Hey All,
While browsing Amazon I came across a couple of items I would like to know if anyone has any experience with. The first is a set of Apes and the second is a complete lowering suspension package. Let me know what ya think please.

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I'm very wary of items like this from Amazon with zero reviews. Then I get even more wary with items that have reviews.


Neither one seems like a steal though. Why Amazon in this case?

 

The second item, the Burly Brand drop kit is the exact same kit that Harley Dealerships install. Before I lowered my deluxe, I talked to my local dealership about it. They flipped open their catalog and the service manager recommended the Burley Brand.

 

I am against lowering a bike, especially a Softail, but I am the minority.

Unless you are a midget, I see no reason to reduce the suspension travel and lean angle on a bike that already has marginal suspension and that most people grind the floorboards on at stock height.

Are you planning on adding a spring seat to compensate for reduced suspension travel?

Paugho makes decent products and their handlebars are somewhat popular. My main concern with those is how much different are they going to be from what you already have? Is it going to be worth doing if they are virtually the same as what you have?

 

I wouldn't sweat too much over there not being a lot of reviews on Amazon for these types of products because, lets face it, your average Amazon shopper is more worried about how many shots of espresso goes into their soy latte as apposed to how much oil goes into a primary. So...

Having said that, there's a lot of good info online about the Paughco bars and the Burly drop kit.

The Burly Brand drop kit is legit and the Amazon price is about $30 less than from Burly themselves, and with free shipping it seems like a no brainer.

Although I have no direct experience with the Paughco bars, I can tell you that Paughco bars themselves are made from .120 wall thickness tubing and are triple chrome plated. The only negative thing I've read online (take that for what it's worth) is about the chrome quality on the housings.

Bear in mind, I'm not trying to influence your decision by badmouthing pre-wired bars or the companies that make them. I'm just giving you some perspective to ponder.

Although pre-wired, you're still going to need to cut off your stock wire connectors and solder them in place -PLUS- you still have to purchase a clutch cable and brake line.

I think, if you total everything that comes on these bars (housings, levers, grips, and god know's what brand of control switches they're using...) you'll probably spend less if you gather the stuff you need and just assemble everything yourself. And let's face it, fishing wires through a nice swoopy set of apes is easy compared to some of those bars out there that have those sharp right angles. (ask me how I know)

They're pretty and all, but at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself "does the convenience of not having to fish the wires through myself warrant the price of these bars?"

I did read that Amazon offers 3 and 4 year protection plans on the bars for just a little extra and, as always with Amazon, your purchase comes with a certain level of protection whereas you kind of don't have to worry about shipments getting lost or items arriving damaged without the item being covered and replaced.

All told, it seems like you've got a moderate amount of technical know how if you're willing to pull apart your forks and play contortionist with that rear suspension doing the drop, so building up a set of bars should be cake. And hell, any excuse to spend a few extra hours, drinkin' beer, jammin' out to some Led Zeppelin or Yanni (I don't judge) or whatever, practicing a little garage zen and centering your chi and **** is well worth it.

 

I'm right there with you.

 

Not me. I'm much lower!!!

 

Yeah, low is the way to go... I've got the same kit on my Train and then I even kicked out the front end 5 degrees to make her sit level, something else to consider.

 

i'm still not on board with ordering bike parts from amazon, they sure don't seem to be any cheaper than anywhere else