Can anyone tell me if by removing the front fender from a Sportster you really lose any structural rigidty on the front end? Does that really keep the front forks from twisting? The fender seems so thin anyways. I'm thinking of just putting a Superbrace on and dumping the fender, but figured someone here has already tried and/or tested this out. Thanks--

 

Personal opinion, I don't see it being more than something to keep the rain from jetting into your face. It's too thin/flimsy to be a structural piece imo.

 

Yep, that's my initial thought, too--but figured there might be someone who's an engineer that could tell me differently before I do something stupid....

 

 

We shall see. I don't think the fender does much at all, but it certainly doesn't hurt and I can see it slightly buffering the undesirable effects, maybe even slightly helping the fork leg that the caliper is mounted to, but this is just me thinking out loud.

Hold the front tire between your knees and twist the bars with and without the fender and that will tell you a LOT. I did this immediately before Superbrace install and after (but never with fender attached) and it was night and day. I swear I can literally feel a difference just in sitting on the bike and turning the bars back and forth on the garage floor.

 

From my personal experience, I do feel the front end to be slightly "stronger" when riding at high speeds with the fender on. And it really, really sucks not to have a front fender when the pavement is wet. I used to not ride with one because it looked "cool" and "badass"...I really couldn't get pass the ridicule and put it back on.

 

I figure having it on can't hurt with stability, so I cut mine way down and reinstalled it.

 

that front fender is sweet, your bike is awesome man!

 

Thx ... it was a fun winter project.

 

thanks guys--