Fat Bob suspension upgrade question
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
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From: in a BIG mansion with servants
Improving the suspension alone will only help so much, as a large part of the poor ride is due to the heavy-as-a-boat-anchor wheel assemblies.
I would pay $$$ for a set of light weight assemblies if anyone sold them, but no one does. The seemingly endless number of aftermarket wheels for sale for Harleys are cosmetically different than stock, but that has no effect on performance. They're no lighter than the original ones, or not enough to make a difference. And to my engineer's eye, most look pretty feeble due to the spoke designs made to look stylish, strength be damned.
And it's not just the wheels, it's the brake calipers, caliper carriers, cheap pie plate rotors, solid axles, crude tires, steel swingarms - the whole assembly belongs on a 50's Buick.
The resulting high unsprung weight is what gives these bikes their poor response to sharp bumps, that "wearing cement overshoes" feeling.
The obvious answer is to fit a set of modern sport bike wheel assemblies. Unfortunately they're engineered for a bike that weighs half as much and I would be worried about wheel failure if (when) I hit a pothole.
I would pay $$$ for a set of light weight assemblies if anyone sold them, but no one does. The seemingly endless number of aftermarket wheels for sale for Harleys are cosmetically different than stock, but that has no effect on performance. They're no lighter than the original ones, or not enough to make a difference. And to my engineer's eye, most look pretty feeble due to the spoke designs made to look stylish, strength be damned.
And it's not just the wheels, it's the brake calipers, caliper carriers, cheap pie plate rotors, solid axles, crude tires, steel swingarms - the whole assembly belongs on a 50's Buick.
The resulting high unsprung weight is what gives these bikes their poor response to sharp bumps, that "wearing cement overshoes" feeling.
The obvious answer is to fit a set of modern sport bike wheel assemblies. Unfortunately they're engineered for a bike that weighs half as much and I would be worried about wheel failure if (when) I hit a pothole.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: in a BIG mansion with servants
LOL, I like mine too.
That's why the shortcomings irritate me so much, otherwise I wouldn't care.
That's why the shortcomings irritate me so much, otherwise I wouldn't care.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 172
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From: IL
A real nasty bump can be dangerous no matter what shocks you have on. The touring shocks have at least as much travel as the 12" stock shocks I replaced and handle rough roads much better.
The guy I bought my Touring shocks from dumped the stock shocks so he could lower his bike. I think he had 11.5" Progressive 440s on his bike. He said he was eventually going to replace the 11.5" shocks because the ride was too harsh. He wanted to thy 12" shocks because he liked the lowered look.
I've also installed a True Track, which is another option you may want to consider to maintian stability when going around bumpy curves.
Last edited by clang; Apr 30, 2013 at 09:48 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 499
From: Alberta
More or less what Lucky Dave said...I just did 2000 miles in the Ozarks on my 'Bob and after my FXDXT, it's no comparison...biggest culprit is the huge unsprung mass. I'll eventually be going for spoked wheels with aluminum rims, composite rotors and an aluminum swingarm as I had on my FXDXT...that bike handled well for a Dyna without $$$ suspension replacements and I'm sure there's room for improvement on the FXDF. It rode well enough on the smooth pavement and I like the larger front tire too, but as soon as the road got a little choppy you could feel the unsprung weight working against you. BTW; Ozarks with a Butler M/C map is the best riding I've had EVER...
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: IL
It looks like you thought this out more completely than many, have you ever considered using the wheels, etc from a Gold Wing? They've been around so long you can probably get salvage parts cheap and they mght be able to reduce unsprung weight significantly.
For the record - I also have a Buell Ulysses. I doubt there is anything I can do to make my Fat Bob handle half as well as the Uly, and the Uly was the Adventure bike from Buell, the sport bikes handle even better.
Last edited by clang; May 1, 2013 at 08:47 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
I'm running the Ricor Intimidators up front, RSD preload adjusters (cause I like to tweak) and Ricor 13" Sport Tuned rear shocks. I went longer on the rear for increased ground clearance. I ride pretty hard and am still tweaking the front end in. As for the rear, I'm pretty happy. I also have the True-Track which has gotten rid of the high speed rear end "swapping".
Good luck! Many options available and obviously cost is the deciding factor. How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go??? LOL
Good luck! Many options available and obviously cost is the deciding factor. How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go??? LOL
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 65
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From: in a BIG mansion with servants
It's interesting that several of us Fat bob owners have gone to longer rear shocks to increase ground clearance (and provide more travel) when it seems like everyone else is lowering their bikes.
I suppose aggressive riders (guys coming from sport bikes) choosing a Fat Bob as their first Harley is not too surprising as the Fat Bob is the "sport bike" of the current big twin line. Yeah, I know, it's a sport bike like dish soap is rocket ships, but it's the best of the breed in that respect.
I suppose aggressive riders (guys coming from sport bikes) choosing a Fat Bob as their first Harley is not too surprising as the Fat Bob is the "sport bike" of the current big twin line. Yeah, I know, it's a sport bike like dish soap is rocket ships, but it's the best of the breed in that respect.
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