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There's a lowering kit out there for the Slim S to lower it an 1 1/2"....the bike sits low enough stock, will the kit lower the actual bike frame or the rear fender? The rear fender rides too high (IMO) for such a narrow tire.......wanting to get the fender to ride a little lower......
On Softails, the fender is bolted to the frame, while the rear wheel is on the swing arm (rear fork) on shocks, so the wheel moves up and down inside the hard-mounted fender - much like a car. The lowering kit basically lengthens the shock bolt, thus making swing arm pivot angle shorter. It also degrades ride quality. Ride will be rougher and shocks may bottom-out on 2-up riding. Progressive shocks and air ride are better solutions. Air ride (like Shotgun Shocks) are best albeit most expensive because you don't necessarily have to sacrifice ride quality for for shorter shock stride (lowness).
Another option is to rework your rear fender and lower it. The fender mounts to the struts which bolt to the frame under the seat. When I did the 200mm conversion on my Slim I used a Fatboy fender and struts, welded up the strut mount holes on the fender and relocated them higher and forward to make the fender sit where I wanted on the tire. It took two attempts to get the location I needed. You have to take suspension travel into consideration so you do not bottom the fender out on bumps.
As mentioned earlier, you can use an air or progressive shock to further control ride height and shock rebound (this is up to the individual, both have pros and cons). I originally had stock shocks with lowering bolts (you can also adjust rebound on stock shocks). The stock shocks with lowering bolts were a tad harsh on large bumps so I went to Progressive shocks. I lowered the ride height about an inch and adjusted rebound to my liking (I only ride one up on my Slim). This is an old pic of my final set up. Rides great, does not bottom out and I never have to worry about a failure in an air system as I would have to if I ran air shocks.
Edit: The seat mounts will also have to be adjusted (bent) if you use this method.
Another option is to rework your rear fender and lower it. The fender mounts to the struts which bolt to the frame under the seat. When I did the 200mm conversion on my Slim I used a Fatboy fender and struts, welded up the strut mount holes on the fender and relocated them higher and forward to make the fender sit where I wanted on the tire. It took two attempts to get the location I needed. You have to take suspension travel into consideration so you do not bottom the fender out on bumps.
As mentioned earlier, you can use an air or progressive shock to further control ride height and shock rebound (this is up to the individual, both have pros and cons). I originally had stock shocks with lowering bolts (you can also adjust rebound on stock shocks). The stock shocks with lowering bolts were a tad harsh on large bumps so I went to Progressive shocks. I lowered the ride height about an inch and adjusted rebound to my liking (I only ride one up on my Slim). This is an old pic of my final set up. Rides great, does not bottom out and I never have to worry about a failure in an air system as I would have to if I ran air shocks.
Edit: The seat mounts will also have to be adjusted (bent) if you use this method.
Mine is lowered 2" front and rear, and I am 6'2" 250 lbs and I have no issues in the 5,000 miles I have put on it since October, but I have been riding bikes forever so maybe I am just used to the stiffness. But either way I agree with you on the height of the fender.
Mine is lowered 2" front and rear, and I am 6'2" 250 lbs and I have no issues in the 5,000 miles I have put on it since October, but I have been riding bikes forever so maybe I am just used to the stiffness. But either way I agree with you on the height of the fender.
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Lowering Kit question
