Lowering Just Rear?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 4
From: NC
I hear ya loud and clear boss... Nothin wrong with looking good at a speed where you can enjoy the view. Have Pride in Your Ride, and make it your own. In your case drop both ends then, that is best.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 53
Likes: 2
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,998
Likes: 14
From: Central Ohio
I also recommend lowering both ends.
I lowered mine with the 1.75" drop blocks in the rear... that was a bit to much so I subtracted .25" by using the square rubber pads from the bottom of a spare stock seat between the blocks and swing arm...
I rode it around for a couple months, it seemed to ride just fine.
Then I lowered the front by sliding the forks up the trees 1" and changed the fluid to the Screaming Eagle Heavy oil.
It rides much much better!
I rode it around for a couple months then slide the forks up another .5", (for looks)... it rode like sh*t, so the next day I set em back to 1".
The rear shock pre-load setting of 2 and the fork oil swap in the front has worked very well for me for the last 9,000 miles.
Regular service for the front fork oil is to Disassemble, lubricate & inspect every 80,000 miles. I'm glad I changed mine at 27,500... the stock oil looked like sh*t.
Total cost on my suspension mod = $52 (I got the blocks off EBay).
I lowered mine with the 1.75" drop blocks in the rear... that was a bit to much so I subtracted .25" by using the square rubber pads from the bottom of a spare stock seat between the blocks and swing arm...
I rode it around for a couple months, it seemed to ride just fine.
Then I lowered the front by sliding the forks up the trees 1" and changed the fluid to the Screaming Eagle Heavy oil.
It rides much much better!
I rode it around for a couple months then slide the forks up another .5", (for looks)... it rode like sh*t, so the next day I set em back to 1".
The rear shock pre-load setting of 2 and the fork oil swap in the front has worked very well for me for the last 9,000 miles.
Regular service for the front fork oil is to Disassemble, lubricate & inspect every 80,000 miles. I'm glad I changed mine at 27,500... the stock oil looked like sh*t.
Total cost on my suspension mod = $52 (I got the blocks off EBay).
Last edited by 08fxdf43202; Mar 28, 2011 at 08:00 AM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,611
Likes: 9,041
From: In My Boots
I just got done(I'm new to HD) raising the back of my Lowrider !/2" and then the forks 2". ....I loved the look of the "low" Low rider but the bottoming and scraping while riding fun roads was annoying to me. I guess it's not a lowrider anymore but looks cool and no more bottoming or frame sparks.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 684
Likes: 1
From: Colorado
You know if you are going for the look of a low back end and high front end - you might be able to get what you are looking for by using a tank lift kit. This will give you the appearance of a higher front end without changing the suspension.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: manchester, UK
had my 2003 fxdl rear lowered with burly slammers for a month now, no noticeable difference in handling apart from im pretty cautious to lean too far right around corners as my long shots are angled a little downwards towards the back so they can scrape the road on tighter corners, only the back though.
im not lowering the front, mainly because of speed bumps, on my way to work i have a lot of pot holes, the slammers are tolerable on these, but i wouldnt want any harder suspension in the front as its quite a shock on the hands and arms as it is.
the speed bumps at the local ASDA (walmart) are just high enough to hit the chassis on the shock rebound if i go over them anything over walking speed.
lowering the front would not do me any favours.
im sure there is a limit to practicality, but as this is my only transport and my only way of getting around, i still have to keep some sensibility. saying that , i have 16inch apes to fit in the next few weeks,
i have a sat nav plug installed tho, thats kinda practical right?
im not lowering the front, mainly because of speed bumps, on my way to work i have a lot of pot holes, the slammers are tolerable on these, but i wouldnt want any harder suspension in the front as its quite a shock on the hands and arms as it is.
the speed bumps at the local ASDA (walmart) are just high enough to hit the chassis on the shock rebound if i go over them anything over walking speed.
lowering the front would not do me any favours.
im sure there is a limit to practicality, but as this is my only transport and my only way of getting around, i still have to keep some sensibility. saying that , i have 16inch apes to fit in the next few weeks,
i have a sat nav plug installed tho, thats kinda practical right?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 292
Likes: 4
From: New Philadelphia, OH
It always cracks me up when someone has a question about lowering their bike and someone else has to leave a post about raising the bike instead. It's not like the OP is gonna have an epiphany and suddenly change his whole outlook on what he thinks looks good. Let the guy do what he wants. It's his scooter, after all. I say lower the rear and ride the thing. All it does is artificially increase the rake, which won't really hurt handling much at all. If you don't like that setup you can always drop the front for free.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
From: swifton,ar
i used 1.75 drop blocks from tamarac and left the front alone.. love the ride and look of my ride!! its ALL in owner preference
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4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 8
Likes: 9
From: Pennsylvania
Rake & lower sportster.
Hi everyone. I need some input. I have a 1987 sportster I am going to cut & rake the neck to get a true 35 degrees out of it & I'm lowering the rear 4 inches... This is my father's old bike & I wanna build it nice & custom like he always wanted it to be. We lost h last yr & he never had a chance to build it the way he wanted. Btw I am a race car fabricator and doing the work myself so I'm well aware of structural strength once I cut the fork neck. Thanks any input would b great.