Lower Fairing, Anybody Bought These?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,588
Likes: 9
From: Sunny Southern California
Man, I've been waiting months for this subject to come up!
I have them. There is a reason they look identical to the OEM version.
They are from the same mold. Proof is below. Some may say these may not be the same "quality" ABS as OEM, they are prob right but these are definately good enough to do the job. It's hard plastic and it's not going to fall apart anytime soon.
My experience? Heres what I found...
1) the paint is questionable. You can see the painter didn't take any time prepping the material. Its a little rough under the paint in a few areas. Scratches and such under the paint. Since I saved like 300 bucks on these I don't find it a big deal. The paint is the right color and matches perfectly. Just a little rough here and there. No biggie and nothing really noticable.
2) the METAL hardware that is included is cheap. The bolt and nut that holds the adjustable air flap thing is made of the most worthless bottom of the basement crap metal I've ever seen. The bolt did not even have lock tight or a friggen lock nut or lock washer, just a bolt with washer and nut. Easy fix though. I only have like 10 million bolts and nuts laying around the garage. Replaced it, moving on...
3) the glove box door and formed plastic pieces are gray or tan and need to be trimmed a little bit to remove all that left over material you sometimes see when things were "formed". You know, the little plastic junk left over on the sides while it was formed. I completely disassembled my lowers, and trimed around the edges with a razor and then painted with black vinyl paint from a spray can. Looks friggin awesome... was easy and fun.
While I was at it I painted anything gray or not already vivid black with vinyl black paint.
In my book these lowers are worth every penny. They are the same as the OEM model and do the same job. I have not told a sole (until now) that these are aftermarket. I even have had the bike in the shop and no one knew they were aftermarket. The only comment I've gotten was from a HD mechanic and it was positive. He mentioned he liked how I painted the glove boxes black.
So anyway I have had OEM lowers before on my Ultra. THese are about 90% the quality of OEM in my opinion. I would buy them again...
Back to the molding. Here are few pictures. When I disassembled the lowers I found strange markings in the most curious places mostly hidden out of sight. I found them "interesting". I looked up these markings on ChicagoHarley.com and they matched...
Edit: I used HD's quick detach hardware to mount to the bike. I used a little strip foam (like for doors) around where the lowers attach to the engine guard. Made things a little tighter...
Yes I have a Pink-ish blanket in my garage... Its good for painting on.
Hope this helps someone....
lp
I have them. There is a reason they look identical to the OEM version.
They are from the same mold. Proof is below. Some may say these may not be the same "quality" ABS as OEM, they are prob right but these are definately good enough to do the job. It's hard plastic and it's not going to fall apart anytime soon.
My experience? Heres what I found...
1) the paint is questionable. You can see the painter didn't take any time prepping the material. Its a little rough under the paint in a few areas. Scratches and such under the paint. Since I saved like 300 bucks on these I don't find it a big deal. The paint is the right color and matches perfectly. Just a little rough here and there. No biggie and nothing really noticable.
2) the METAL hardware that is included is cheap. The bolt and nut that holds the adjustable air flap thing is made of the most worthless bottom of the basement crap metal I've ever seen. The bolt did not even have lock tight or a friggen lock nut or lock washer, just a bolt with washer and nut. Easy fix though. I only have like 10 million bolts and nuts laying around the garage. Replaced it, moving on...
3) the glove box door and formed plastic pieces are gray or tan and need to be trimmed a little bit to remove all that left over material you sometimes see when things were "formed". You know, the little plastic junk left over on the sides while it was formed. I completely disassembled my lowers, and trimed around the edges with a razor and then painted with black vinyl paint from a spray can. Looks friggin awesome... was easy and fun.
While I was at it I painted anything gray or not already vivid black with vinyl black paint.
In my book these lowers are worth every penny. They are the same as the OEM model and do the same job. I have not told a sole (until now) that these are aftermarket. I even have had the bike in the shop and no one knew they were aftermarket. The only comment I've gotten was from a HD mechanic and it was positive. He mentioned he liked how I painted the glove boxes black.
So anyway I have had OEM lowers before on my Ultra. THese are about 90% the quality of OEM in my opinion. I would buy them again...
Back to the molding. Here are few pictures. When I disassembled the lowers I found strange markings in the most curious places mostly hidden out of sight. I found them "interesting". I looked up these markings on ChicagoHarley.com and they matched...
Edit: I used HD's quick detach hardware to mount to the bike. I used a little strip foam (like for doors) around where the lowers attach to the engine guard. Made things a little tighter...
Yes I have a Pink-ish blanket in my garage... Its good for painting on.
Hope this helps someone....
lp
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: nw indiana the region
yea I bought a set also and was suprised to see the bar & shield with correct p/n.s along with made in the usa who da f knows ,, but like Ip says I'd buy em a again especially with a black bike
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
From: South-Central Minnesota
Anyone know of some aftermarket place that sells just the glove boxes? I bought my roadglide with the lowers, but would like the glove boxes for a little extra storage space...only HD want's a fortune for the stupid things. If I remember correctly, I could buy one of these entire aftermarket fairing sets for the price HD wants for the glove boxes alone.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
A big "amen" to that! At this price, if the quality is near the factory item as described by people who have them, how could you go wrong?
I'd buy them regardless if they met my needs. Vivid black is cheap and easy to paint too. Git um!!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,455
Likes: 2,985
From: Charleston, SC
Also cut a little area around the rear brake master cylinder.
These will not work on a 2009 and below Road Glide unless you get the 2010 fairing mounts that lift up the entire fairing so the lowers will clear...
lp
Last edited by lp; Feb 11, 2010 at 04:06 PM.