Front Fender Removal

[deekjx]

I'm curious how most of the experienced guys remove the front fender. The service manual has me removing the front tire first and then removing the fender. I don't have a center stand or a way to hold the from end off the ground currently. Can/Should I remove the frame brace that the fender is attached to? I'm worried that doing it this way would potentially affect my handling which currently is feels great. The front end work somewhat scares me because I've read so many wobble posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[CaptainKyle]

I'm curious how most of the experienced guys remove the front fender. The service manual has me removing the front tire first and then removing the fender. I don't have a center stand or a way to hold the from end off the ground currently. Can/Should I remove the frame brace that the fender is attached to? I'm worried that doing it this way would potentially affect my handling which currently is feels great. The front end work somewhat scares me because I've read so many wobble posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The front wheel has to come off the later models to remove the front fender. To bad your so far a away I could help you out. If you have case gaurds you could use a car jack to jack up the front & then rest the bike on some jack stands under the gaurds.

 

[deekjx]

Thanks for the quick response Kyle. I'm glad I posted. The front fender can remain as is for now. The rest of my bike is looking a lot better with the new paint.

 

[ninjaneer]

yep, but even if you had a centerstand, it wouldn'tve helped you, unless you figured a way to strap down the rear. weight is on front when on centerstand. go to harbor freight over there on the otherside of 275 on blanding and pick yourself up a jack and some stands. shoot even wallyworld has an affordable package last time i looked. or get yourself just some stands and borrow the jack from your car. only need to lift the wheel a few inches to make enough room to slide the stands underneath your crash bars.

 

[RaWarrior]

That's the way I did it after checking the manual. Removed the calipers, pulled the front axle and got in that way. Not really a hassle, just seems like a roundabout way of doing it.

Though afterward, I looked at the 4 bolts on the fork brace, and wondered why I couldn't have just removed that, which would have taken the fender with it.

 

[misiek93]

I'm curious how most of the experienced guys remove the front fender. The service manual has me removing the front tire first and then removing the fender. I don't have a center stand or a way to hold the from end off the ground currently. Can/Should I remove the frame brace that the fender is attached to? I'm worried that doing it this way would potentially affect my handling which currently is feels great. The front end work somewhat scares me because I've read so many wobble posts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

a 2x4 with a couple of jack stands works really well. If you can get a buddy to help it would be even better. Just place the 2x4 accross the bottom of the frame towards the front of the engine, jack it up and support with jack stands on each side. I've done it before I got engine guards, works fine. Now I just put the jack stands under the engine guards.

 

[PATMAX]

When I get a chance I gonna pull my brace from the fork tubes and roll the fender forward or backwards with the brace to pull it. For some reason I remember doing it that way. Then pull the bolts from the brace to the fender. I'm away from home now so I can't try it. Anyone else wanna try that method?

 

[PATMAX]

Dee K, good time to upgrade your fork brace. Have a few as do many members here. Don't pay new prices Bro! Ask and you shall recieve, for a bucks plus shipping!
PATMAX

 

[bazwell]

I can get mine off the 85 by undoing the 4 brace bolts and loosening the axle bolt a bit.
It comes out forwards, only just. Don't know about the later model.

 

[Rhoy Carter]

Patmax! That works on the early model forks but not on the later model with 43 mm tubes

 

[KJShover]

Had to pop the front wheel when I did mine.