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Hi guys.
I'm going to ask a question that's probably been asked thousands of times again because I wasn't able to find a typical method of doing this.. and at the same time get a compass on do's and dont's about custom bobber rear fender installation.
so once I find the rear fender I like, what's the typical procedure of installing this bad boy? how many mounts does this typically require and how is it done? does it involve welding? do you weld a bracket with holes so the rear fender is detachable? or just hard weld?
I need to know everything there is about mounting it on position 1. and 2. in the photo below!
I am looking into turning my 2018 street bob into a bobber, had a go at removing the factory rear fender and placed a solo saddle that was lying around the room to see what it looked like.
the examples you show are all rigid frame bikes and yours is a softail . makes a big difference in how the fender mounts , but it can be done .
the first problem you'll run into is HD changed the frame for 2018 so nothing currently on the market will work .
here's a couple of examples of what's available https://heartlandbiker.com/collections/softail-models-1 the bobber conversion kit is most like what you're trying to do .
I am probably missing something here and apologies if I am, I am no expert? On a hardtail nothing moves, on a 2018 Softail the fender wheel and swinging arm assembly move in unison so in effect the mounting arrangement carried out on a hardtail can be replicated on a 2018 Softail as the three major components move in unison and will never impinge on each other? My 2017 Softail the fender is rigid whilst the swinging arm moves.
Ok let me rephrase my question by reposting another photo. Apologies for the confusion.
below is the pic of what I wish to do on my bike.
softail frame with this particular styled rear fender.
still would love to know how you fabricate (and different options) the mounting points.
I am probably missing something here and apologies if I am, I am no expert? On a hardtail nothing moves, on a 2018 Softail the fender wheel and swinging arm assembly move in unison so in effect the mounting arrangement carried out on a hardtail can be replicated on a 2018 Softail as the three major components move in unison and will never impinge on each other? My 2017 Softail the fender is rigid whilst the swinging arm moves.
in the stock setup (both 2017 and before , and 2018) the fender is mounted to the frame , not the swingarm . this allows the seat to be attached to the fender and also allows for a passenger .
on a rigid frame bike everything is solid and doesn't move , making it easy to solid mount a seat for both the rider and a passenger . some people use a sprung seat anyway to try to make up for the lack of rear suspension .
on a Softail conversion like the ones i've listed above a new fender is mounted to the swingarm , so it moves when the swingarm does , making it impossible to mount a seat to the fender which is why they all use the sprung seats mounted on the frame , and no passenger seat .
Ok let me rephrase my question by reposting another photo. Apologies for the confusion.
below is the pic of what I wish to do on my bike.
softail frame with this particular styled rear fender.
still would love to know how you fabricate (and different options) the mounting points.
Softail frame
the kits i listed above do exactly what you're looking for .
fabricating it yourself ? search for threads here on the shadetree fender , i know at least one guy did it himself . essentially you're duplicating what you get in the kit , you'd have to build brackets to attach the fender to the swingarm up near the seat and down near the pivot point where the swingarm meets the frame . struts or a sissy bar from the rear axle to the fender are optional if your fender is stiff enough that it won't bend if somebody accidentally leans on it ! you'll probably also need to relocate some stuff like the ECM and maybe the battery and add a new sprung seat .
that info is all based on the 2017 and before frame . i haven't seen any writeups on doing it to a 2018 .
p.s. looking back at your photo of your bike with the fender removed it looks very possible . but i'm no expert
Last edited by not_so_newb; Jan 30, 2018 at 11:04 AM.
Reason: added p.s.
i see you're also following the thread about replacing the gas tank on a street bob . you'll probably get all the info you need there eventually and from guys who know a lot more about it than i do .
the kits i listed above do exactly what you're looking for .
fabricating it yourself ? search for threads here on the shadetree fender , i know at least one guy did it himself . essentially you're duplicating what you get in the kit , you'd have to build brackets to attach the fender to the swingarm up near the seat and down near the pivot point where the swingarm meets the frame . struts or a sissy bar from the rear axle to the fender are optional if your fender is stiff enough that it won't bend if somebody accidentally leans on it ! you'll probably also need to relocate some stuff like the ECM and maybe the battery and add a new sprung seat .
that info is all based on the 2017 and before frame . i haven't seen any writeups on doing it to a 2018 .
p.s. looking back at your photo of your bike with the fender removed it looks very possible . but i'm no expert
thanks for the reply. You sir seem to be the only guy gets what I'm asking haha.
so it sounds like the "kit" would be the easiest was to go about. Only issies that I don't think anyone is selling the kit for 2018 softails yet?
which means I will have to fabricate the bracket and strut. (& buy the fender).
looks like I might have mock up with careboard myself & get the welder involved for bracket under the swingarm.
On other note, what are the different ways to mount the strut to the bottom end of the swingarm? I've seen 1.Weld 2.clamp and 3.axle (do I need longer shaft for this option?)
and yup I am looking into changing tank and seat too. Will have to do all of them at once.
yeah no 2018 kits yet . if i were doing it i'd call them and ask when they think the kits for 2018 are going to be available , mainly because i don't have the skills to fab it myself .
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Custom bobber rear fender & brace
