Dragging pipes?
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From:
Dragging pipes?
I have a 08 Wide Glide and have almost ground off the mounting bolts on the lower pipe. I am asking those of you with aftermarket pipes if you have this problem? Specificly those of you with vh big radius, I am planning on these in the next month, do you drag any part of the pipes? Or are the pipes high enough to avoid this? Thanks for you help.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 109
From: Mesa, Az.
RE: Dragging pipes?
I also have an '08 Wide Glide, but with V&H Big Shots Staggered. The only thing I've scraped is the heel rests on my Kuryakyn pegs.
My brother has an '06 Deuce and has ground over 1/2" off the ends ofhis Big Radius pipes.
My brother has an '06 Deuce and has ground over 1/2" off the ends ofhis Big Radius pipes.
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Dragging pipes?
Yeah I am not to excited about scrapping up the 700$ pipes. But I am not a huge fan of the scalloped tips, so if I hit them a lot I could just cut them straight off, but would much rather just leave them alone.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 714
Likes: 64
From: El Paso, TX
RE: Dragging pipes?
I touched down on the right side a few times shortly after I received my new Low Rider. I had previously been riding a Yamaha R1 Sport Bike. I just figured that I had to learn how to ride this new bike without grinding hard parts. Try slowing down a bit and not leaning as far. Touch down too hard and you could lever the rear tire off the ground. Not good, in my opinion.
m.a.c.
m.a.c.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 534
Likes: 35
From: Western Australia
RE: Dragging pipes?
I dunno which one one have the most ground clearance, FXD, lowrider or an FDWG. I do know that when the exhaust clamp bolt on my FXD digs in itlifts the back wheel off the ground. It also leaves scratch marks on the bottom of my very expensive S&S pipes (I got ripped off big time when I bought those). I'd say even more expensive Big Radius pipes will suffer pretty much the same fate. If it's any consolation you do reach a point where you dont scrape anything anymore.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Seattle, WA
RE: Dragging pipes?
I have the V&H Big Radius pipes on my '07 bob and scrape the lower pipe all the time. I believe my Street Bob has the same ground clearance and lean angle as the Low Rider. Not sure about your lean angles for the '08 WG.
I scrape the foot peg first, of course, but adding a little bit more lean will start dragging the heat shield on the lower pipe. My first pic shows the lower pipe's route. It's quite a bit lower than the stock pipe route.
I love my bike and I really like the BR pipes. My only complaint with the BRs is the ground clearance on the right side. When I'm in a tight right-hand turn, though, I'm faced with making a simple choice:
A) Lean far enough to complete the turn safely and possibly scrape the lower pipe as a result.
B) Don't lean far enough and end up in oncoming traffic or ride off the road.
I don't like option B.
It's almost time to replace my foot pegs. Not much metal left on the underside before I scrape the bolt.
I've scraped the primary on left turns once or twice, too. The primary scrapes bother me a helluva lot more than heat shields.
I just live with the heat shield scrapes. I try to keep the marks clean so they don't rust. I'll have to replace the shield eventually. When it gets to that point I might shop around for a new set of pipes with better ground clearance.
[IMG]local://upfiles/27035/9E32B3498533404AAF0AFF76C01FB1A5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27035/2AAF8D85E4A04A11AEAACD53757AA1BE.jpg[/IMG]
I scrape the foot peg first, of course, but adding a little bit more lean will start dragging the heat shield on the lower pipe. My first pic shows the lower pipe's route. It's quite a bit lower than the stock pipe route.
I love my bike and I really like the BR pipes. My only complaint with the BRs is the ground clearance on the right side. When I'm in a tight right-hand turn, though, I'm faced with making a simple choice:
A) Lean far enough to complete the turn safely and possibly scrape the lower pipe as a result.
B) Don't lean far enough and end up in oncoming traffic or ride off the road.
I don't like option B.
It's almost time to replace my foot pegs. Not much metal left on the underside before I scrape the bolt.
I've scraped the primary on left turns once or twice, too. The primary scrapes bother me a helluva lot more than heat shields.
I just live with the heat shield scrapes. I try to keep the marks clean so they don't rust. I'll have to replace the shield eventually. When it gets to that point I might shop around for a new set of pipes with better ground clearance.
[IMG]local://upfiles/27035/9E32B3498533404AAF0AFF76C01FB1A5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/27035/2AAF8D85E4A04A11AEAACD53757AA1BE.jpg[/IMG]
Trending Topics
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,435
Likes: 28
From: Living in open carry state :D
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Dragging pipes?
Thanks for the replies. I want to be able to lean the bike that far over, the first time I did it I didn't think I was that far down. Now I kind of think it's fun to be able to hit them, but don't want to ruin the new pipes when I get them. Maybe I need to fab something up like the ground feelers on the pegs of my buddy's Nightster.
Anyone with a Wide Glide and the Big Radius?
Thats a long way over to get the primary!
Anyone with a Wide Glide and the Big Radius?
I've scraped the primary on left turns once or twice, too. The primary scrapes bother me a helluva lot more than heat shields.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Kamloops, British Columbia
RE: Dragging pipes?
Have you checked your rear shock preload? I used to scrape my pipes doing righthanders all the time -- I'm not a light guy (230 pounds) and I found my shock preload was set at the softest. I set it two clicks higher, and now I don't scrape. I don't notice any difference in ride comfort either.