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When we put the 21" on my 09 SG it would have rubbed cause we lowered the front an inch and a half. We notched out the fender holes and tilted back slightly. If your just putting on a 21 and not lowering I think you should be fine.
Here's my original fender, with a 21" wheel, on my 2010. Did not have to drill. I did lower the front to maintain same geometry, but that does not affect the clearance of your tire to fender.
My sig pic has the 21" wheel. I think it depends on the tire as well. Some might be a smidge larger than others. I lowered the shocks as well and had to elongate the fender holes and tilt it slightly to have it look level.
199x-2013 touring models 21" wheels fits under fender without issue but you NEED to double check the clearance before riding to ensure that there is room for the tire to grow in height at speed.
Use a 5/16" nut and tape it to the center of the tire on the 21" wheel.
With front wheel off ground spin and listen to see if the nut scrapes the inside of the fender. If it does not ride and enjoy. If it does loosen off the rear two fender mounting bolts (front fender) and push up on the fender from the bottom (lowest portion). Repeat spin test. If it does not scrape ride and enjoy. If it still scrapes remove front fender from bike. Elongate the rear two mounting (towards the bottom of the bracket)holes with a grinder or 3/8" drill bit. Reinstall fender, repeat spin test and ride. Hold the fender up as high as it will go from the bottom as you tighten in the rear two mount bolts to ensure that there is proper clearance.
2014 and newer baggers REQUIRE a bracket to raise the stock front fender for a 21" wheel as the stock fenders on these bikes sit lower. The brackets for these 2014+ bikes do not wit on 2013 and earlier as the fender mounting holes on the 49mm forks are a bit further apart. BRACKETS ARE NOT REQUIRED WITH A 21" WHEEL ON AND EARLIER BIKES.
As always, if you have questions please feel free to call and ask. We are here to help.
Yes sir talking about my '06. How do you raise the fender? I want to do this right and not destroy my rim or hurt myself because it's not on properly. Thank you for the help.
Greetings from SO-FLA,
Take a step-drill bit on the rear mounting holes of the fender and stop at 3/8" or just a little bit more than that. Then put forward pressure(Lift bottom of fender and push towards front of bike) toward on the fender while tightening down the rear bolts. Once you are done, take at least a 1/4" nut and mask it down onto the tire and spin to check clearance.
The whole process takes about 1-1.5 hours and is a breeze.
Good Luck, Ride Safe and Ride Often. Rubber Side Down. Over and Out.
Be aware, if you have the front forks lowered (shortened) and also have the lower front frame mounted oil cooler it may interfere with the front fender when you have to rock back the fender to fit the 21" wheel. I know mine did, the fender skirt would bang into it just bouncing the front end in the garage. When the fender is rocked back and the forks shortened the clearance disappears.
If you do have this problem there are a couple fixes.
1. If you have the pre-2009 H-D oil cooler, the mounting bracket can be bent upwards to put the cooler itself as far back as possible. I adjusted mine so the cooler was a couple millimeters from the regulator.
2. Can shim the fork spring and/or add more fluid to the forks to limit the travel of the forks. And no, the seals will not blow out, they have a snap ring holding them in.
3. Don't lower the front end.
I adjusted the oil cooler bracket, shimmed the springs and put in more fluid. No contact with anything and the front is lowered 1 1/2" and the fender is rocked back also.
Last edited by Guntoter; Nov 26, 2015 at 09:31 AM.
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