My Harley 1977 FXE (recently bought) had the front forks changed sometime in it's life, also the fenders tanks from an FL were also swapped.
The bike was imported to the UK 4-5years ago from Michigan, according to the guy i bought it from.
So...can anyone identify which year and from which bike these forks came from?
When i do a search for a FL of a similar year i find most images throw up forks with a taper, these have a step above the fender mounts.
I would also like to lower the bike a few inches. What is the best way of adjusting the height? lower springs or is there another trick?

 

the front caliper is a better way to tell than the hub cap so picture the other side

 

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Here is another photo showing the caliper side of the forks

My plan is to lower the front (somehow) add a 21inch wheel with an Avonspeedmaster tyre.

 

The touring bikes always had the tapered legs. Looks to be from a Heritage Softail or similar based on 2 piston calipers and stepped lower legs. If someone can tell you what year they got rid of the speedo sensor on the front wheel (shown in picture) you could probably narrow it down. I would guess late 80's to early 90's.

 

On closer inspection i have found the fork legs are marked SHOWA on the inside between the fender mounts.

I have found this diagram, which very much looks like the forks on my bike. It says they are from an FL.

http://demonscy.ipower.com/manuals/fl_front_fork_1.jpg

 

OK what i see is this - you have a 1986 up FLST - and that front fork goes all the way to 1999 on that FLST type bike

it does have a speedo drive under the rotor and its a ONE piston caliper used from 84 to 99 easy to get and lots of different pads available for the 11 inch rotor it has

Note - the FLST already has a 2 inch under length fork tube on the front end Verses the FXST fork assembly - i dont not think they make a shorter one as that one is already Low - and the 21 is just a bit taler than the 16 that it has -

you can not slide the tubes up like some forks the tops of the FLST are held downward so its not possable -- also the top of the legs do not have a rubber top of the leg cover like a softail has - they use the cow bells like you have

 

I have found a good thread on the ChopCult forum which covers lowering the ride height on telescopic forks.
Not sure if i am going to chop mine up yet or sell off all the FL parts, but It's nice to know what i am dealing with.
Thanks for identifying my forks.