I'm curious if you could replace the front mounting bushings with thinner ones or cut the thickness down...this would pull the shock farther forward an raise the rear height. I read what ever change you make doubles the change is ride height...reducing the gap in front of the shock half an inch would raise the rear 1". this would help with your ground clearance concern...or maybe a taller side wall tire (which might not be great for aggressive riding). if that works you could get some progressive shocks or get some LA choppers replacement springs to firm up the rear suspension. the derake cups sound good for the front an maybe some heavier oil.

on another note....aren't the springer front ends raked a lot less than hydraulic front ends? I've never ridden one so I don't know how they handle.

 

The springer front end is a 0deg rake "tree"... same thing as the fxst... however, because the axle is set forward of the fork, they typically have about 2" less trail... which calculates as quicker handling, but less stable at higher speeds... trail is still around 4"

 

I'm wondering if he's the real Scuba Steve ?

 

I have never found it difficult to pitch my Deuce into a turn at high speed.
In fact I even raked it out 3 degrees MORE to increase what it does best which is high speed stability for long hours on the super slab at high speeds, impervious to cross winds and truck wakes.
Track bikes are operated at high speeds into alternating corners at an unnatural pace compared to road riding. They NEED twitchy fast-to-turn rake angles to move the weight around against the forces of inertia.
I bought my Deuce for ROAD RIDING and really enjoy how heavy stable and secure it feels in corners and on the highway.
I grant you it tops out at about three quarters "race speed" and if a crotch rocket wishes to run at three times the posted limit and chew up the far edge of his tires doing 80 mph in a 25 mile per hour turn---I WON'T be next to him at that point.
But so what?
The Deuce is a ROAD bike, not a track bike.
Do whatever you want to with your Harley.
If you have some super cool result from your efforts let me know what they are.
My results have thrilled me and convinced me they improved my bike enormously for its intended purpose.
I have other bikes for the track.

 

Springers are de-raked...4.5 degrees for the FX ...7.5 degrees for the FL...you can buy a kit to make them 0 degrees...or "inline"

 

I would have to agree, I am probably over doing it for a road bike. I do a lot of in town riding, and results in lots of scraping, dragging, and grinding on my parts. I ride with some guys on dynas, as well as a bagger or two who can really hit the corners, quickly and mostly without issue. But even when out on longer rides, in sweeping corners, I drag, at least 60% of the time. Realistically a better model Harley would be better for my riding, but as I said I've tried that route and it just isn't going to happen. So I just would like to improve what I have, as best as possible. I ride agressive. Ridden sport bikes, sportsters, dynas. Just have a softie To work with, and want to be happy with what I ride. I could ride easier, but I don't see that happening.

 

yep, ask my grandpa, scuba sam hahaha

 

That old mermaid down at the clam right ! ha ha

 

Hey Steve, I am surprised you are scraping after having changed the trees to a sharper angle.
You should be sitting higher in the front now.
I have lean angles in the 40 degree range which is not sportbike territory but notfar from it.
I can lean the Deuce over far enough to keep up with my buddy on his BMW sport touring machine at 60mph in 30 mph turns---no where near touching down.
If you are running a narrow tire 80/90-21 you might be happy just with switching to a 90/90-21 for more meat on the front.
Otherwise it is a big change to relace the wheel to a 19" in a 3 1/3 width and put on some serious racing sized rubber. I run 110/90-19 on an aluminum alloy 3 1/2 wheel from Buchanan's Wheels in Calif.
These bikes do not turn into crotch rockets no matter what because they are big heavy road bikes.
But my Deuce will out handle my souped up Triumph Bonneville T100 which is supposed to be the best handling classic road bike on the planet.
I predict that young guys are going to find the Softail Cruisers are easy to get to handle, cheap and fun as heck once they are sorted.
Plus they are bad a**.

 

Sounds like you want a Dyna.

As I've already stated on a prev post, I test rode a Switchback a couple months ago
(I ride an 00 Heritage) In handling & susp, it's leaps & bounds better than mine (AND better than the 18 Heritage I rode!!
My issue was the excess vibration. I've ridden other (older) Dyna's & they were deadnuts smooth at freeway speed.
The S/B is just as comfortable as the Heritage.
I really felt I could hit a turn @ any reasonable speed.