There are many uses for the front fender. When the road is wet, it keeps water from spitting on you, it guards your face from small rocks and debris being shot up at your noggin (if you're not wearing a full face helmet, this could pose a serious threat), and it also supports the front forks. However, we like the look of a frontend sans the front fender. To us, it just looks a lot cleaner, but the front forks are more stable with something supporting them.
This is why the Tracker Front Fork Brace ($149.95) from Roland Sands Design was invented. It replaces the front fender on narrow glide frontends on '88-09 Sportsters and '88-05 FXR/FXD models and acts as a stabilizer for your front forks. It's laser-cut from 3/16-inch 1018 steel and claims to eliminate front fork flex. The Fork Brace is available in chrome or in a gloss black finish and it's been stamped with a brass RSD logo, and chrome hardware is included. Installation took roughly five minutes. All we used for the install was a 1/2-inch wrench and a 1/4-inch Allen key.