we share a love for motorcycles. I'm just surprised Harley made this design choice for so little savings. Truly shocking how thin that front fender is.