lowering the frontend
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,213
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From: Hot Springs Village AR
lowering the frontend
I have aftermarket forks on the wifes lowrider and she say's the bike is higher in the front now, under the fork plug there is a 2" spacer than the spring if I cut the spacer down will that lower the front end or is that going to mess with the suspension Thanks
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,642
Likes: 6
From: Forest Lake, Mn
Uhhh, BUT wouldn't that make it a "HIGH RIDER" vs a "LOW RIDER" ??? 
Removing, or 'cutting' the spacer, will NOT mess up your s'pension as bad as just sliding your fork tubes up. That will change your 'rake and trail', "COULD" (operative word) BUT not necessarily WILL cause handling concerns at high speeds. More times than not, it will NOT have any effect at all, BUT, it "COULD". Jus' wanted you to be aware of that. I have done that, myself, with no ill effects. BUT be Careful, WELL, that is, IF you want to keep her 'round.
IF you cut or remove the 'spacer', DOUBLE check, and then CHECK AGAIN, your clearance to front fender.
The 'actual' suspension is performed by the valving in the forks. IF you have 'soft' valving, and you remove/cut the spacer, you could possibly experience fender issues. BUT you will have to determine that as you go.
Removing, or 'cutting' the spacer, will NOT mess up your s'pension as bad as just sliding your fork tubes up. That will change your 'rake and trail', "COULD" (operative word) BUT not necessarily WILL cause handling concerns at high speeds. More times than not, it will NOT have any effect at all, BUT, it "COULD". Jus' wanted you to be aware of that. I have done that, myself, with no ill effects. BUT be Careful, WELL, that is, IF you want to keep her 'round.
IF you cut or remove the 'spacer', DOUBLE check, and then CHECK AGAIN, your clearance to front fender.
The 'actual' suspension is performed by the valving in the forks. IF you have 'soft' valving, and you remove/cut the spacer, you could possibly experience fender issues. BUT you will have to determine that as you go.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 8,642
Likes: 6
From: Forest Lake, Mn
ALL-Pro, 60k, propane. Uhhh, must be in the 'building trades'. BWahahaha 
(GEE, Gumby, ya think so, with a name like 'ROOFER' )Can you get your paws on a 1" spacer, to 'try' it BEFORE you cut the 'original' spacer that came with it??? And would 1" be enough for her???
When you do this (remove spacer), it will bottom out, 2"s sooner than NOW. (In reality, you are putting the 'tube' 2" deeper into the 'slider'.) IF she doesn't bottom out, 'should' be good to go for ya. My only concern, w/o seeing your spring and spacer, is that the spacer has any sort of a 'keeper' or 'flange' on it, to keep spring 'centered' in tube. To verify, look CLOSELY at the bottom of your 'cap', and the bottom of your spacer. You may need to turn the spacer down on a lathe, in order to 'keep' the bottom of the spacer in tact, for the spring alignment. AGAIN, W/O seeing what you have, one step at a time.
Last edited by Da Gumpmeister; Apr 7, 2009 at 09:50 AM.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Hot Springs Village AR
The plug is the same as stock harley and I don't believe there is any flange on it it looks the same on both ends
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Forest Lake, Mn
BUT, IMFUO, that is going to be a 'rarity', unless you are strapping on 500#s.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2007
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From: Milwaukee, WI
The first question is, since this is an aftermarket front end are the forks longer than the oem? One way to lower the front end is to change or add rebound (top out) springs. This will force the slider further into the fork tube. Call Progressive Suspension and ask them about lowering the front end. If you are comfortable taking the forks apart check to see how they were assembled. If you know who manufactured then call and ask for a diagram (assembly/disassembly instructions).
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