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been thinking about taking mine off
just wanting good / bad / opions / experiences
with not having a front fender
I've had mine off my sporty for about one year. I've ridden while wet out but know raining didn't bother me much. dirt and debris don't seem to be kicked up.
If you do take the fender off, you can tie a bandana across the front fork tubes, if you get caught in rain.
Two reasons the fender is off on a lot of bobbers. They either are running an off sized tire, or the forks that they got didn't come with one. You're styling now, homey.
Some of you may have different configurations to your front wheel to face ratios but heres my reasoning on why I feel the way I do about it. When I got my first Harley, a 1972 Iron Head Sporty, I thought it looked cooler and more 'chopper like' without the front fender. That very same night I was rolling home from the local watering hole in a slight drizzle. Well sir, that front tire threw a stream of the most foul, bitter tasting, smelly, oil, gas filled, sludge, crap right into my face!! It was a true case of stupidity being painful. I got home and couldnt get the front fender back on there fast enough. I took several more beers to get that taste out of my mouth!!!! And quite a few wash, rinse, repeats, of shampoo to get my waist length hair back to its former shimmering glory.
Ya'll's bikes may have different points as to where the road sludge gets sprayed from the front tire, but remember its going somewhere its not meant too!
The time I tried it I ended up eating a lot of sand/grit from the road surface, but it was a different type of bike, not a Harley. I can't imagine it would be different though. The tire throws the stuff into the air and it sandblasts your arms and face.
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If you do take the fender off, you can tie a bandana across the front fork tubes, if you get caught in rain.
Two reasons the fender is off on a lot of bobbers. They either are running an off sized tire, or the forks that they got didn't come with one. You're styling now, homey.
Ditto .. In my younger and (I must agree) my big stupid idiot days ran without a front fender and tied a bandana across the lower triple tree on a springer front end.
Last edited by Ole T Sport; May 30, 2011 at 07:41 PM.
Reason: Cause I was a big stupid idiot.
I have a springer and do not ride with a fender. I have done so for the last 30,000 miles. I have had zero problems with it. I love the way it looks and i actually had to go with out it, because one of the brackets broke. Riding in the rain does not go very well, but the rooster tail disappears after 50mph, and i wear a full face. IF you have good weather, it is just fine. Most are easier then mine to switch around the fender if thats the case, go for it.
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