Guys, need help...please

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Jan 1, 2010 | 06:13 PM

#11

spiritwarrior

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 726

Likes: 2

From: North Carolina

Love, that black ice denim, I have a blue denim and may have it repainted black ice. Way cool....

Jan 1, 2010 | 06:17 PM

#12

godjunior

Cruiser

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 245

Likes: 2

From: Quebec

I wouldn't do it either. Would make a noticeable difference in the suspension and thus the riding itself. Progressive springs aren,t that expensive.

Just my opinion

Jan 1, 2010 | 06:56 PM

#13

cactusred

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 1,027

Likes: 163

From: Grapevine Texas

I'd have to agree with the gang on this, you got a beautiful ride there, I'd

ride that sucker, do some research, shop around and then maybe throw in a progressive or some front end lowering kit. I think you could be asking for trouble if you go and cut them spacers just for a lowering effect.

Jan 1, 2010 | 07:57 PM

#14

fat_tony

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 5,865

Likes: 168

From: Potsdam, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerlab

i agree that its possible you might scrape more...but i lowered my sb 2" in the front and 1" in the rear and the ride and handling is much better then when it was stock...i also ride 2 up alot with my wife and never bottomed...the front of my bike had a mushy feel stock and after i lowered it i love it....just mt 2 cents.....

I learned a little bit about suspension tweeking when I rode a sport bike although I am far from an expert.

When you raise the rear in proportion to the front it is like like reducing the fork rake and trail (the distance the front tire contact patch is behind the steering axis) and you get quicker, lighter, more responsive steering. The effect is not from lowering the bike though, just changing this proportion the rear is raised to the front. By putting more weight on the front wheel it is also possible braking has been improved. More handling oriented bikes like the XR1200 have less trail to begin with. Sport bikes have even less.

The improvement in ride I suspect is from better springs and shocks/damping (cartridge emulators in the forks, better shocks in the rear), not from the lowering. Getting the springs right for your weight and riding style makes the biggest difference though. Basically you want just enough spring to keep the bike from ever bottoming out in the conditions you ride in. A lot of vendors have a chart to match spring rate with rider weight and bike model. Usually lowering means less suspension travel and thus reduced ability to handle bumps. The best handling would be to upgrade springs and damping without reducing suspension travel and raise the rear slightly with longer shocks. Getting the sag set properly by adjusting preload can help a lot too.

Last edited by fat_tony; Jan 1, 2010 at 08:28 PM.

Jan 1, 2010 | 08:58 PM

#15

EricInNCa

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 2,960

Likes: 26

From: Sonoma County, CA

BETTY-BOB, you don't really say "why" you want to lower the front end. Is it looks, ride height, handling, or what? You "could" get some slightly taller risers to give you the clearance you desire for the bars and then lower the forks in the triple clamps.... obviously that is going to raise your bars up higher.

Jan 2, 2010 | 08:40 AM

#16

powerlab

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 243

Likes: 2

lowering

Hey fat tony...i totally agree.I believe the progressive drop ins i put in made the difference in the handling...not lowering it.It always had a mushy feeling stock and it got rid of that...I guess what i was trying to say is that when i lowered it there was no ill effect to it...And it made the bike bad a$$ when i lowered it!! lol

Jan 2, 2010 | 09:07 AM

#17

SBRob

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2008

Posts: 7,657

Likes: 4,901

From: Missouri City,TX

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricInNCa

Yea, Loner Industries has a 1" riser for the '08-'10 Street Bob that's a simple bolt on. You could then raise the fork tubes up 1" (to lower) and not hit the bars, but it will raise the height of you bars slightly and also add a slight amount of pull back.

As some others stated, it will change the geometery and quicken the steering a bit as well if you don't lower the rear in proportion to the front.

Last edited by SBRob; Jan 2, 2010 at 09:17 AM.

Jan 2, 2010 | 09:27 AM

#18

SC-Longhair

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 11,483

Likes: 39

From: Passaic County, NJ

Why not just raise the forks up in the triple trees? You could essentially lower your front end ~3/4-1" or so based on the pic of the trees regarding clearance between top of the tube / bottom of the handlebars.