lowering my wife's 96 sportster help
lowering my wife's 96 sportster help
Hey all
Got my wife a graduation present of a 1200 custom sportster. Will regular lowering blocks work or is the custom rear suspension different in the custom than other models?
She doesn't have a good leg angle on it,
Jesse
Got my wife a graduation present of a 1200 custom sportster. Will regular lowering blocks work or is the custom rear suspension different in the custom than other models?
She doesn't have a good leg angle on it,
Jesse
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,196
Likes: 3,085
From: NW AR
I doubt the Custom is different. You could experiment with the lowering blocks and see how it goes.
What does the seat look like? I trimmed the foam out of the seat on Dr.Linda's bike and picked up another 3/4" or so. Made a big difference. Her's is the Hugger model, which was lower from the factory.
What does the seat look like? I trimmed the foam out of the seat on Dr.Linda's bike and picked up another 3/4" or so. Made a big difference. Her's is the Hugger model, which was lower from the factory.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Jesse, before working on her bike see what you can do to improve your wife's leg reach. There are thick soled boots available that will give her a better footing and improve her reach, all in one go. You may also find that trimming the edges of her current seat will improve things for her as well. The shape of things around that critical area from her shapely bum to where her thighs pass the frame has great scope for improvement - the bike that is, not...... 
As an engineer I wouldn't allow those lowering blocks anywhere near my bikes, there are better ways of reducing seat height, if necessary.
As an engineer I wouldn't allow those lowering blocks anywhere near my bikes, there are better ways of reducing seat height, if necessary.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Kingston, Ontario
DO NOT use lowering blocks, they will give you a horrible ride and are known to crack and bend frames. There are several ways to lower the bike Burly makes a drop kit for it and a lot of the XL guys are using the air shocks of a street glides or baggers if you do a search on the sportster form you will find a LOT of material on this subject.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 633
Likes: 1
From: Sterling Heights, MI
Check out ths link. Burly Slammmer shocks should easily lower it up to two and a half inches.
http://www.burlybrand.com/suspension/index.aspx
http://www.burlybrand.com/suspension/index.aspx
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,088
Likes: 2
From: Mo
Whatever you decide,the bike will be lower.So take that into consideration when she or you ride it!! Things WILL be lower to the ground and WILL scrub on hard cornering!
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
shorter shocks an having the seat done is the direction I'd go. Pick up the hugger shocks if the burly brand to too expensive. an send that seat off. I picked up a reach seat for my v rod since the forward controls are a little too far up for me an it made a nice difference.
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