'99 Fat Boy... suspension options
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4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
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From: Ray City, Ga
'99 Fat Boy... suspension options
Hey guys.
'99 Fat Boy. Suspension is stock. Fork oil has never been changed.... but the seals are good. 18,000 miles. one of the rear shocks does seem to have a leaking seal on it.
My question.
What are my best options for obtaining a decent ride out of this bike? My wife recently had to have back surgery, so this is important to us. The forks are pretty soft, but the rear end is nearly as bad as riding on top of a brick being dragged down a city street in New Jersey.
I've seen some air ride (pricey) systems online and i've also noticed that Progressive Suspension has some options. Together, the wife and I are around 380 lbs. I can probably screw around with the rear end and see if the preload is cranked all the way up, but since one is leaking anyway, I'm thinking of scrapping both and getting something else.
So.
Options? Experiences? I'm open to anything that will keep me from getting punched in the ribs.
'99 Fat Boy. Suspension is stock. Fork oil has never been changed.... but the seals are good. 18,000 miles. one of the rear shocks does seem to have a leaking seal on it.
My question.
What are my best options for obtaining a decent ride out of this bike? My wife recently had to have back surgery, so this is important to us. The forks are pretty soft, but the rear end is nearly as bad as riding on top of a brick being dragged down a city street in New Jersey.
I've seen some air ride (pricey) systems online and i've also noticed that Progressive Suspension has some options. Together, the wife and I are around 380 lbs. I can probably screw around with the rear end and see if the preload is cranked all the way up, but since one is leaking anyway, I'm thinking of scrapping both and getting something else.
So.
Options? Experiences? I'm open to anything that will keep me from getting punched in the ribs.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ray City, Ga
Sounds similar to what I was looking at for my KLR650. LOL.....
Is this the set you're referring to? http://www.jpcycles.com/product/701-261
So far, thats the only thing I've found from them.
Is this the set you're referring to? http://www.jpcycles.com/product/701-261
So far, thats the only thing I've found from them.
Thread Starter
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4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Ray City, Ga
So. A year later. A couple of months ago, I pulled the bike out, put it on a lift and had a look at it. Short version. Previous owner installed lowering links. At least since 2006. Probably longer. They also seemed to be nearly ALL the way out. My attempts to shorten them back up failed as the threads galled up and rendered them useless. One of my coworkers heard me talking about it and called in a favor to a friend of his that works for a bike salvage yard in another state.
Got a set of used shocks free of charge sent my way. I slipped them on and I can't tell you what a difference it made. It is no longer painful to ride. LOL....
Learning as I go with this thing.
Got a set of used shocks free of charge sent my way. I slipped them on and I can't tell you what a difference it made. It is no longer painful to ride. LOL....
Learning as I go with this thing.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
I picked up some "new take offs" works shocks on ebay for under $300 shipped but they weren't build to my specs...Some chopper shop gets frames with them an remove the works for air ride.
on my 99 fatboy I drained the forks an mixed half standard weight HD oil an half "screamin eagle race" oil....I guess 10 weight an 20 weight....the old oil looked orig to me, it was nasty....front ride quality was improved just from that.
on my 99 fatboy I drained the forks an mixed half standard weight HD oil an half "screamin eagle race" oil....I guess 10 weight an 20 weight....the old oil looked orig to me, it was nasty....front ride quality was improved just from that.
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