I recently purchased a 2004 VFR and I am looking into getting the OEM hard bags. The one question that I have is that all the pictures that I have seen of 02-04 VFR's with the hard bags installed have had the rear fender removed. Is it possible to keep the rear fender on the bike and still have the hard bags mounting hardware all fit correctly or do you have to modify the fender? Anyone who has any info for me I would greatly appreciate it, and if you have some pictures of a 02-04 VFR with the hard bags installed and the rear fender still on the bike I would like to see that too. Thank you.
Yeah I have seen that page already, let me know if you have to remove the fender. In that link you sent me they had it removed. Any info would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.
�You do not have to remove the stock rear fender on the 02+ VFR's. Many of us have- in order clean up the rear of the bike a bit. Although adding a set of hard bags to the back of the bike would seem to be a step in the other direction... :shake: As long as your in there fiddling around with the new bag mounts, get rid of that monstrosity Honda calls a rear fender. You won't miss it.
Hodgie441, Dec. 28 2003I recently purchased a 2004 VFR and I am looking into getting the OEM hard bags. �
Jeff
I was hoping to get some OEM bags for x-mas but obviously was a bad boy. :doh: I've yet to see a flat black 04' VFR with OEM saddlebags, I think that would look killer. Be sure to post pics, I gotta see this! wheel.gif
The OEM hardbags do not require removal of the rear fender. �Most of us think the fender blows, so at the time we install the bags we discover the fender can come off as well. �Yippee!!
The only major change down there is a new fender subframe. �This is the bit of steel that the license plate and fender bolt to, and it needs to be replaced because it's got more screw holes for the pannier racks to join onto. �
Check out the picture of my bike with no exhausts and the pannier rack removed (just before the 'tunes were fitted) and the fender subframe. �If the bike looks pink, don't worry; that's just because my camera sucks for colour definition:
just know that that fender is there for a reason. it keeps a lot of rear wheel spray off your back. I took mine off my 919 and was filthy everytime I rode in mildly wet weather. I'll be leaving it on my VFR.
sargent, Dec. 28 2003just know that that fender is there for a reason. �it keeps a lot of rear wheel spray off your back. �I took mine off my 919 and was filthy everytime I rode in mildly wet weather. �I'll be leaving it on my VFR.
Actually sargent, removing the rear fender and riding through rain won't get your back dirty at all, maybe your 919 is a lil' different. I've had mine off since the first day and nothing, the taillight on the other hand gets filthy. IMHO the stock rear fender does blow. beer.gif
I did a compromise. I took a dremel and cut the fender at the natural crease in the fender. It kept the look above the license plate, but let you see nicely the rear wheel.
I've got an '02 with OEM hard bags which I installed myself. It was a pretty straight forward job. The only thing I had to do was keep all of the fastners loose until I got it all installed, then tighten them all up. Some were a pretty tight squeeze!! Definetly makes the bike much more practical for everyday use, and better looking to boot :cool: !!
JBnAZ posted a while ago that he took a dremel and cut the fender at the natural crease in the fender, keeping a portion of the fender above the license plate, but let you see nicely the rear wheel. Has anyone tried this and if so does anyone have a pics. Removing the rear fender creates some dead space between the rear tail lights and the license plate light thas the upper part of the rear fender covers. Any thoughts?
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