Moving lower shock mount forward?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 59
From: Hamilton
Moving lower shock mount forward?
Okay, so since I haven't had enough people berate me for my other dumb questions, here goes:
Would moving the lower shock mount forward on my FXDX make handling better or worse?
i.e. would being more vertical help or would being further away from the rear axle hinder?
Here's what i already know:
- I can't move the upper mount rearward due to my saddlebags.
- I would have more clearance
- it's a harley, not a gsxr
- I could just buy a better set of shocks (no money)
- the FXR chassis would handle better (I'm trying to beg, borrow, steal one)
I'm just wondering about the mechanics of it.
Thanks in advance.
.
Would moving the lower shock mount forward on my FXDX make handling better or worse?
i.e. would being more vertical help or would being further away from the rear axle hinder?
Here's what i already know:
- I can't move the upper mount rearward due to my saddlebags.
- I would have more clearance
- it's a harley, not a gsxr
- I could just buy a better set of shocks (no money)
- the FXR chassis would handle better (I'm trying to beg, borrow, steal one)
I'm just wondering about the mechanics of it.
Thanks in advance.
.
Novice
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 24
Likes: 4
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Define "better". What are you trying to achieve?
Generally speaking, it will simply raise the rear end, decreasing the steering head angle (slightly). That will quicken the steering, just like raising the fork tubes in the triple clamps. Rear spring preload or damping will not be affected.
Of the 50+ street and dirt bikes I've owned and raced around on over the years, I don't see any radical changes when I do move the forks in the tubes. I'm certainly no suspension guru, either.
Generally speaking, it will simply raise the rear end, decreasing the steering head angle (slightly). That will quicken the steering, just like raising the fork tubes in the triple clamps. Rear spring preload or damping will not be affected.
Of the 50+ street and dirt bikes I've owned and raced around on over the years, I don't see any radical changes when I do move the forks in the tubes. I'm certainly no suspension guru, either.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 428
Likes: 59
From: Hamilton
Mostly I was curious if that would raise the *** end and therefore "quicken the steering".
So question answered there.
Also possibly stiffen up the rear a bit, and maybe give the shocks more of a chance for when I've got the wife on board.
So question answered there.
Also possibly stiffen up the rear a bit, and maybe give the shocks more of a chance for when I've got the wife on board.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
I'm on the prowl for a good deal on some higher-performance shocks that are slightly longer to get some ground clearance while steepening the head angle (reducing rake and trail for quicker steering.
But in the meantime, I've been thinking about doing exactly what you propose as a test by installing lowering blocks but flipped forward instead of rearward. These are available pretty cheaply for the Dyna. Here are some for my model and year: .
The response from MotoArts is mostly correct except that the EFFECTIVE spring and damping rates will be slightly changed. Move it forward of the stock position and the spring rate and damping will be higher due to the shorter lever arm from the swingarm pivot to the shock mount. The reverse happens if you move the shock mount points rearward (using those lowering blocks). For example, if the distance from the swingarm pivot to the stock position of the shock mount is 12" and you move the lower shock mount forward 1", the shock spring and damping will increase by 12/(12-1) = 1.091 or 9% more stiff. Move it rearward and it's 12/(12+1) = 0.92 or 9% softer. (haven't measured the actual length - preceding numbers are just for explanation)
In the end, installing those lowering blocks flipped around might work for you, but the correct answer is to buy longer shocks.
But in the meantime, I've been thinking about doing exactly what you propose as a test by installing lowering blocks but flipped forward instead of rearward. These are available pretty cheaply for the Dyna. Here are some for my model and year: .
The response from MotoArts is mostly correct except that the EFFECTIVE spring and damping rates will be slightly changed. Move it forward of the stock position and the spring rate and damping will be higher due to the shorter lever arm from the swingarm pivot to the shock mount. The reverse happens if you move the shock mount points rearward (using those lowering blocks). For example, if the distance from the swingarm pivot to the stock position of the shock mount is 12" and you move the lower shock mount forward 1", the shock spring and damping will increase by 12/(12-1) = 1.091 or 9% more stiff. Move it rearward and it's 12/(12+1) = 0.92 or 9% softer. (haven't measured the actual length - preceding numbers are just for explanation)
In the end, installing those lowering blocks flipped around might work for you, but the correct answer is to buy longer shocks.
Last edited by AJ88V; Dec 9, 2018 at 09:37 PM.
Okay, so since I haven't had enough people berate me for my other dumb questions, here goes:
Would moving the lower shock mount forward on my FXDX make handling better or worse?
i.e. would being more vertical help or would being further away from the rear axle hinder?
Here's what i already know:
- I can't move the upper mount rearward due to my saddlebags.
- I would have more clearance
- it's a harley, not a gsxr
- I could just buy a better set of shocks (no money)
- the FXR chassis would handle better (I'm trying to beg, borrow, steal one)
I'm just wondering about the mechanics of it.
Thanks in advance.
.
Would moving the lower shock mount forward on my FXDX make handling better or worse?
i.e. would being more vertical help or would being further away from the rear axle hinder?
Here's what i already know:
- I can't move the upper mount rearward due to my saddlebags.
- I would have more clearance
- it's a harley, not a gsxr
- I could just buy a better set of shocks (no money)
- the FXR chassis would handle better (I'm trying to beg, borrow, steal one)
I'm just wondering about the mechanics of it.
Thanks in advance.
.
You will be stiffening up the suspension, and the shocks will not operate as smoothly. You will gain some rear height, resulting in a bit quicker steering. See Report on Rake & Trail HERE.
HERE is a Report on Rear Shocks, with a bit of why & how they work and why it is important for a good ride quality AND improved handling.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 783
Likes: 179
From: Bay Area
How would you move the lower mount forward? If you want more travel why not just get the 1" shock mount extender
http://www.bungking.com/swing-arm-lift-kit/
http://www.bungking.com/swing-arm-lift-kit/
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 965
Likes: 297
From: NoVa
"The more you have a cantilever (angle) on your shocks, the smoother the shocks will operate."
You will be stiffening up the suspension, and the shocks will not operate as smoothly. You will gain some rear height, resulting in a bit quicker steering. See Report on Rake & Trail HERE.
HERE is a Report on Rear Shocks, with a bit of why & how they work and why it is important for a good ride quality AND improved handling.
You will be stiffening up the suspension, and the shocks will not operate as smoothly. You will gain some rear height, resulting in a bit quicker steering. See Report on Rake & Trail HERE.
HERE is a Report on Rear Shocks, with a bit of why & how they work and why it is important for a good ride quality AND improved handling.
How would you move the lower mount forward? If you want more travel why not just get the 1" shock mount extender
http://www.bungking.com/swing-arm-lift-kit/
http://www.bungking.com/swing-arm-lift-kit/
Last edited by AJ88V; Dec 10, 2018 at 10:17 PM.