49mm front end conversion on FLHX??
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Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 33
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From: Clovis
49mm front end conversion on FLHX??
Hey guys, I just road a 2014 and the front end stability is ridiculous in comparison. I have a 2012 FLHX and wanted to know if anyone knew if it was possible to convert triple trees and front forks to 49mm?
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
Yes , I have Howard at Motorcyclemetals 49mm triple trees , 49mm forks with Ohlins 30mm fully adjustable cartridges inside , this system is worlds better than 2014 49mm forks that have the old dampening rods inside
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
There is an alternative solution, courtesy of Custom Cycle Engineering and their Tour Trac Trees kit. They supply longer fork tubes and a new top tree, which clamps the fork tubes in the same way as the 49mm stock forks.
The source of the problem is that the stock top tree doesn't provide much torsional support to the two fork legs, so they can 'walk', causing the sensation you comment on. The CCE kit provides a solution to fix your forks, but not with the suspension upgrade of Howard's top-shelf solution.
The source of the problem is that the stock top tree doesn't provide much torsional support to the two fork legs, so they can 'walk', causing the sensation you comment on. The CCE kit provides a solution to fix your forks, but not with the suspension upgrade of Howard's top-shelf solution.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 14
From: washington dc
I did the CCE conversion to my 09 SG this winter, also added better springs and valves. Probably spent $1k , but I did the work.
Totally different ride: straight lines and no more wobbly feel at sp[eed or on rough roads, and the springs and valves gave me a stiff but complaint ride with NO brake dive. Although I have not ridden a 14, I suspect this mod is at least as good -- and I do not need to start over with all the other mods I've done.
Totally different ride: straight lines and no more wobbly feel at sp[eed or on rough roads, and the springs and valves gave me a stiff but complaint ride with NO brake dive. Although I have not ridden a 14, I suspect this mod is at least as good -- and I do not need to start over with all the other mods I've done.
I have my old trees with sliders and lower legs from my 14 SGS that I will b selling soon if u are interested?? 500 for everything plus shipping coming from hawaii
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
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From: Davie, FL
What you can or can not do
- You can not put a set of 2014 FLT trees into a 2013 or below:
- The neck bearings is much bigger
- The 2014 steering stem can not fit into the 2013 or below
- The fork locking plate welded onto your 2013 or below is too large to fit under the 2014 top triple tree
- You can make a 2014 replica neck and cut your 2013 & below neck off than weld on the 2014 replica neck
- All 2014 triple trees sit flush to the bottom of of the bottom steering bearing. A 2013 & below bearing fits up into your bottom triple tree. This is important because what limits your stroke is something hitting first such as 2014 sliders crash into the bottom of the 2014 triple trees or the fender either hits the light bar or the brake line T under the bottom of the bottom triple tree.
- 2014 Triple tree
.jpg)
- My 1986 ~ 2013 49mm fork conversion
.jpg)
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 622
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
- You can not put a set of 2014 FLT trees into a 2013 or below:
- The neck bearings is much bigger
- The 2014 steering stem can not fit into the 2013 or below
- The fork locking plate welded onto your 2013 or below is too large to fit under the 2014 top triple tree
- You can make a 2014 replica neck and cut your 2013 & below neck off than weld on the 2014 replica neck
- All 2014 triple trees sit flush to the bottom of of the bottom steering bearing. A 2013 & below bearing fits up into your bottom triple tree. This is important because what limits your stroke is something hitting first such as 2014 sliders crash into the bottom of the 2014 triple trees or the fender either hits the light bar or the brake line T under the bottom of the bottom triple tree.
- 2014 Triple tree
- My 1986 ~ 2013 49mm fork conversion
The brake line is mounted behind the triple tree on the 2014.
Could a new steering stem be machined and use the older size bearings? Remove the interference of the lock plate from the triple tree? With all the guys putting larger front wheels on their bikes there's going to be a lot of 2014 take-offs at the custom shops. and only a matter of time for Arlen Ness to make a kit to use these parts on older bikes. Then the customizers can convert two bikes at once.
Last edited by skypilot_one; Jun 29, 2014 at 03:36 PM.