EVO All Evo Model Discussion

Front suspension question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 19, 2017 | 09:07 PM
  #1  
Scootertrash60's Avatar
Scootertrash60
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 25
From: MN
Default Front suspension question

So I'm going to swap out the narrow glide on my 85 Low Rider for Wide Glide triple trees and I'm going to run Road King fork tubes to lower the front of the bike. I'll be buying new tubes and internals for the upgrade.

I'm going to be installing a RaceTech kit (springs and emulator valves) into the forks

Am I correct in assuming that I should run the stock Road King dampner tubes with the stock Road King fork tubes? My assumption is based on the premise that the dampner tubes are designed to work with the fork tube length, based on the different part numbers for the Wide Glides and the Road Kings.

The dampner tubes are drilled out to install the RaceTech emulators.

TIA Gents!
 
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2017 | 04:46 AM
  #2  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Wink

Two answers:
  1. I'm not happy with the Emulators I installed in my Sporty, so I can't recommend them, although the Race Tech single rate springs are fine,
  2. Road Kings came along several years after your bike, so it would make sense to simply build a set of RK forks, internals and all.
What I have found when mixing forks parts across several years is that there are subtle changes that are not compatible. For example the Lower Stop changed in 1997 and the forks may not work properly if they are not matched with the correct parts. I used later fork parts with an early tube set and had to machine mine.
 
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2017 | 08:52 PM
  #3  
Scootertrash60's Avatar
Scootertrash60
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 263
Likes: 25
From: MN
Default

Originally Posted by grbrown
Two answers:
  1. I'm not happy with the Emulators I installed in my Sporty, so I can't recommend them, although the Race Tech single rate springs are fine,
  2. Road Kings came along several years after your bike, so it would make sense to simply build a set of RK forks, internals and all.
Re #2 That's exactly what I was thinking, but wanted more input.

Re #1 Could delve a little deeper into the reasons for your dislike of the Emulators?

Are the Intimidators more efficient?

Thank You for your reply
 
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2017 | 09:12 AM
  #4  
grbrown's Avatar
grbrown
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Wink

#1. It's not a matter of disliking the Emulators, but of being disappointed with them. They simply haven't given me any noticeable improvement IMHO.

Are Intiminators more efficient? I'm not sure I can answer that, I've only used them briefly in a Glide and they were worthwhile in my experience, giving a noticable improvement, compared with the Emulators in my Sportster. However I have seen discussion on HDF comparing Intiminators and Emulators which suggested the Emulators are a better design. If that is really so they haven't given me any worthwhile improvement!

In all the years I have been a member of HDF I haven't seen any useful info on getting the best out of Emulators, if indeed they can be improved. By contrast there is some good guidance for the Intiminators when used in a Glide. I would further comment that the quality of stock Harley suspension is so poor, that many aftermarket add-ons or replacements are also suspect, by association. Few products currently available to us IMHO are truly significantly better than stock.
 
Reply
Old Jan 21, 2017 | 10:10 AM
  #5  
WP50's Avatar
WP50
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,184
Likes: 2,132
From: W. Texas
Default

Have used the RaceTech emulators on a couple of bikes. They did well for me.

DO drill out the damper tubes

WP
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
mcmahost
Touring Models
14
Sep 6, 2023 06:35 PM
MegaFauna
Touring Models
3
Nov 5, 2016 12:05 AM
Scootertrash60
EVO
4
Mar 19, 2016 11:59 AM
AlPoppa
Touring Models
6
Oct 25, 2014 02:07 AM
sportyscoop
Frame/Suspension/Front End/Brakes
7
Jul 27, 2008 05:49 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:16 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE