Rear fender removal

[Mezambo]

I'm just curious about two things, wonder if you all can enlighten me.

1. Why do some people remove their rear fender? Is there some advantage to this?

2. Why do so many modern motorcycles have such a large clearance between the rear tire and the fender?

Thanks much,

Mezambo

[alex5160]

I have an 83 Interceptor and removed the rear fender. It gives the bike a more up dated 'superbike' look (my opinion). It looks cleaner to. I also brought in my rear turn signals because they 'sagged' and wanted a leaner, tighter look to the rear of the bike. I like what I have modified.

If there's a technical reason, I can't wait to read it. But to me, it looks cool!

If any other 1st gen dudes want a pic or two, let me know.

Alex

[rngdng]

People remove the fenders because they look clunky. It's strictly appearance. New bikes have all that space between tire and seat for a couple of reasons; because of the chosen geometry, and because everybody was taking the fenders off!


Lane

[flameface]

plan on getting water and road debris all over your back if you ride in the weather. Best compromise is to cut the stock fender down and relocate the registration plate. Looks better (IMHO) and still functions.

[Bubba Zanetti]

Originally Posted by flameface

plan on getting water and road debris all over your back if you ride in the weather. Best compromise is to cut the stock fender down and relocate the registration plate. Looks better (IMHO) and still functions.

HUGH Crappy mess is what to expect if you don't have the fender.

I almost bought a replacement rear fender off ebay because the guy who had the 97 before me put on a fender eliminator, but the price was high on the ebay unit. I had no idea what would happen until I got caught in the rain.

I'll never yank the fender from any street bike as a result of that experiance.

My 2cents.

BZ

[Action]

I removed mine because I didn't like the way it looked. I live in the desert so rain is not too big of a problem. I have gotten caught in the rain once in a while and BZ is right it makes a mess but I'll put up with it because I like the cleaner look for the back of the bike.

[drewl]

I trimmed mine down from the seemingly 10'' of plastic that hung down in the back, to less than 6". It looks cleaner and still keeps the schmutz from flying up. Different states/countries have different rules about lisence plate lights and rear turn signals, so check those out before changing anything.

[flameface]

there's a picture of my shortened fender in my gallery. A friend of mine went about an inch shorter than mine and he regrets it.

[drewl]

Flame, mine is fairly equal to yours. I just unplugged and removed the tag light and hanger; measured my tag and drilled the holes. Once I knew where the tag would hang, I just drew a line and cut it with a utility knife. Took about a half hour all together.

[flameface]

Regarding the registration tag light, I drilled two holes in the bottom of my brakelight housing with a 1" holesaw, directly under the bulbs, then glued a piece of clear plastic from a cassette case over the two holes. Instant registration tag light! Looks much cleaner without that gonky generic tag light that's on every H bike made since '82.

[stewartj239]

I am actually a believer in keeping the stock rear fender for functional purposes and for the most part, I think fender eliminators make a bike look worse. However, my 6th Gen was an exception. The stock fender is huge and ugly looking. Also, you can't remove the reflectors from it, so I added a fender eliminator to it. I must say though, on the 6th Gen, it looks great.

[PARedVFRRider]

Originally Posted by stewartj239

I am actually a believer in keeping the stock rear fender for functional purposes and for the most part, I think fender eliminators make a bike look worse. However, my 6th Gen was an exception. The stock fender is huge and ugly looking. Also, you can't remove the reflectors from it, so I added a fender eliminator to it. I must say though, on the 6th Gen, it looks great.

I totaly agree with you on teh 6 gen fender. it just looks like a big piece of ugly plastic hanging back there. You can look at the before and after pics in my gallery. I have the Competition Werkes Fender Eliminator and I agree, you end up with a lot of crap on the rear light if you ride on wet roads. I don't typically end up with anything on the seat or my back, but the rear light gets covered. It's also getting a little pitted as well.

Overall, though I'm not putting the stock fender back on, I think the 6 gen bike looks much better with the fender eliminator.

[NeverlosT]

People take it off to show off the single sided swingarm and big fat round sportbike tire. It is purely a style thing. I have a comp. werkes fender eliminator, I ride in all sorts of weather, my taillight gets dirty but not my back.
To each their own, but I kind of look at it like the reflectors in the spokes of a nice mountainbike, they have to put em on there for the lawyers, but everyone takes them off as soon as they get it to look hip.

Ride whatever looks good to you!

[Wesley J]

I agree, the stock fender is fugly.

Really, there's no downside to removing the fender. You'd pretty much need to be riding backwards to get rain on your ass from the rear wheel.