Lowering Front end
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Atlanta
Lowering Front end
Hi Everyone,
I called HD today and spoke to the gentleman who is always at the service desk, really nice guy! I asked him if there were any special instructions needed to lower the front end as another HD repair shop said to measure and inch then tighten it down. that mechanic didn't go into any details, but the service guy at HD store said I would need to buy shorter springs. Can anyone give any guidance as to what I am to do as I don't know who to believe anymore! I lowered the rear by changing to 1" shorter progressive shocks and now feel like the front end is heavy, so I thought since rear had been lowered I should lower the front end as well! All advice is welcomed.
A women who is slightly vertically challenged
I called HD today and spoke to the gentleman who is always at the service desk, really nice guy! I asked him if there were any special instructions needed to lower the front end as another HD repair shop said to measure and inch then tighten it down. that mechanic didn't go into any details, but the service guy at HD store said I would need to buy shorter springs. Can anyone give any guidance as to what I am to do as I don't know who to believe anymore! I lowered the rear by changing to 1" shorter progressive shocks and now feel like the front end is heavy, so I thought since rear had been lowered I should lower the front end as well! All advice is welcomed.
A women who is slightly vertically challenged
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Phoenix
Shorter springs will do it. Before that, though, try loosening the triple clamps, raising the fork tubes in the clamps, then retightening them. That'll lower the frame without altering how the forks behave.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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From: NC
I dropped my front end using Progressive's lowering kit. Mine had 2 spings per fork and pvc pipe to cut to length depending how low you want to go. 2 inches max if you don't add any pvc pieces. Some of the kits are drop in, as you just have to (depending on what model scoot you got) take off the fork cap nut, pull out the old and drop in the new. Road King wasn't that easy though. Good luck.
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From: Atlanta
Thanks JustOneDean, I will give your first recommendation a try and see what happens. I just hope that it doesn't add to the already rough ride this Dyna lowrider has! I was always told Dynas had a softer ride. I feel like there are no shocks on this bike as it really slams hard on the rear to the point it hurts.
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From: Atlanta
I dropped my front end using Progressive's lowering kit. Mine had 2 spings per fork and pvc pipe to cut to length depending how low you want to go. 2 inches max if you don't add any pvc pieces. Some of the kits are drop in, as you just have to (depending on what model scoot you got) take off the fork cap nut, pull out the old and drop in the new. Road King wasn't that easy though. Good luck.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
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Adjust the preload on the rear shocks and get springs for the front. Unless you hit a pothole or something like that, it shouldn't feel as severe as you described. I had progressives front and back on my Dyna to lower it and it rode just fine.
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Thanks everyone for the help and guidance in both lowering the front and adjusting the preload on the rear!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Phoenix
No problem!
On the rear shocks: I've only worked with OEM shocks, so I don't know how the Progressives are adjusted. I believe there's a grip on the top of the shock that you twist to increase/decrease preload - I'm not sure which direction has which effect, but it sounds like you need to stiffen the shocks by increasing the preload. Important thing is to keep the preload the same on both shocks, and just test a few different settings. Here's a rather in-depth video by Progressive on how to fine-tune it, but you probably don't need to spend that much energy on it. Just change positions 'til you find one that works.
And on the forks: If you do try lowering the frame by raising the fork tubes in the triple tree, don't hit any aggressive turns on the initial test ride. Lowering the front will make steering more responsive, and it's good to get a feel for it. When you're going maybe 25, 30 mph, take your hands off the bars and give each side a light tap to make sure it's not too twitchy. Conversely, raising the front or lowering the rear will make the bike less responsive, but more stable in a straight line - as you've already discovered, judging by your first post. Since you've already lowered the rear, I doubt you'll be able to lower the front enough to make the bike unstable, but better safe than sorry.
On the rear shocks: I've only worked with OEM shocks, so I don't know how the Progressives are adjusted. I believe there's a grip on the top of the shock that you twist to increase/decrease preload - I'm not sure which direction has which effect, but it sounds like you need to stiffen the shocks by increasing the preload. Important thing is to keep the preload the same on both shocks, and just test a few different settings. Here's a rather in-depth video by Progressive on how to fine-tune it, but you probably don't need to spend that much energy on it. Just change positions 'til you find one that works.
And on the forks: If you do try lowering the frame by raising the fork tubes in the triple tree, don't hit any aggressive turns on the initial test ride. Lowering the front will make steering more responsive, and it's good to get a feel for it. When you're going maybe 25, 30 mph, take your hands off the bars and give each side a light tap to make sure it's not too twitchy. Conversely, raising the front or lowering the rear will make the bike less responsive, but more stable in a straight line - as you've already discovered, judging by your first post. Since you've already lowered the rear, I doubt you'll be able to lower the front enough to make the bike unstable, but better safe than sorry.
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