When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've removed the lower "belt guard/pant leg deflector" from my '05 1200C, and didn't remove the pipes or anything.
The trick is to loosen the bolts, and then slide the lower guard forward. As you can see in the below picture, the screws fit into slots in the deflector. Slide the deflector forward until the screw heads pass through the large slot holes, and the deflector will drop right out.
Well, it might not quite as easy as 'dropping right out', but believe me, it will come out without removing anything.
It takes a little old fashion muscle power, and from what I recall I had to put some downward pressure of the deflector guard while pulling it out from the top.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
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.
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.
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.