Shovelhead front end update
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
Turn Signals
If anyone is reading this thread, I need some advise, I am attaching two pics of the front end, it’s almost finished the new bars are on, almost all the wiring is finished.
I had them put on new front turn signals, the deuce model, my original ’84 signals looked so freakin large I wanted smaller ones not the real tiny size, I want to be seen, so the question is :
Where would you mount them at he top of the tree or at mid point of the tree ?
Remember looking at there placement they are a little loose not really lined up, but you can get the idea how they lay, I am a little in favor of the high mount, that is where my original ones were and I think it doesn’t break-up the lines of the front end.
But most of the guys at the shop state they like the middle position ? that is were most are now on new harleys ? I guess they are use to that way ?
Anyway and top or mid ?
ps: the handle bars are out, seems like there is no bracket to fit chubby bars, so it’s out mounting them on.
Sorry for the quality of the pic (cell phone camera)
thanks for any input !
cj
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/6282568E71C54711B33FDE55CCDBA3EB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/83A4071D68C845A69BB7EFC529D2193D.jpg[/IMG]
If anyone is reading this thread, I need some advise, I am attaching two pics of the front end, it’s almost finished the new bars are on, almost all the wiring is finished.
I had them put on new front turn signals, the deuce model, my original ’84 signals looked so freakin large I wanted smaller ones not the real tiny size, I want to be seen, so the question is :
Where would you mount them at he top of the tree or at mid point of the tree ?
Remember looking at there placement they are a little loose not really lined up, but you can get the idea how they lay, I am a little in favor of the high mount, that is where my original ones were and I think it doesn’t break-up the lines of the front end.
But most of the guys at the shop state they like the middle position ? that is were most are now on new harleys ? I guess they are use to that way ?
Anyway and top or mid ?
ps: the handle bars are out, seems like there is no bracket to fit chubby bars, so it’s out mounting them on.
Sorry for the quality of the pic (cell phone camera)
thanks for any input !
cj
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/6282568E71C54711B33FDE55CCDBA3EB.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/83A4071D68C845A69BB7EFC529D2193D.jpg[/IMG]
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 953
Likes: 8
From: Central Oregon
RE: Shovelhead front end update
I like em higher, less clutter around the headlight, that is sure a nice looking front end [8D] [8D]
The signals on my 02 deuce are mounted on the handle bars and like that better yet.
The signals on my 02 deuce are mounted on the handle bars and like that better yet.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
RE: Shovelhead front end update
cj_slowdown,
I gotta agree with Rodney; mount 'em high. I asked myself the same question you are now, bought the mounts that clamp around the fork tubes and tried 'em low. I never made it out of the garage with them mounted there. I made little adapters that screw into the ends of the top triple tree (wide glide off a 2003 Softail Standard) and into the Harley "bullet" style lights just like you are using. They look WAY better mounted high on the wide glide (or in your case, a mid glide). I took pictures just like you have posted with one high and one low trying to make up my mind. I hope you find a "look" that suits you.
I gotta agree with Rodney; mount 'em high. I asked myself the same question you are now, bought the mounts that clamp around the fork tubes and tried 'em low. I never made it out of the garage with them mounted there. I made little adapters that screw into the ends of the top triple tree (wide glide off a 2003 Softail Standard) and into the Harley "bullet" style lights just like you are using. They look WAY better mounted high on the wide glide (or in your case, a mid glide). I took pictures just like you have posted with one high and one low trying to make up my mind. I hope you find a "look" that suits you.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
ORIGINAL: Rodney
I like em higher, less clutter around the headlight, that is sure a nice looking front end [8D] [8D]
The signals on my 02 deuce are mounted on the handle bars and like that better yet.
I like em higher, less clutter around the headlight, that is sure a nice looking front end [8D] [8D]
The signals on my 02 deuce are mounted on the handle bars and like that better yet.
"Rodney"
"I like em higher, less clutter around the headlight, that is sure a nice looking front end The signals on my 02 deuce are mounted on the handle bars and like that better yet."
Your right, on the handle bars Rodney, but like I said I changed my stock bars "Buckhorns" they fit real nice I had them from the get-go on 5" high raisers but with that fatter (41mm) front end they looked way too thin IMO and the 5" were too high, so new bars I was worried about that fit I only had approx 29 or so inches (hand grip) tip to tip ! so many new ones were close to 36" wide ! hay that was a big deal too me after riding this thing for over 25 years ! I didn’t want to change the handling a bit ! seem these were as close to what I had, but there chubby bars for a RK, but the width is only 32" tip to tip, feels pretty close sitting on the bike with only 1" high bones.
I would like to mount the turns on the handle bars but was told he didn’t think there wasn’t any brackets made for them ?
Thanks Rodney !! ride safe..
cj
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
ORIGINAL: megawatt
cj_slowdown,
I gotta agree with Rodney; mount 'em high. I asked myself the same question you are now, bought the mounts that clamp around the fork tubes and tried 'em low. I never made it out of the garage with them mounted there. I made little adapters that screw into the ends of the top triple tree (wide glide off a 2003 Softail Standard) and into the Harley "bullet" style lights just like you are using. They look WAY better mounted high on the wide glide (or in your case, a mid glide). I took pictures just like you have posted with one high and one low trying to make up my mind. I hope you find a "look" that suits you.
cj_slowdown,
I gotta agree with Rodney; mount 'em high. I asked myself the same question you are now, bought the mounts that clamp around the fork tubes and tried 'em low. I never made it out of the garage with them mounted there. I made little adapters that screw into the ends of the top triple tree (wide glide off a 2003 Softail Standard) and into the Harley "bullet" style lights just like you are using. They look WAY better mounted high on the wide glide (or in your case, a mid glide). I took pictures just like you have posted with one high and one low trying to make up my mind. I hope you find a "look" that suits you.
"I gotta agree with Rodney; mount 'em high. I asked myself the same question you are now, bought the mounts that clamp around the fork tubes and tried 'em low. I never made it out of the garage with them mounted there. I made little adapters that screw into the ends of the top triple tree (wide glide off a 2003 Softail Standard) and into the Harley "bullet" style lights just like you are using. They look WAY better mounted high on the wide glide (or in your case, a mid glide). I took pictures just like you have posted with one high and one low trying to make up my mind. I hope you find a "look" that suits you."
"…never made it out of the garage with them mounted there…" : - ))))))) Man, I am with you two guys !! mount them high, I just came back from the shop this morning, again the owner and the counter guys said mount them low ! it’s how it’s done now-a-days !
I really don’t care how there mounted today ! I just got use too them mounted high on the original tree, I used to put my leg up on the left turn signal (on a stem) lean back fold my arms and ride for miles with the turn screw holding in the throttle grip ! it was nice, one great ride in VT, I went like that for over 25 miles w/o getting off ! (then came the town : )
Anyway thanks guys, I am keeping them high ! I think it chops up the front end lines, I was second guessing myself with everybody telling me keep them in the middle !!!
Funny I am not the kind I guy who listens to something I don’t agree with ! but I thought they may have a point ! ok, point noted and thanks, but mount them high : - )
As a side note I went to a hd dealer today, to get a "inspection plate" for the left side of my bike, you see in PA bikes must be inspected so "it’s required" to put the (approx) 3x3 inch sticker on the left hand glide tube or slide, IMO this blows ! I hated it with my stock glides !!
No way are they going to put that sticker on my new chrome ones !!! : - ))))
For riders I am attaching a pic of the plate it’s illegal because it’s a "bolt-on" PA law states the tag must be attached to a non removable piece, so many in PA run this set-up, I guess it’s ok, so it fits on forward controls bracket (hiway pegs) or engine mount any thing on the front left side of the bike.
I am impressed it’s "Kuryakyn" and it’s made in the USA !!!
[left][color=#0000cc]Thanks guys, ride safe !!! [/co
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
Well got the ride back last thursday it’s different, I am so freakin glad I changed the Headwinds light from a 7.5†long to a smaller 5.5†one, it’s looks balance and yeah that brand is big bucks, but it’s only the second headlight I brought for my ride !
When the 41mm front tubes were on, I said in another reply my original buckhorns looked like a thin piece of rope on top, I knew I had to get 1.25 dia bars, anyway lots easier to run the wires in and it dose look pretty good with the wires hided, bars are very personal to me, I really like my stock buckhorns, just the right spread approx 29.5†tip of grip to tip, seems like all they are selling is 36†wide and up !! WTH is all that about ? (the so-called beach bars ? to me they look like you got a bear huge on a refrigerator) so I got the closest thing to my width 32â€, they were made for a RK I knew they would be closer to me sitting, got them anyway, I will have to get use to these, but the first thing I notice was man, way easier to counter steer, with the buckhorns they go up and down on an angle almost 90 degs (not that much) so when I come into a curve at a pretty good clip, I just needed to cut more of an angle, so I put downward pressure on the grip I want to turn in too, with these bars since they come right back to me almost level, it’s way easy, need half the pressure, this is the main good point, I just need a few more rides to get use to it, my paws are almost level and I am use to them 90 degers !
The PM front caliber !!!! my God I can STOP and slow down now faster than I ever could with the stock twin brakes !!! now maybe my rear PM pads will last a little longer : - ))) I really depended on that rear to stop, but last year with the update, new S&S 92 shovelhead and backed up with the Baker 6 speed with overdrive, I needed some stopping power, big time, btw if I had my buddy’s ’84 brakes I wouldn’t have PM calibers, wouldn’t need them ! http://www.performancemachine.com/
The Custom Cycle Engineering front end, the one I only could dream about 20 some years back ! a mid-glide, there is absolutely no flex, sorry if I sound bold, but IMO it is the best designed front end made, we all seen the bike building shows on tv, they are putting the front tube up the bottom end of the triple tree it slides right up, then they start screw it in at the top of the tree, we all seen this dozens of times, CCE front end are design to have a pinch-bolt method at each of the 4 points were the tubes enter the triple tree, they are bolted, that is 4 places instead of two, but I also have one of their “Truss†(they call them), brace is a more common name, with this my tubes are anchored at 6 places, hence, “absolutely no flex†it rides tight not hard ! http://www.customcycleengineering.com/
I also went with Progressive springs and hardware into the black chrome tubes, let me add here, I put down all I am doing here, not to brag, not to show off, it all started when I decided not to buy a ’07 LR or RK, I starter a post, asking has anyone put a complete S&S shovelhead motor in and how did it go ? never got a reply, so I went ahead and did mine, I decided to post all what I was doing and going through, maybe it just might save some rider from spending money the wrong way or maybe go a different direction or whatever ! I know I could have used the help, so don’t let anyone sit out there thinking I am some blowhard, let me save some time, screw you ! because if you ever read my listings you would have seen the mistakes I have made, maybe this could save someone some trouble or have a better understanding of what it entails, doing the stuff I have done, screw-ups and all, ok off the soap box : - )
Back to the black chrome, when I first heard of it, I said WTF is that ? some years ago a guy was ordering front tubes for his ride, (at an independent shop, the one that did this work for me) anyway the counter guy asks “you want black chrome ? then he explain it, so for the guys who know, stop reading, for some others this will help if you ever replace your front tubes, black chrome is not too special, every hd comes out of the factory (I think) with black chrome tubes, it’s simple, it’s not shiny chrome, because, for the lack of a better word, it looks “dull†(like stainless steel) and get this, “it cost more money than the shiny stuff†not much but more, the down tubes re-act much better with the dull tubes than the nice shiny chrome ones, and the seals last longer also, you get a better ride, so if you want to do it right, and your ride is not a show bike, leave the chrome, well just leave the chrome, it’s one those things when you hear it, it’s yeah, I knew that : - )
The mishaps I will list later, there is always a few !!!
Yeah, I could have, no doubt about it, bought a new LR or RK with all I done to this ’81 LR, but for some who don’t understand, why ? I did it for re-sale value !!!! : - )
Well, I need more saddle time now, looks like I getting it, Americade is this tuesday, yeah, it’s at least a 2,000 mile week……….. but after a 100 miles I am starting to like these bars, it handles so smooth…..
Ride safe, take care,
cj
I down graded these pics too the lowest, but still have room for only 3 at a time (500) limit, so I’ll put a few more, under this post.
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/81EE6A75317446E8AFCDFB36E5B12DE1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/18AC7B6C2BDC4287839143FD61D05EA0.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/5C796438AC7443DDA30B70792D1028FD.jpg[/IMG]
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
Some more
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/DC9E24CB5D6C44CDAED64520246E0CA1.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/0C693FDB39DE4613A25FDE3521A41404.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/A9E1EC3E615D4FECB895454FC5CC5321.jpg[/IMG]
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,286
Likes: 64
From: SoCal
RE: Shovelhead front end update
cj_slowdown,
Don't you mean hard chrome instead of black chrome? I agree that hard chrome works much better on fork tubes...way better than show chrome. Only way to go for a street bike.
Your bike is looking good man. Thanks for the pics.
I dig the idiot lights mounted into the top triple tree.
Don't you mean hard chrome instead of black chrome? I agree that hard chrome works much better on fork tubes...way better than show chrome. Only way to go for a street bike.
Your bike is looking good man. Thanks for the pics.
I dig the idiot lights mounted into the top triple tree.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 0
From: S.E.PA
RE: Shovelhead front end update
ORIGINAL: megawatt
cj_slowdown,
Don't you mean hard chrome instead of black chrome? I agree that hard chrome works much better on fork tubes...way better than show chrome. Only way to go for a street bike.
Your bike is looking good man. Thanks for the pics.
I dig the idiot lights mounted into the top triple tree.
cj_slowdown,
Don't you mean hard chrome instead of black chrome? I agree that hard chrome works much better on fork tubes...way better than show chrome. Only way to go for a street bike.
Your bike is looking good man. Thanks for the pics.
I dig the idiot lights mounted into the top triple tree.
“megawattâ€
“Don't you mean hard chrome instead of black chrome? I agree that hard chrome works much better on fork tubes...way better than show chrome. Only way to go for a street bike. “
You are correct Sir ! but don’t ask why I was thinking/know hard chrome and typed black chrome ??? It must be the dummy in me : - ))
“Your bike is looking good man. Thanks for the pics.
I dig the idiot lights mounted into the top triple tree.â€
Yeah, I started out with two from hd neutral and oil pressure and got 4 with this neutral / oil pressure and turn signals, like I am going to look at them, gee, did I leave my thumb on the switch again ??? : - )))
megawatt you know how it is getting ready for a trip always something at the last minute, when I get back I put in how the turn signals didn’t work when I got the bike back ! 2nd day air for a electronic flasher from OR then got it, yeah the girl sent me the wrong one, this thing had6 wire plug, hay I told you it’s an ’81 ??? so send the right out, and sent it overnight ! that was friday got it sat 10:30 AM !! 24 hrs later, no way was I going on this trip using “hand signals†: - )))) WTH are there even people out there that know what your are doing with hand signals ??? : - )))
thanks for the comps, megawatt
ride safe,
cj
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/DD545C2D0ED84AFEA3CAFC5B0E1D8346.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/16813/CE2919D2822B47F5926892CC477E2A55.jpg[/IMG]