The rear is all done! And it works very well. See my Suspension Thump thread for more details. Next project is the front forks. Ohlins shocks are supreme, so I am looking forward to installing Ohlins cartridges in the foreseeable future.

Turning to the latest bikes, there is no doubt they should handle better than a stock Evo. The rear rubber mounts are similar to ours, but the single front mount has been replaced with smaller versions of the rear mounts and the front stabilizer has been dropped. The top stabilizer has been moved from between the heads to the front of the front head.

I know why they have moved that! To get the 6 gallon tank on. I have taken time off from my efforts recently, but have almost completed fitting one to my Evo. It was the top link that posed a challenge, so that the 'new' tank could drop down and fit properly, as it sits lower on the frame (its a little bit bigger all round, to get that extra gallon in).

Returning to handling, the rubber mounting system Harley uses was designed and patented by Erik Buell, back in the 80s. For reasons we may never know, Harley persist in not installing the rear stabilizer on the majority of their bikes, even though every Buell bike has it, as also do recent Sportsters.

Rubber by definition has a degree of 'give' in it. Harley and Buell use that to isolate engine vibration from the rest of the vehicle and passengers. But that 'give' is the enemy of good handling and road-holding. The stabilizer links you see on your evo allow the engine to vibrate in the vertical plane, but prevent lateral movement. The best and most appropriate improvement to any rubber-mount Harley is to fit that rear stabilizer link. It supports the rear mounts as Buell intended. If it works on my Firebolt, I want it on my Harleys!

The new touring frame uses similar rubber mounts to our evos, so while they have an improved set-up, they still have similar short-comings. I have only read a couple of comments here on HDF, but the stabilizer kit available from True-Track apparently (as I would expect) further improves their handling.

I do not doubt that the products of firms like Glide-Pro work, but the engineer's solution (that is my profession, after all!) is Erik Buell's design. I only wish that Harley would adopt the same approach, but at least we can add that missing link courtesy of the accessory market.

 

Well, congrats on that, GR, and job well done!! Good point about the stabilzer set up for the swingarm. I wasn't aware that the Buells had it.

I understand now that just because the MoCo didn't put one on doesn't mean it's not a good idea or a solution. Now that I think of it with the soft rubber mounts AND the stabilizer plate set up maybe you could have the best of both worlds; reduced vibration and good handling?

 

I have three of Wisconsin's finest and all three of them now have three stabilizers each!

It seems quite illogical that Harley doesn't fit three stabilizers. The darned things are cheap enough, especially if they are integral with the original design. They are easily seen on a Buell, but you will have to get down on hands and knees to find the rear one on a Sportster, tucked away on the rear wall of the transmission. That is a shining example of how easily and neatly they could be included on all Harleys.

I reckon I have the best of both worlds with my bike, plus the comfort of Ohlins shocks. Hold on, that makes the best of three worlds....

 

Anyone needing the pats to do this upgrade? I have a complete swingarm and a streetglide wheel available.

 

Price?

 

Can I just put 1" bearings in my stock wheel and use the 02 and up swingarm and axle?

 

No, for several reasons. The 1" bearings have a greater OD than your 3/4" ones, also they have sealed bearings, not tapered. However that also means your brake rotor and pulley may not fit. I replaced the swingarm, wheel, brake caliper and disc as being the easiest way around the swap.

 

Good to know..........that will be the next thing on the list to save for, after I get it on the road.

 

300.00

 

Can you comment on final gearing? Did the later swing arm/rear fork make any difference to the number of teeth on your belt?

I am working on ...

Front pulley - Rear pulley - BeltHow does the 32 + 64 ride?

Ah, it's possibly answered, here at 139T but I don't know of any differences between the 1990 and 1996 swing arms. Damn ... not more shopping and shipping!
Bangs for bucks question ...

In the name of science, or rather economics, I'm wonder which is the most bang for bucks ...

Going up to a 1" axle set up, requiring a new swingarm and wheel etc, or sticking with a 3/4" set up and just buying better shocks?

I'm guessing, if you have an engine in standard tune, sticking with 3/4" setup and going for the quality shocks. However, in your case you have a much beefier motor and additional passenger weight to contend with (no offence to the missus intended).

For me, this all started as a search for better budget brakes though the instability of the RK at speed shocked me.

Believe it or not, wielding my own spanners, it was cheaper to upgrade a 1996 Road King to a 1" axle set up front and rear, and use Harley 4 pot calipers (which are good enough), than buy a good set of aftermarket brake calipers to suit the OEM set up ... I'll post my final budget as a guide after I sell the old parts. I am still in strip down mode right now.

Once I do, I think I'll be able to afford going up to an H-D Brembo set.