I have been thinkin about lowering my 04 Fatboy but at the same time do not want too much of the ride to suffer and I am confused a bit and hoping to get some clarification . I am 6"1 260 nad my GF is 5'9 and 130 ( i asked and she was like WHY ! ) and we do ride 2 up on occasion so I am trying to factor this in as well .

Do I go with a lowering kit ? Was looking at the Ness one .

Shocks and Lowering Kit ?

Air Ride $$$$$

What say you ?

Thanks
Mike

 

at 260, if you lower it with a kit, say 2 inches your ride is gonna suck and you'll probably be bottoming out a lot. Throw the lady on the back, and its gonna be even worse. I've got the progressive air ride. Without the compressor kit, it was about 700$. I have it dropped 2 inches and right where they say to set my preload chamber.well, progressives have two chambers, one for height, and one for preload(bottoming). So the more air you put in preload chamber, the stiffer the ride,meaning less bottoming out. The ride height chamber allows you to lower it by putting more air into that chamber, extending the shocks, down to about 2" less than stock. So, with air ride, you can adjust everything in your garage, or with the compressor kit too, on the fly. Have it set how you want it for the load your bike is carrying.

 

that was kind of confusing, but what I am getting at is you will be happier spending the extra cash and going with air ride.

 

Thanks Boone , question . If I do not get the compressor kit how exactly to you adjut the ride ?

 

ive got a little hand pump. its a low volume high pressure pump. 50$ on the net. it just screws on to a nozzle to where the air lines run to above your coil, and you pump it in.its got a gauge on it and everything, and you lose very little air when you unscrew it. this works just fine for me bc i dont need to adjust it anymore than the hand pump will do. a lot cheaper too.


its also got a probably foot long hose on the end to make it a bit easier. basically you just pump away until you get it set where you want it.

 

I went with the Progressive 422 Shocks cost about 400.00 or less. They allow you to adjust the ride from stock to 2 lower. Ride quality is much better that the stock HD shocks even when lowered. i have my 05 Fatboy lowered about 1.5 in and I am 6'3" 230lbs the ride is better than with the stock shocks.

With any lowering system you are losing travel so in the right situation the ride may suffer by bottoming out. I used to bottom with the stock shocks once in a while and the handling was not as good as it is now with the 422. Sine installing the 422 and playing with the preload I don't bottom out anymore and the handling and comfort of the ride is better.

 

I thought of doing the 422's also. I decided to go with the airtail, bc i think it will ride a lot better than the 422's. Also, the air shocks are easier to adjust, and for say 300$ more, well worth it. it all depends on what you want to spend. ya know? you get what you pay for.