Rear fender curvature on new Mastiff

[REMorris]

I have noticed (since I bought my 09 Mastiff), that the curvature of the top of the rear fender doesn't match the curvature of the tire (looking at the side of the bike). It looks to me like it's a little "humped up"as you get towards the back of the seat.

Is this due to it being a soft-tail and the tire actually moves up into that hump? Or is the fender actually made that way?

I was even thinking of getting a Jesse James rear fender blank ($150) and seeing if I can get the fender to match the curve of the tire. This would also cause the rear fender to sit lower where the seat suction cups to it. Then that means a new seat pan made as well. Personally, I wouldn't mind sitting down a bit and just a little back.

Has anyone else noticed this before? Has anyone put a different rear fender on a new Mastiff for this reason?

Anyone have any idea just how much that swingarm does move? How close can the fender be to the rear tire on a Mastiff without the tire rubbing it during bumps?

Richard

 

[MTSCMike]

The look you don't like is because it's a soft-tail. That's why many, like me, get a hard-tail just for that tire hugging rear fender look. You have to choose between looks and ride comfort...I go with looks every time!

You can have the rear suspension lowered so the fender sits closer. A little lowering goes a long way as far as the looks go. One inch or one and a half inches should do it and it may require replacing the shocks depending on the adjustment they have. When you lower it you will also need to stiffen the shocks so the travel is limited. The shocks should have this adjustment mechanism built in. It will ride more like a hard-tail. I did this to my last soft-tail for the exact same reason.

If you carry passengers be sure the set the shocks a bit stiffer due to the extra weight.

This is a lot easier and cheaper than a new fender (which might not do what you want anyway). But even if a new fender sat closer to the tire you would still have to stiffen the shocks to limit travel so just lower and stiffen it and watch out for bumps.

 

[woodbutcher]

and make sure you check for anything inside the fender that could rub up against the tire in the lowered position, i.e. the wires to the tail lights.

 

[Vegas]

That's what I never liked about the 300 tire mastiffs. The rear fender looks wrong to me.

 

[REMorris]

I thought about the lowering.

When I bought it, the salesman told me it could be lowered (something about moving to one of 4 holes). But he also told me the shock's were adjustable (that turned out not true)

So, I have Vance and Hines Big Radius pipes on it. How low can I go before I start dragging something? My wife watched me do a right turn off the highway and she mentioned she thought the pipes were getting close.

Richard

 

[KnotSo]

If it makes you feel better, I have the same pipes on my '06 Mastiff, and they drag a lot. Looks cool at night.

 

[BWG56]

I have an 07 Mastiff and I adjusted the shocks, they were not even from the factory. I can lower the bike by ajusting them but becareful if riding with a passenger, you could bottom out. Or you could opt for the air ride.