Hi lads,

What I'm looking for here is a response from someone who genuinely knows the laws like an automotive engineer - not speculation.

I want to chop off the rear fender struts on my Iron 883 and bob the rear fender, and I just want to know if this is striclty illegal as it entails cutting the frame, or that because the fender struts on a Sportster could be considered as 'brackets' that they are not structural and can be chopped.

Also, if I do would the bike need to be engineered for this?

I'd love to do a full weld on hard tail but have already ruled this out as I'm assuming this level of mod is out of the question in Australia.

Cheers.

i'd like to do the same to mine as well (so i can make room for a 200 tyre) problems that i can think of off my head are, number plate location, rear and side reflector locations and possibly tail/indicator light location/distance's, i know there are specs for all these but not exactly sure what they are.....
Andrew

Those issues are all doable. Iron has brake/tail/indicators in one unit and these just shift forward to nearer to top trut mount position.

Side mount plates are legal as long as they are viewable from 45-degree angle so just do that.

As for 200 rear tyre? With the stock swing arm? Dunno about that...

i removed mine ,and mounted a guard on my swing arm ,however it was just 4 bolts to take it of the 67, i hope its legal ,

+ 1, seen a heap of Sporties in the States with the chop done to the rear and it looks brilliant!!

 

Keep me updated, keen to know whether its legal or not!!

I seem to recall that the ADR requires a rear guard cover down to 45' of the rear tyre? (the standard guard on the 48, iron etc may be right on the limit?).

It's what I recall anyway, it would explain why sportsbikes now cone with those hideous long licences plate/rear guard things.

I reckon you'd have to be unlucky to get pulled for it though.. But add noisy pipes, relocated indicators and a side mount licences plate.. Sounds like cop bait to me

Do a search on google for ADR requirements, there's a big online doc somewhere that spells everything out.

This may help
http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&view=topic&postid=321914&forumid=1&tpage=1

Come on a message board and ask for no speculation ha ha

 

Hahaha, yeah, I knew asking specifically for non-speculative advice would be impossible.

So here is Deus Ex Machina's interpretation of this theme on a Sporty, with removed fender struts and newly fabricated fender brackets that combines with more rearward positioned dual mounts for the springer seat. They've used a rear fender that achieves the 45-degree from vertical length but have used a side mount plate that may not adhere to 45-degress off centre viewing angle. They want $29000 for this bike, by the way, which is a Nightster and has a springer front.

Nah man, the fabrication is nice. This is the first time I've seen someone attempt a street legal hard tail style conversion to suit Aussie ADRs - missing chainguard aside. I agree that the price is retarded though....

Reg Mambosa, its all very very clever marketing and that is about it!!! Hunt around bikesales.com.au any day of the week and you'll see a $20k Deus custom struggling to sell for half of what the poor punter paid for it!! That being said, have been to a few of their 'festivals', most recently the VTwin Festival and have really enjoyed the turnout and the bikes. Like the idea that the everyday bloke can enter in to the competition for an opportunity to win a few hundred bucks and they've really got the atmosphere right...........we pop in there some Sunday mornings for a quick catch up and some eggs on toast!!

+ 1 Mow, lots and lots of aftermarket bolt on goodies and an MASSIVE mark up on the bikes!! They're designs are really clean and funky, but it is a lot to ask for $29k for a second hand Nightster!!

I dont mind the work they've done on the rear guard though...........is it an actul hardtail or simply running Biltwell struts?

Reg Mambosa, its all very very clever marketing and that is about it!!! Hunt around bikesales.com.au any day of the week and you'll see a $20k Deus custom struggling to sell for half of what the poor punter paid for it!! That being said, have been to a few of their 'festivals', most recently the VTwin Festival and have really enjoyed the turnout and the bikes. Like the idea that the everyday bloke can enter in to the competition for an opportunity to win a few hundred bucks and they've really got the atmosphere right...........we pop in there some Sunday mornings for a quick catch up and some eggs on toast!!

+ 1 Mow, lots and lots of aftermarket bolt on goodies and an MASSIVE mark up on the bikes!! They're designs are really clean and funky, but it is a lot to ask for $29k for a second hand Nightster!!

I dont mind the work they've done on the rear guard though...........is it an actul hardtail or simply running Biltwell struts?

Reg Mambosa, its all very very clever marketing and that is about it!!! Hunt around bikesales.com.au any day of the week and you'll see a $20k Deus custom struggling to sell for half of what the poor punter paid for it!! That being said, have been to a few of their 'festivals', most recently the VTwin Festival and have really enjoyed the turnout and the bikes. Like the idea that the everyday bloke can enter in to the competition for an opportunity to win a few hundred bucks and they've really got the atmosphere right...........we pop in there some Sunday mornings for a quick catch up and some eggs on toast!!

+ 1 Mow, lots and lots of aftermarket bolt on goodies and an MASSIVE mark up on the bikes!! They're designs are really clean and funky, but it is a lot to ask for $29k for a second hand Nightster!!

I dont mind the work they've done on the rear guard though...........is it an actul hardtail or simply running Biltwell struts?

Damon, is it in store @ the moment.............wouldn't mind popping in over the weekend to check it in a little more detail?

I love the Deus bikes... Old Skool.... which I love.... and look even better in person... and I just went back to the website... and was drooling again... over their offerings...

re: price.. well.. they cater to to those types of folks.. who are after an image, and don't want dirt or grease on their manicured hands... and will pay for it... so.. you can't blame Deus for that..!? They're catering to a 'special' market...

Where as... the 'true' lifestyle folks... they'll build their own version.. in their own garage... for a fifth of the cost... or less...

For me... Places like Deus are healthy to have around... cause they will continue to inspire me... to one day.. take the leap... and get my hands dirty... building my own...

Each to their own.. and I can't fault their taste in styling... but like I said.. each to their own...

I spoke to Taka, his distributor has it in stock, shipping oz wide is $3.50, didn't give me a price (tends to vary depending on the day you order and the dollar, but around $33-$35). He takes payment via paypal, direct dep or credit card.. He's a proper business with a shop if youre in melbourne. His email is info@kangakanga.com.au tell him russell sent you!

That particular issue is 'sportster custom book vol3'

Ahh yes, the great Deus debate. I looked at thier offerings over a year ago. Like the style of some of what they do, but agree it is mostly catalogue stuff, and waaay over priced. Looked at some of thier single cylinder stuff and it was $20k upwards for anything decent. Closer to $30k for Harley. Then along comes the Iron for $13,300 ride away. Now that is value. So, Deus are like swim suit models. Nice to look at, but I can't see me ridin' one any time soon

Consider this thread officially highjacked....

sadly most folk are to busy, scared ,wealthy ,trendy ,silly or boring to their own customising ,to me its a signature ,every bike ive ever bought since i was a kid ive stripped and made suit me ,so if i was to spend that sort of money on a bike that someone else imagined up ,itd be a waste as id have to change it anyway ,but he is a clever and trendy bike, tshirt, skateboard ,surfboard and pushbike designer and marketer ,,credit given where credit due

Just got back from Deus, checked out the $30k Sportster and am on the fence!!! The fab work done on the rear fender struts is excellent, I really like the way they've mounted the two tabs to hold the rear fender!! The other pieces im not too sure about, they've tried to do the side mount speedo holder; which looks a little bulky and out of place and have used all of the standard Harley indicator etc and it just looked a little out of place.

The springer front end is awesome, the caliper looks shit and the front guard has been cut down too far!!

The answer the original question about removing Fender struts, putting a call out to the bloke who did all the work on Deus's Sportser on Monday. I figure if they're selling bikes with the mods, they will definitely know..............getting a quote as well!!