My bike is a 2016 Ultra Limited Low - bone stock with about 33000 miles.
This weekend, I happened to look down at my lower fairing while getting off and noticed a crack in the left fairing. It runs about a 1/3 of the way across the lower portion of the fairing.
One, has anyone ever had a fairing crack;
Two, do you think this would be covered under ESP - swapping out the radiator components might not be something I want to mess with even if I had the parts (I do have the service manual);
Three, do any of you have a suggestion for a patch to keep the crack from extending. My truck will be in the body shop for a month (starting yesterday) so the Harley is my main mode of transportation. My 68 Honda CL350 is getting close to rideable.

 

If you're not looking to repair it in the very near future, you can drill a small hole at the end of the crack. Stop drilling is used a lot on metal, don't see why it wouldn't work on the hard lowers.

 

If you have ESP - I might suggest to take it to the dealer and have them look at it. They will try to find a "point on impact". If they find such, it would man tat something hit it, causing the crack.

If none found, them such might suggest a flaw and it may be covered.

Good luck

 

Looking at the picture, I noticed it went further than I had thought.

 

If your esp doesn’t cover it, wouldn’t your regular motorcycle insurance cover this (providing you find a point of impact)? If all else fails, pulling the lower fairing is actually very easy. You pull the top door off and remove 1 nut which holds the top cap in place. Drain the coolant by pulling the lower hose from the pump. Disconnect the hoses from the top and bottom on the fairing side your removing. There will be one electrical connector to disconnect near the water pump. Unbolt two clamps from the engine guard (upper and lower). The whole lower fairing with the radiator is then removed. Then while on the bench you can pull the radiator. I can usually pull one lower fairing (water cooled) in about 10 minutes.

 

Dealer has some pictures. Said they will see what ESP says. The images from the front don't really show much. Once I get word yea or nay, will be putting on some sort of patch until I can fix it correctly/replace it. The description of replacing it does not sound bad. I used to pull the lowers on one of my previous bikes in the summer.

 

A patch will cover, but won't stop the crack from spreading if it has any pressure on it. If that fairing is staying on the bike with a crack, I'd stop drill it.

 

Dealership came back said the ESP guys say no to covering it. About $300 for the part. About $200 for the labor if I let them. Not sure yet. Definitely ordering the part.

 

Get the part number and order it off surdyke or newcastle for 20% off and no tax. I'm sure you can handle the installation.

 

Put a plate over it and a few pop rivets. Little spray flat black. But it's only $239 par. I personally would just fix it someday when something else comes up making it necessary to remove stuff. Don't sweat the small stuff.

http://partsfinder.onlinemicrofiche....IRING%20LOWERS