Rear Fender (under the seat)
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 3
From: Australia
Rear Fender (under the seat)
Hello again,
I like the look of my bike without the pillion seat and I noticed that when I take the seat off there is a clear decal looking thing. Do I just remove this? And does that mean I can't put the seat back on without damaging the paint?
Sorry for all the questions on this forum, but as I have only ever owned Jap cruisers in the past, (This is my first HD) I need all the help I can get.
Cheers
-J
I like the look of my bike without the pillion seat and I noticed that when I take the seat off there is a clear decal looking thing. Do I just remove this? And does that mean I can't put the seat back on without damaging the paint?
Sorry for all the questions on this forum, but as I have only ever owned Jap cruisers in the past, (This is my first HD) I need all the help I can get.
Cheers
-J
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 672
Likes: 1
From: Southern Indiana
Went through this myself with my FXST. Yes, that piece of plastic is to protect the paint on your fender from the bottom of the seat rubbing on it. It is easily peeled off, heating it with a hair dryer makes it a lot easier.
So if you want to run a solo seat but know you are also going to put your two-up seat back on you can:
a. leave the plastic on which imo looks stupid when the solo is on.
b. peel it off and take the chance of scuffing up the paint on your fender when you use the two-up, or
c.buy replacement plastic sheets from your hd dealer for $12 and replace it when doing the two-up thing.
I went with b and c, I peeled it off and bought a replacement from the dealer. When I put the two-up on I decided it was too much of a hassle to replace it and it is still in the wrapper. I have switched back and forth between solo and two-up a dozen times since then and the two-up seat has not done any damage to the paint. However, I have never had a passenger on my bike so that may be why I have had no damage. Could be a different story with the weight of a person pressing down on the seat. Kind of a tough choice, maybe someone else on here has a better solution. Good Luck!
So if you want to run a solo seat but know you are also going to put your two-up seat back on you can:
a. leave the plastic on which imo looks stupid when the solo is on.
b. peel it off and take the chance of scuffing up the paint on your fender when you use the two-up, or
c.buy replacement plastic sheets from your hd dealer for $12 and replace it when doing the two-up thing.
I went with b and c, I peeled it off and bought a replacement from the dealer. When I put the two-up on I decided it was too much of a hassle to replace it and it is still in the wrapper. I have switched back and forth between solo and two-up a dozen times since then and the two-up seat has not done any damage to the paint. However, I have never had a passenger on my bike so that may be why I have had no damage. Could be a different story with the weight of a person pressing down on the seat. Kind of a tough choice, maybe someone else on here has a better solution. Good Luck!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 203
Likes: 3
From: Australia
I see what you mean!!
I will tell you what I really want to do... Might sound strange, but I reckon it is doable.
Want to get a luggage rack on the back instead of a rear seat. So all good... I can peal that clear decal off.
Then, when I want to go away, I want to get a detachable sissy bar on the back so that my large touring bag that has the pocket for the sissy bar can go on the rack, slipped over over the sissy bar for support.
Now, I know it would look strange with the sissy bar and and no back seat. Hence why I want the detachable type, so that I can take it off when I take the big bag off.
Make sense??
I will tell you what I really want to do... Might sound strange, but I reckon it is doable.
Want to get a luggage rack on the back instead of a rear seat. So all good... I can peal that clear decal off.
Then, when I want to go away, I want to get a detachable sissy bar on the back so that my large touring bag that has the pocket for the sissy bar can go on the rack, slipped over over the sissy bar for support.
Now, I know it would look strange with the sissy bar and and no back seat. Hence why I want the detachable type, so that I can take it off when I take the big bag off.
Make sense??
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
My vote would be for leaving the pillion on for your tourbag. I haven't seen a stand alone luggage rack for the back fender of a softail except the tiny one on the Deluxes and can't imagine that that would look right with a sissy bar. And a sissy bar w/o anything on the fender would look even worse imo. I'd just get a luggage rack for the back of the sissy bar.
As far as the vinyl fender protector I left mine on. The leather fender bib covers all but a pinch of it. If you want to take it off just warm it up with a hair dryer and be careful peeling it off that you don't lift any pin striping.
As far as the vinyl fender protector I left mine on. The leather fender bib covers all but a pinch of it. If you want to take it off just warm it up with a hair dryer and be careful peeling it off that you don't lift any pin striping.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 672
Likes: 1
From: Southern Indiana
Yeah I understand, thought about doing what you want to do but found it was just easier to put my two-up seat and sissy bar on and set my bag on the passenger seat. My sissy bar is not quick detach but I don't take many trips and it is not a big deal to put it on and take it off. Good luck with getting it set up like you want.
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