10.5" Shocks on '01 883 Hugger
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Stage II
Joined: Mar 2019
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From: Duluth, MN
10.5" Shocks on '01 883 Hugger
First time posting here, be nice! 
Wife and I purchased (for her) a '01 Hugger last summer for a song and a dance. She rode it for the season (up in here in Northern MN that means roughly 3.5 weeks at the end of July, if we're lucky), and she loved it, but it felt (and looked) a little tall in the saddle for her. She's about 5'6" and was barely flat-footed even in her thick soled riding boots. She had just graduated from a Rebel 250, so we chalked the ride difference up to it simply being a real bike versus a toy. At any rate, we put the bikes up for the winter and prepared for endless snow.
Getting the bike ready for spring this weekend, I measured and the shocks are a hefty 13.5" and seat height was just a touch over 29". A little research at the time seemed to indicate that stock shocks for the Hugger were 11.5" or maybe 11 7/8", and seat height was reported as a "low" 27".
OK, finally my question: OK to install lower than stock shocks, such as the Burly Slammers (10.5"), or should I stick with going back to stock height? I understand its mostly about preference, and her preference would be to sit as low as possible, but are there issues with bottoming out, kickstand length, etc she should be concerned about? Should forks be lowered at the same time?
I apologize if these are eye-rolling, newb questions, but I'm 6'4" and feel totally comfortable on her bike (although not as comfy and secure as on my 2004 Bonneville ). It's feels a bit like my '74 XS650, but I do feel like it's a bit high; especially for a bike touted as being low.
TIA for any help or suggestions or comments!
MoHal
Wife and I purchased (for her) a '01 Hugger last summer for a song and a dance. She rode it for the season (up in here in Northern MN that means roughly 3.5 weeks at the end of July, if we're lucky), and she loved it, but it felt (and looked) a little tall in the saddle for her. She's about 5'6" and was barely flat-footed even in her thick soled riding boots. She had just graduated from a Rebel 250, so we chalked the ride difference up to it simply being a real bike versus a toy. At any rate, we put the bikes up for the winter and prepared for endless snow.
Getting the bike ready for spring this weekend, I measured and the shocks are a hefty 13.5" and seat height was just a touch over 29". A little research at the time seemed to indicate that stock shocks for the Hugger were 11.5" or maybe 11 7/8", and seat height was reported as a "low" 27".
OK, finally my question: OK to install lower than stock shocks, such as the Burly Slammers (10.5"), or should I stick with going back to stock height? I understand its mostly about preference, and her preference would be to sit as low as possible, but are there issues with bottoming out, kickstand length, etc she should be concerned about? Should forks be lowered at the same time?
I apologize if these are eye-rolling, newb questions, but I'm 6'4" and feel totally comfortable on her bike (although not as comfy and secure as on my 2004 Bonneville
). It's feels a bit like my '74 XS650, but I do feel like it's a bit high; especially for a bike touted as being low.TIA for any help or suggestions or comments!
MoHal
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