Lowering the rear...good vs. bad
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 460
Likes: 1
From: Western KY
Lowering the rear...good vs. bad
Hey everybody...sorry if this is a repeat thread, but i searched a little and couldn't find what I wanted....and I'm busy at work :P
I'm thinking of lowering the rear (only) of the FXD. My intent is 1.75 inches.
For those of you who have lowered the rear of your Dyna's:
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
I am only thinking of doing it for looks....unless there is a postive handling/riding result as well that I don't know about.
I'm assuming it would lower your center of gravity a little which could be a plus, but that may be offset by losing a little clearance...however, I'm not racing it so very minor differences won't be a factor for me.
Thanks ya'll
I'm thinking of lowering the rear (only) of the FXD. My intent is 1.75 inches.
For those of you who have lowered the rear of your Dyna's:
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
I am only thinking of doing it for looks....unless there is a postive handling/riding result as well that I don't know about.
I'm assuming it would lower your center of gravity a little which could be a plus, but that may be offset by losing a little clearance...however, I'm not racing it so very minor differences won't be a factor for me.
Thanks ya'll
Last edited by Glydiator; Jan 27, 2010 at 10:07 AM. Reason: coz i dont spel goode
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Peachtree City, GA
Hey everybody...sorry if this is a repeat thread, but i searched a little and couldn't find what I wanted....and I'm busy at work :P
I'm thinking of lowering the rear (only) of the FXD. My intent is 1.75 inches.
For those of you who have lowered the rear of your Dyna's:
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
I am only thinking of doing it for looks....unless there is a postive handling/riding result as well that I don't know about.
I'm assuming it would lower your center of gravity a little which could be a plus, but that may be offset by losing a little clearance...however, I'm not racing it so minor issues won't bother me I don't think.
Thanks ya'll
I'm thinking of lowering the rear (only) of the FXD. My intent is 1.75 inches.
For those of you who have lowered the rear of your Dyna's:
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
I am only thinking of doing it for looks....unless there is a postive handling/riding result as well that I don't know about.
I'm assuming it would lower your center of gravity a little which could be a plus, but that may be offset by losing a little clearance...however, I'm not racing it so minor issues won't bother me I don't think.
Thanks ya'll
1. Lowered the front as well, no change in handling to me, but sometimes drug pegs in turns.
2. Seemed to bottom out easier, but the FXDL botttoms out before my Heritage without the lowering kit - probably the extra 20 lbs I'm carrying.
3. Passenger okay, but bottoming out mentioned earllier.
4. As I said - HD blocks
5. Moved it back to stock and am keeping the blocks in case I change my mind. I'm happy stock, but the Lowrider already is a little lower than yours.
Good Luck
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 577
Likes: 4
I think it might depend on how you lower it. If you use shorter shocks, you will degrade an already poor ride....as you probably know, the stock shocks are low quality and have limited travel. Plus, you will lose cornering ability.
If these don't matter, it might look cool.
If these don't matter, it might look cool.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 7,465
Likes: 15
From: Corona, Ca
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?------NOT REALLY ENOUGHT TO NOTICE
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.--RIDES A LITTLE MORE RIGID BUT NOT BAD AT ALL
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?---YES I HAVE PROGRESSIVE 11" 412 HD'S AND I RIDE TWO UP JUST FINE
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend? ----REFER TO ANSWER #3
5. Or...do you recommend it at all? I LIKE IT FOR LOOKS ALSO SO YES
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.--RIDES A LITTLE MORE RIGID BUT NOT BAD AT ALL
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?---YES I HAVE PROGRESSIVE 11" 412 HD'S AND I RIDE TWO UP JUST FINE
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend? ----REFER TO ANSWER #3
5. Or...do you recommend it at all? I LIKE IT FOR LOOKS ALSO SO YES
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson, Oregon
Just did mine with 1" blocks.
My impressions:
Did not affect MY bikes handling, still can take the 50-60 mph sweepers without wobble or anything, but as I have said before maybe I don't push my bike like some that feel the need for tru-tracks, fork braces, etc.
Sure you'll lose some angle and cornering clearance, but again, I don't push it hard enough for it to matter to me.
I don't ride two up. Can't help you there, but common sense would say yes, you could bottom out more if your weight is high two up and don't adjust preload enough.
I started with a street bob, so essentially like the poster above, a lowrider. Your FXD has longer shocks so you may get away with lowering it that extra .75"...I tried lowering blocks and planned to go with better shocks to lower it "correctly", but honestly, for $30 bucks shipped to me they are working well. I'd order them, use them on YOUR bike with YOUR riding style and make the judgment call.
I think it looks great and plan to lower my front with drop in springs, but only 1".
My impressions:
Did not affect MY bikes handling, still can take the 50-60 mph sweepers without wobble or anything, but as I have said before maybe I don't push my bike like some that feel the need for tru-tracks, fork braces, etc.
Sure you'll lose some angle and cornering clearance, but again, I don't push it hard enough for it to matter to me.
I don't ride two up. Can't help you there, but common sense would say yes, you could bottom out more if your weight is high two up and don't adjust preload enough.
I started with a street bob, so essentially like the poster above, a lowrider. Your FXD has longer shocks so you may get away with lowering it that extra .75"...I tried lowering blocks and planned to go with better shocks to lower it "correctly", but honestly, for $30 bucks shipped to me they are working well. I'd order them, use them on YOUR bike with YOUR riding style and make the judgment call.
I think it looks great and plan to lower my front with drop in springs, but only 1".
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
you can lower the bike and improve the ride dramatically. you buy Ohlins or works performance shock in either a 12" or 11.5" version. If you buy progressive shocks the ride will suck unless you only ride smooth roads. Handling will improve with my recommended shocks(Ohlins). You will loose some lean angle. You scraping pegs and parts now? If so, don't lower the bike! It will only get worse. If your a lethargic rider, you could lower the bike without any problems scraping. I would also say it is best to lower the front as well. this will keep the geometry more along the lines of how the bike is now. With my 12" ohlins I float over bumps, stick like glue around corners, and never bottom out. I do scrape my tailpipe and pegs way before I want to though. To me the 12" shocks are the perfect compromise, enough lean angle to still corner pretty fast, plenty of travel for a great suspension to handle anything the road delivers, and it looks great at this ride height... The 12" shocks will drop the rear about 3/4 of an inch. 11.5" ones will bring you where you mentioned in your post.
Last edited by rounder; Jan 27, 2010 at 01:09 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 3
From: Oklahoma City, OK
I hate to be a party pooper….and I don’t even have a lowered Dyna, but did have a Nightster and even with 412s it sucked! Too low to not bottom out (I’m 240lbs+ too though).
My Street Bob has just enough clearance and I wouldn’t trade for the lowered look for anything! Not saying that it doesn’t look cool on some of the bikes here, but I would never sacrifice the ride myself. Been there and it sucked.
Again, sorry, I know I don’t have a lowered Dyna and should keep it zipped, but from my experience on the lower Nightster I can tell you there is no looking back.
My Street Bob has just enough clearance and I wouldn’t trade for the lowered look for anything! Not saying that it doesn’t look cool on some of the bikes here, but I would never sacrifice the ride myself. Been there and it sucked.
Again, sorry, I know I don’t have a lowered Dyna and should keep it zipped, but from my experience on the lower Nightster I can tell you there is no looking back.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 1
From: ,,
1. Does it change the handling in a pos/neg way?
I push the hell out of my bike, the reduced lean angle gets on my nerves a lot. Also the ride is much harsher. Harsher Ride = Slower on rougher roads.
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
It's a harsher ride, so i have to go slower and it's much less comfortable but not by much. I've never bottomed out but I'm light.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
All the time.
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
11" 412 Heavy Duty Progressives, I usually don't recommend them unless you are ok with the harsher ride.
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
Personally I love the looks of the lowered bike but if you push the machine hard in the corners you may regret it. Personally I kinda backed my self in to a corner with my fender due to how terrible it looks on anything taller then 11s.
Still wouldn't change it though, I love the set up I just have to deal with the lean angle and the rough road issue.
I push the hell out of my bike, the reduced lean angle gets on my nerves a lot. Also the ride is much harsher. Harsher Ride = Slower on rougher roads.
2. How did it affect the ride in regards to stiffness, comfort, bottoming out, etc.
It's a harsher ride, so i have to go slower and it's much less comfortable but not by much. I've never bottomed out but I'm light.
3. Can you still do 2 up riding safely?
All the time.
4. What lowering kits did you get, and what do you recommend?
11" 412 Heavy Duty Progressives, I usually don't recommend them unless you are ok with the harsher ride.
5. Or...do you recommend it at all?
Personally I love the looks of the lowered bike but if you push the machine hard in the corners you may regret it. Personally I kinda backed my self in to a corner with my fender due to how terrible it looks on anything taller then 11s.
Still wouldn't change it though, I love the set up I just have to deal with the lean angle and the rough road issue.
Last edited by r00k; Jan 27, 2010 at 04:21 PM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
I lowered mine with 11" heavy duty Progressives.The ride is harsh but I also have a bare bones seat. It did increase the Dynas tendancy to wobble in high speed sweepers until I added Progressive springs and lowered the front.If you have an 07 you should already have the 12" shocks so you would have to go with 11 to see any real difference.The heavy duty shocks don't compress anywhere near as much as the stockers under load so I didn't loose much cornering clearance .I haven't ridden with a passenger but these shocks are so stiff I feel pretty confident they could handle it.Would I recommend it at all, no, in fact if I had it to do over again I'd get a set of 12" air shocks and call it a day.
...me too
Personally I kinda backed my self in to a corner with my fender due to how terrible it looks on anything taller then 11s.
Last edited by SPECIAL ED; Jan 27, 2010 at 04:29 PM.
