lowering the low rider.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Bossier City, LA
RE: lowering the low rider.
I think I can contribute to some front end questions here. I speak from hard experience...
1. The bike.... 04 Lowrider
2. The quest....chop it ( or as much as my wife will let me get away with.)
The problem.... keep the bike level and rake and trail the same or as close as possible.
I start with stock rake of 32*, add 3* neck bearing and cup set. Next, change front end to stock FXST/FXWG with a built in 3* rake.
Using rake and trail calculator I decided 4" of tube extension would do the trick... WRONG. After putting on the tubes I was about 2" higher in the front. OK, no problemo just sell the new tubes on ebay and take a 30% loss and buy another set of 2" over tubes. Install these and I am still about 1" higher in the front, plus it handles still a little heavier then stock.
I am thinking now with a 5* tree I would still be within rake and trail limits. That would also drop my front end about .25"... Also, with a progressive lowering kit ( 1" ) in the front and 11" 412's in the rear I hope to get this darn thing down to where I want it......
Lessons learned......
1. The stock length of the forks on a wide glide are already about 3" longer then the Lowrider!!
2. Do not expect a drop in the front end with rake.. Somewhere around .2" for every 1*
1. The bike.... 04 Lowrider
2. The quest....chop it ( or as much as my wife will let me get away with.)
The problem.... keep the bike level and rake and trail the same or as close as possible.
I start with stock rake of 32*, add 3* neck bearing and cup set. Next, change front end to stock FXST/FXWG with a built in 3* rake.
Using rake and trail calculator I decided 4" of tube extension would do the trick... WRONG. After putting on the tubes I was about 2" higher in the front. OK, no problemo just sell the new tubes on ebay and take a 30% loss and buy another set of 2" over tubes. Install these and I am still about 1" higher in the front, plus it handles still a little heavier then stock.
I am thinking now with a 5* tree I would still be within rake and trail limits. That would also drop my front end about .25"... Also, with a progressive lowering kit ( 1" ) in the front and 11" 412's in the rear I hope to get this darn thing down to where I want it......
Lessons learned......
1. The stock length of the forks on a wide glide are already about 3" longer then the Lowrider!!
2. Do not expect a drop in the front end with rake.. Somewhere around .2" for every 1*
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