lowering bolts
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
Essentially, they push your swingarm down as you turn the bolt.
Unless you ride on very smooth roads and don't ride much, bolts will get old after a while.
I run the SS. I sometimes find it more comfortable than my cage, no joke. And you can adjust height on the fly. Pricey, but worth it.
Unless you ride on very smooth roads and don't ride much, bolts will get old after a while.
I run the SS. I sometimes find it more comfortable than my cage, no joke. And you can adjust height on the fly. Pricey, but worth it.
Does lowering it with the bolts really make it THAT bad? I think our roads are decent for the most part but I ride every day if the weather is fair. I have the kit sitting here but havent put it on yet. I plan on doing the shotgun shock some day but that doesnt fit the budget any time soon...
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 613
Likes: 75
From: Marietta, GA
I have no intention of getting the shotgun shock....my last bike was a lowered sportster. Now that was stiff! I've lowered my softail with collars and it still rides great to me. When I can't accept a few bumps in the road, I need to either swerve better or take my Yukon
I measured the preload (they screw in/out of the housing) on the stock bolts before I put lowering bolts in and put the new bolts to that. Rides just the same, only lower. The shocks need to be compressed with a hydraulic press (safest way to do it) so you can get inside the outer sleeve to take it all apart. Should have done a write-up when I changed my bolts. All in all with the press in the shop, took me between 1-2 hours being my first time changing shock bolts. It's easier to do it with the wheel still on the bike so you have an idea of how low you want it, then you can just set the height before you tighten everything down rather than dick around with it later.
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Put it this way.
The total ram travel on a set of stock shocks is only about 1" anyway.
Lowering bolts just cut that in half.
It'd be like adding spring compressors to your car and driving around like that.
The total ram travel on a set of stock shocks is only about 1" anyway.
Lowering bolts just cut that in half.
It'd be like adding spring compressors to your car and driving around like that.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 7
From: Windsor, CO
They are fine as long as you set the pre-load correctly. Now if you are trying do drop the rear all the way to the bumpstop, it will ride like $hit.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,492
Likes: 19
From: Illinois
My honest opinion Dude? They really are not noticeable enough with lowering bolts to make any kind of difference. BUT, you will really notice the difference in your ride quality. You will lose a whole inch of travel in your suspension. Its your bike, your money but I would save single dollar bills and all my change in a piggy bank until you can afford air ride. If I'm not mistaken JD had it set up once when you could make payments over a 6 month period. I am not trying to push you one way or another. I remember the days I could barely afford gas for a damn bike, so been there, done that!!! Good luck Dude and keep us posted.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 5,294
Likes: 149
From: FL
I have the bolts on mine and I never give it a thought. As mentioned above it's all about your local road conditions. Here in FL the roads are smooth and it's not a problem. I used to have a rigid and even that wasn't really a problem around here.