I want to drop the front wheel off in order to remove the bumper bar 'ornament' from the front fender on the 09 BargeGlide.

The SM states remove the calipers prior to removal of the axle/wheel. Is it really necessary?
I would have thought the front wheel would drop out of the caliper pads and just slot between the pads on re-installation.
Out of more than a decade of riding HD's I've never had to remove a wheel, hence not sure.

Can anyone shed some light on this query? Big thanks in advance.

 

Gotta take at least one off....I usually take both off because it gives me an opportunity to inspest them...

 

The tire sticks out past the rim & caliper so one caliper needs to come off. But its only two bolts per caliper so its easy take them off, tie them back to the crash bar & do your work. Its alot easier that way

 

Cheers guys-- much appreciated! I'll go ahead and pull both calipers, with due caution regarding the ABS.

 

I was able to take my bumper bar off without dropping the wheel. I think that I used a ratchet wrench and turned it backwards.

 

I could do that--there's enough room-- but I couldn't get into the area where the locking tab for the fender fasteners is located, to get to the rear bumper mount.

I tried to get to them via a long drift punch between the wheel spokes, but couldn't bend the tabs enough to get a spanner over the fasteners (in order to remove the rear bumper mount).

Did yours have locking tabs and if so how did you bend the tabs back?

 

With the calipers off you can check the wheel bearings before and after you take the wheel off.