Bobber fender for Fat Boy Lo?
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 556
Likes: 1
From: Virginia
Ok so I'm gonna basically hope this is not a dumb question however I feel it will be but I'm not sure what they do. What do the struts do?? To me it looks like they basically hold the fender on.... could I go strutless? Or do I have no clue? LOL
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: New England
Correct. The struts hold the fender above the tire. The tire bounces up and down as you go over a bump (suspension). The struts keep the fender and rear seat isolated from this bouncing, same as the drivers seat. With my setup, the fender bounces along with the tire. That allows me to have a fender 1/2 inch off the tire at all times. No need for lowering, but no provision for a back seat.
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 37
From: Hoboken, NJ
As described above, your choices are:
1) Heartland- expensive and you still need to lower the bike for it to look right. Trust me on this.
2) Strutless fender- looks nicer but the issue here is that you'll need to mount it to the swingarm, not the frame. This will take welding knowledge and a LOT of prep (fitment, marking holes, etc) This method, as described above, allows you to mount the fender VERY close to the tire without having to lower the bike. However, this mitigates any passenger option.
You CAN go cheap, but unless ou have access to a welder and the knowledge needed to do the job, it's gonna cost you anyway.
1) Heartland- expensive and you still need to lower the bike for it to look right. Trust me on this.
2) Strutless fender- looks nicer but the issue here is that you'll need to mount it to the swingarm, not the frame. This will take welding knowledge and a LOT of prep (fitment, marking holes, etc) This method, as described above, allows you to mount the fender VERY close to the tire without having to lower the bike. However, this mitigates any passenger option.
You CAN go cheap, but unless ou have access to a welder and the knowledge needed to do the job, it's gonna cost you anyway.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 62
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg, VA
Streetwalker sells fenders at a reasonable price. I haven't bought any so can't give any feedback on quality control but they are the cheapest I've seen.
http://www.streetwalkerexhaust.com/
http://www.streetwalkerexhaust.com/
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: New England
Some "strutless" fenders just have struts built right into the fender (they will be expensive). Cheap and easy: buy an ebay fender (9" - 9-1/2") and use the stock struts. As said above, any other option will either be expensive ($1,000) or a major PITA. I went cheap and spent several months working out all the issues, and had to learn to weld.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,500
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 754
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From: Southern Maine
You do know you're riding a Harley? 
Nothing comes cheap with that name attached to it. You either pay through the nose for a direct fit, or you have to build it yourself. Just the nature of the beast. But, that being said, gathering misc. parts and fabricating a one of a kind rear fender is the definition of custom. Go for it, learn what you need to learn and really make it yours!
Nothing comes cheap with that name attached to it. You either pay through the nose for a direct fit, or you have to build it yourself. Just the nature of the beast. But, that being said, gathering misc. parts and fabricating a one of a kind rear fender is the definition of custom. Go for it, learn what you need to learn and really make it yours!
