Nostalgia and lowering a Deluxe
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Lakeland, TN
Nostalgia and lowering a Deluxe
As I've said before, I'm going for the nostalgic look on my Deluxe. I have a friend who's been a Harley owner many times over, since before he even went to Vietnam. He thinks that I should get it lowered, since "all the old bikes sat right on the ground". I'm planning on chroming the front end this winter, so that would be the time to do it if I'm going to. I know the shocks have to be changed and the forks will need some sort of adjustment as well. What else is involved? What does that do to ride, handling, cornering, etc.? Bad idea?
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 595
Likes: 3
From: Florida
You'll get a lot of responses. There are quite a few options on the market for lowering your bike. It all depends on your budget! You can get a cheap lowering kit, lowering collars or go big time and get an air ride suspension. You will obviously lose some cornering ability with the standard lowering kits that are not adjustable on the fly. Also, your exhaust may dictate with direction you go. A lot of guys with the long fishtails go with air ride, but if that's not your thing, pretty much any lowering kit will work. If you ride two-up a lot, I would not recommend lowering your bike unless you get an air ride. I won't mention which kind of air system I have because it's ALL OVER this forum.
**As to your first sentence of your post, I wouldn't say lowering your bike makes it any more nostalgic. If that's your goal, there are plenty of other things you can do if you're happy with your current stock suspension.
**As to your first sentence of your post, I wouldn't say lowering your bike makes it any more nostalgic. If that's your goal, there are plenty of other things you can do if you're happy with your current stock suspension.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Lakeland, TN
You'll get a lot of responses. There are quite a few options on the market for lowering your bike. It all depends on your budget! You can get a cheap lowering kit, lowering collars or go big time and get an air ride suspension. You will obviously lose some cornering ability with the standard lowering kits that are not adjustable on the fly. Also, your exhaust may dictate with direction you go. A lot of guys with the long fishtails go with air ride, but if that's not your thing, pretty much any lowering kit will work. If you ride two-up a lot, I would not recommend lowering your bike unless you get an air ride. I won't mention which kind of air system I have because it's ALL OVER this forum.
**As to your first sentence of your post, I wouldn't say lowering your bike makes it any more nostalgic. If that's your goal, there are plenty of other things you can do if you're happy with your current stock suspension.
**As to your first sentence of your post, I wouldn't say lowering your bike makes it any more nostalgic. If that's your goal, there are plenty of other things you can do if you're happy with your current stock suspension.
Old school
There are more then one definition for old school a lot of younger guys use that term meaning like back in the day . You can say apes are old school because we had them back in the late sixties and early seventies yes and back in the day we lowered just about every thing we drove it gave it a cool look and still does to date. You can have an old looking classic bike no need to lower it it's just a term used for yesteryear. Look at the old Harley's like the dou glide sweet looking old bike that is nostalgic and if I seen one completely stock I guess you can call it old school but you can do things to make your bike look like it's from years ago and the stock deluxe has a nice start to that theme I really do not thing you have to lower your bike to go more nostalgic it's things like the seat setup fender rails exhaust bars horns and many other mods that will add to the look I say you do not have to lower it to achieve that it's just one thing that makes a bike look sleek . So I would say you can use the word old school a couple of ways it's a choice of words I myself love the lowered look and have been lowering my vehicles and bikes for close to fifty years now
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 595
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Sounds like you're in the market for an air ride suspension if you want to lower it. I prefer the lowered look, but it's not necessarily old school. There are a lot of old guys that ride their Harleys completely stock because they are perfect from the factory. I picture 1940's or 1950's when I think of "nostalgic." Do what you like!
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Lakeland, TN
Sounds like you're in the market for an air ride suspension if you want to lower it. I prefer the lowered look, but it's not necessarily old school. There are a lot of old guys that ride their Harleys completely stock because they are perfect from the factory. I picture 1940's or 1950's when I think of "nostalgic." Do what you like!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
I went "old school" I guess one would say but Im old! I went with the SS on the rear and to me, worth every penny, I wouldn't ride without it. For the front I went with the progressive monotubes and dropped it 2"'s to start but it was a little to stiff for me so I went back and added an inch. I have never been on a more comfortable, well handling bike in all my days of riding as with this one and the way I have it set up. Good luck, know what you want for sure and do research.
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