Taller shocks mess up handling?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
Likes: 482
From: MA
Taller shocks mess up handling?
Hey guys, new to the forums but not to bikes. I love the Dynas (fxdx particularly) set up for handling. My bike right now is low and slow - next bike will be set up to go fast and rip in the corners.
Anyway, my question is for the guys running taller rear shocks. My background is dirt-bikes, so I get the added ground clearance, performance and adjustability that upgraded suspension gives...but, when you raise the rear, wouldn't that have an ill effect in the handling? I have always been told that what you do to the front, you do to the rear, and vice versa.
For example: If you raise the rear two inches, you want to raise the front two inches to keep the correct steering geometry. Am I thinking too much about this?
Do you guys with experience on this have any input, noticed any negative effects? Thanks!
Anyway, my question is for the guys running taller rear shocks. My background is dirt-bikes, so I get the added ground clearance, performance and adjustability that upgraded suspension gives...but, when you raise the rear, wouldn't that have an ill effect in the handling? I have always been told that what you do to the front, you do to the rear, and vice versa.
For example: If you raise the rear two inches, you want to raise the front two inches to keep the correct steering geometry. Am I thinking too much about this?
Do you guys with experience on this have any input, noticed any negative effects? Thanks!
senior experienced all-knowing leader of the unwise
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 351
From: USA
One thing to remember on the FXDX, the rear shocks are taller but the unloaded front forks are 1" longer. I let a buddy borrow mine last year and i rode beside him on my other bike. It's interesting to watch the FXDX suspension work when set soft for highway travel. It absorbs all the bumps while the rider remains motionless. I have ridden with touring bikes and just rolled over bumps that jarred them almost out of their seats. When you get in the mountains, just remember your presets for hard riding and reset the suspension.
Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: Bangor, Me
Went with 13.5" in the back and put some progressive springs and Intiminators in the front. Definitely better handling and I'd say that's the way to go. Harley's are raked enough that anything under about 14" will just level the bike off which improves handling. The reason for the stiffer front end is to prevent brake dives and make the front better set up to hold more of the weight of the bike.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 16
From: Nor Cal
I went from 11.5" shocks to FXDX shocks which I think are 13.5". It made a world of a difference, rode like it was a different bike. But I have a FXDP which as the same frame geometry as the sport.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 46
From: East Hartford, CT
I installed 12.6 rear shocks and the works triple rated stunt springs along with the intiminators and ride through the corners with no dragging anything.
With a slightly upswept exhaust it works out well for the twisties.
With a slightly upswept exhaust it works out well for the twisties.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 4,990
Likes: 9
From: Marina del Rey
Why should it surprise you that, when some amateur decides to arbitrarily modify the suspension geometry, it screws up the stock bike's handling?
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 804
Likes: 1
From: 415
The stock steering geometry on a dyna is relaxed. Lifting the rear 2" only quickens responsiveness a bit, it doesn't overdo it. It's not like an mx bike which has extremely quick steering to begin with. Apples to oranges.
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