Fender Ectomy on an '06

I couldn't find a decent fender eliminator because of the way they made the thing - it serves as the floor of the underseat storage area. The fender has to be cut if you want to get rid of the really ugly fender extension that makes the bike look strange when the bags are off.

So I took out the trusty dremel tool and traced the outline of the fender details and away went the bottom reflector. Bike rear end looks MUCH better now. I saved the reflector, just in case . . .

10 minutes work, most of which involved removing and reinstalling the plate bracket. A worthwhile effort. Seems to cost about $100 to reverse if it needs to be.



Click the pictures for larger images

Pictures please!

Hey - 100 posts - I'm a real Pilot -- Shaaaaazam!

Not allowed to make a post like this without photos.

As for your mod, don't ride in the rain any time soon.

SkooterG said:

Not allowed to make a post like this without photos.
As for your mod, don't ride in the rain any time soon.

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Oh, I dunno, skoot. Maybe he's going for that sand blasted effect on the tail lens or sumpin', too.

twowheelnut said:

SkooterG said:

Not allowed to make a post like this without photos.

As for your mod, don't ride in the rain any time soon.

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Oh, I dunno, skoot. Maybe he's going for that sand blasted effect on the tail lens or sumpin', too.

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Yep...too bad that that funny reflector serves so much purpose in keeping the tail lights in good order.

Everyone keeps making a big deal about stuff wearing the tail area if you clip the fender.

NOT THE CASE WITH MY BIKE! I've been riding with a clipped fender for a couple years on my bike. It's not as bad as you guys think it would be at all.

That's about the size of it, I expect. Took off the lower red reflector. Notice more dirt on the rear of the bike after rain-runnin'. Nothing's getting sandblasted, though, so I have left it like that.

John.

slapnpop said:

Everyone keeps making a big deal about stuff wearing the tail area if you clip the fender.
NOT THE CASE WITH MY BIKE! I've been riding with a clipped fender for a couple years on my bike. It's not as bad as you guys think it would be at all.

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Well, you have that Kryptonite paint job. Us other poor sods have the factory paint, which we all know is softer than skooter's Jergens impregnated girly hands. I had my reflector off for about 5,000 miles, nicely blasted - thank you very much!

:****:

I dunno, it was cliped with the stock silver for about 8 months....

Maybe it's just a case of the blue bikes being "softer" in general...

slapnpop said:

I dunno, it was cliped with the stock silver for about 8 months....
Maybe it's just a case of the blue bikes being "softer" in general...

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I think that is probably true. I have never seen a paint get screwed up as easily as the Galaxy Blue. Oh well, at least it's faster.

My rear fender is clipped, only left about an inch more then the license plate. The bike does look much more agressive in the rear and I don't notice anything getting on my tail.

While mine doesn't "sandblast" the taillights, is really slings road splooge onto the lights and up onto the lock on the topcase.

You know what would be great?....if the tail feather was easily detatchable and reattachable. Then when you are going on a trip with the bags on you won't get water and dirt sprayed up your back. But for the 90% of other driving in the sunshine the bike will have that cool "seat over air" look.

I cut mine off the at the same place. I think that is looks alot better though I havent rode in the rain yet with it trimmed. :blush2:

Afast03nNJ said:

My rear fender is clipped, only left about an inch more then the license plate. The bike does look much more agressive in the rear and I don't notice anything getting on my tail.

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Dare I say it....

Some of us like a less agressive rear and don't mind a little tail.

I vote for a power adjust tail. Then we can all run out and buy aftermarket pieces and put spacers under the damn thing to keep it from buffetting!

Or, in my case, I'll cut holes in it and take pictures!

It looks much better with the trimmed tail.

I want the other direction..... but then, I ride in the rain. A lot.

If you're a Iron Butt Rider, you get used to riding ion the rain, but there's no sense adding muddy water to the rear of the bike needlessly.

So my fix meant adding to the mudflap length:

Just can't figure out why so many are so determined to make their bikes look like Zsa Zsa Gabor in dirt riding gear. Lots of folks over in ZRX-land like the clipped-tail look too...makes the ZRX look like a fat, overweight dirtbike, just like a clipped FJR does.

YUK!