Lowering a Street Bob?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 822
Likes: 4
From: Huntsville, AL
Lowering a Street Bob?
Ok first, I need suggestions on lowering kits for the Street Bob. My wife asked last night if its possible to lower hers 1" more so her feet would be completely flat. Apparently the new C&C fastback seat actually raised her up over the stock solo instead of down an inch as was told. No biggy, she loves the seat so down the bike goes. I have seen the $50 kits on ebay for the 1" rear. Any comments good or bad on these?
Question 2.
Back in 05 when i lowered the last bike, i lowered it by 4" in the rear and 3" in the front. Since I am only wanting to go down 1" on the Street Bob, think it would be ok just to do the rear and not the front? Any and all suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated!
Question 2.
Back in 05 when i lowered the last bike, i lowered it by 4" in the rear and 3" in the front. Since I am only wanting to go down 1" on the Street Bob, think it would be ok just to do the rear and not the front? Any and all suggestions and comments are greatly appreciated!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
lowering blocks should be fine for what you want.
down the road she may want to upgrade the suspension (at which point you can just buy shorter shocks) but for $50 you can't go wrong to let her get a feel for riding the bike lowered.
the blocks won't change the ride all that much because you're keeping the stock shocks and dropping the rear 1" and leaving the front stock won't have a dramatic effect on the handling.
down the road she may want to upgrade the suspension (at which point you can just buy shorter shocks) but for $50 you can't go wrong to let her get a feel for riding the bike lowered.
the blocks won't change the ride all that much because you're keeping the stock shocks and dropping the rear 1" and leaving the front stock won't have a dramatic effect on the handling.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 822
Likes: 4
From: Huntsville, AL
I believe your info is right, however the shocks can get costly, while some kits like the ones on ebay are so much cheaper, and if they did the same job, i would like to stay cheaper! However, if thats not the case, then I will go with the lowered shocks.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
only reason i say go for the lowering kit first is she may very well hate the ride when the bike is lowered.
if that's the case, you're out $50.
if you buy her progressives or works or something more expensive...
you're out a few hundred bucks.
conversely, if she loves the ride, instant christmas/birthday/maybe-i'll-get-a-little-for-this present: 11" progressives.
if that's the case, you're out $50.
if you buy her progressives or works or something more expensive...
you're out a few hundred bucks.
conversely, if she loves the ride, instant christmas/birthday/maybe-i'll-get-a-little-for-this present: 11" progressives.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
you dont have to spend hundreds on aftermarket shocks. Custom Chrome makes them. I paid $125 or so. Anything will ride better than stock shocks too! 11" dropped my bike like 2.5". Like it..
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DO NOT GET PROGRESSIVE SHOCKS... i have the 11 in and they blow, litteraly they blow out, and they are hard as a ROCK! sucks. for in front i have a progressive lowering kit, that i adapted a bit so they drop the bike 1.5 and not just one inch.
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville NC
Another aspect you need to look at is the clearance of exhaust.....I used progressive 412's and Im running BUB Lakesters.....granted these pipes sit low already, but I drag on right turns more than before. But anyways, what pipes are on the bike? As for the blocks.....personally I wouldnt. I thought about it cause it was cheap. Ask yourself "would I trust the the energy running through the chassis on "blocks" or going through shocks that attach to factory mounting points?"
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
There was a recent article in American Iron on suspension and they warned about altering the 'engineering' from the factory ... since they (MoCo) have put decades and millions of dollars researching how to get it just right ... whatever, dude ...
Not to rag on you, but you didn't put the warning about may cause serious injury or death ... [J/k] ....
We (or some of us anyway) do all kinds of crazy **** to our bikes that is not sanctioned by the MoCo, so if you want to use 'blocks' vice lower shocks I don't think the few degrees of change in the angle of the shocks can possibly make the bike that much more dangerous ....
Just my $0.02 ....
R/
'Chop