Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Fender Scrape

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 12:08 PM
  #1  
Edmo's Avatar
Edmo
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 5
From: Currently the pig country of Arkansas
Default Fender Scrape

I'm having an issue with my 2005 Heritage and was wondering if anyone else has experienced it with their bikes...

The upper chrome cover on my left front fork (aka: Cowbell) has rubbed a thin line on the painted side of my fender. It has rubbed through the clear coat and is now starting into the color. You can see the line in the enclosed pic.

Both HD service managers here in the Little Rock area have looked at it and said they have never seen this before, so I called HD and started a file with them. Yesterday I dropped off digital pics of the scuffing at my dealer and he is forwarding them to HD. His comment when I asked what the resolution would be was, "We'll see what HD has to say."

The bike is 6 months old with 8,000 miles and has never been in an accident or even dropped. I can only assume there is a fit & finish issue with the factory since these parts should not be touching. On a bike this new I'm expecting a new painted fender from HD along with a fix to the alignment issues to prevent future scuffing.

Thoughts? Anyone seen this on their bikes? I'm sure you are scurrying out to the garage to check!

Edmo

[IMG]local://upfiles/1690/BBF856118169428190D21B6E7DEBFAF3.jpg[/IMG]
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 01:31 PM
  #2  
05 DELUXE's Avatar
05 DELUXE
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 802
Likes: 3
From: Staten Island, New York
Default RE: Fender Scrape

off the top of my head i would say that ....maybe..there should be a gap between the fender and fork. this should allow for vibration and such. could it be that a spacer is required and was never installed?? the fender seems to close to the fork for my taste

john
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 01:32 PM
  #3  
05 DELUXE's Avatar
05 DELUXE
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 802
Likes: 3
From: Staten Island, New York
Default RE: Fender Scrape

do you have a mark on the other side??? could it be the fender was scraped before installed...factory defect?? you should definetly be compensated by HD!!!
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 02:41 PM
  #4  
itsahog's Avatar
itsahog
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Default RE: Fender Scrape

6 months old, and your dealer says we'll see what HD says? 1st thing I would do is find a different dealer. You have a putz currently. Your bike should not have any issues at this stage of the game. Of course they should correct the problem. You pay 20K area for your ride and they tell you that. What BS! HD will no doubt fix it, your dealer is the problem.
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 03:30 PM
  #5  
james98ws6's Avatar
james98ws6
Stage III
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Fender Scrape

Jones Harley of Little Rock and Hot Springs are total ********. Go to Jonesboro or Fort Smith Harley.
I know of 2 other people besides myself who have been treated like crap, or ignored in the show room.

James
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 03:41 PM
  #6  
HDF Tech's Avatar
HDF Tech
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,496
Likes: 156
From:
Default RE: Fender Scrape

In order for the cowbell to contact the fender, there has to be something loose and being able to move to make the contact. Either the fender or the cowbell is loose or worse, the front end is not secure, possible the trees or tubes. In any event the dealer should not let you ride it until they find the peoblem as it could be a safety issue and I would make sure they give you a new fender also. Also could be an oil fill differential problem , one leg with no or low oil?
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2006 | 05:23 PM
  #7  
vegashd's Avatar
vegashd
Banned
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,341
Likes: 0
From: Dover, Oh
Default RE: Fender Scrape


ORIGINAL: james98ws6

Jones Harley of Little Rock and Hot Springs are total ********. Go to Jonesboro or Fort Smith Harley.
I know of 2 other people besides myself who have been treated like crap, or ignored in the show room.

James

Hell I wish I oculd have some peace in a showroom.
 
Reply
Old Jan 23, 2006 | 12:02 PM
  #8  
WolfDog's Avatar
WolfDog
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 5
From: North Texas
Default RE: Fender Scrape

I know this wont help cause I have not taken a picture, but I looked at mine yesterday afternoon in the garage and it has at least a 3/4" gap between the fork tubes and the side of the fender.


Something bad is wrong here as you well know, safely get it to the dealer for a look, and lets us know the final outcome.

 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 23, 2006 | 07:12 PM
  #9  
bassrock's Avatar
bassrock
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 404
Likes: 4
From:
Default RE: Fender Scrape

I had a chrome front end put on my heritage and never noticed till later that there is a pretty good groove dug into the front fender. Since i didn't notice this right away until I wash and waxed it I never said anything to the dealership figured they would just say I did it. Don't know how they did it but know I never did anything to cause this.
 
Reply
Old Jan 23, 2006 | 09:14 PM
  #10  
CobraKid's Avatar
CobraKid
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
From: South Jersey
Default RE: Fender Scrape

Edmo, like Wolfdog said: I also have an 05 Heritage, I just went out and checked mine and there is at least 3/4 of an inch clearance between the fork and the fender, get that checked out buddy and make them fix it!!!! Keep us informed!!!
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:09 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE