Wide Glide Suspension help
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 461
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From: Glendale, AZ
Wide Glide Suspension help
I'm thinking about putting 12" progressive 440's on the rear of my WG. The stock ones are12.6" so only dropping down about 1/2". Has any other WG owners done this? Good, bad, no real difference?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 971
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From: Mid USA
RE: Wide Glide Suspension help
I have 440 12 inch shocks on an 06 Wide Glide. The height difference is subtle but it is there. The sag on the 12 inch shocks will mean that the shock length will be about 11.5 inches when standing straight up and unloaded. Still thatâs only .5 inches lower than stock. The ride has definitely improved when compared to the ride with the OEM shocks. Other than that, the jiffy stand will seem to be a little to low or long. You may have to rock the bike slightly to the right to get the stand down or up. It is a little more pronounced if you are on a slope and the stand is on the up slope side, but it is not that bad. If the shocks were 11.5 or shorter before instillation I think that I would be looking for a shorter stand. I put the 12 inch shocks on for the same reason that you mentioned, I did not want to lower the front end and was just looking for a little better ride and a subtle drop in height.At this timeI am quite pleased with the result. (The pic in my sig is old, there have been quite a few changes in the bike since it was posted, guess I need to up date it.)
Arcane
Arcane
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 461
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From: Glendale, AZ
RE: Wide Glide Suspension help
Thanks for the reply. When I measure my stock shocks on the bike unloaded they are a hair over 12.5", you say the 12" progressives sit at 11.5" unloaded? Are the stock ones really 13" shocks?
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Glendale, AZ
RE: Wide Glide Suspension help
Arcane, sorry to ask you another question but did you also change the front springs out for progressives?
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 971
Likes: 2
From: Mid USA
RE: Wide Glide Suspension help
The stock rear shocks are 12.5 inches eye to eye, but unloaded sag will make them 12 inches eye to eye. The amount of preload that you are using can influence the amount of sag. If you tighten it enough it will reduce the amount of sag but it can result in a pretty harsh ride. I did not change the front end, but I will sometime this summer. I think I will try heaver oil in the fork tubes and the progressive springs, all that I really want to do is kill the front end dive and firm up the handling. If my bike is on the jiffy stand my shocks will measure a little longer than 11.5 inches but if I put my bike on the stand and it is straight up then the shocks will measure 11.5 inches eye to eye. (The stand that I refer to is a front wheel capture stand.)
Arcane
Arcane
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 971
Likes: 2
From: Mid USA
RE: Wide Glide Suspension help
I would say that it would be dependant on where the vertical measurement was made. If you measured the vertical distance at the rear axle then yes it will be close to 3/4 or1 inch. The farther back towards the tail of the bike that measurement is taken the more pronounced it will be. If you measure the distance at the pivot point of the swing arm it will be close to .5 inches. (This is how much you have really lowered the frame.) Stand the bike upright remove the seat and measure the distance from the top of the frame rails to the ground You find the frame is closer to .5 inches lower than stock.I can certainly be wrong but to me, lowering the bike is lowering the frame and that is what I base my measurements on.
Hopefully some of the members that are more knowledgeable on this subject will ring in and set me straight on this lowering the bike business.
Arcane
Hopefully some of the members that are more knowledgeable on this subject will ring in and set me straight on this lowering the bike business.
Arcane