How much should I lower the front?
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 4
From: Augusta, Ga.
RE: How much should I lower the front?
In my opinion you are overthinking it.
They made the kit that way on purpose because it works.
This is my bike with 2 1/2 inches in the front and about 3 inches in the rear.
It's hard to tell via the picture but I think you'd be fine...and honestly that kit for the FXST lowers the rear more than an 1 1/2 inches...at least mine did as you can see. This picture is before I installed my air ride and the lowering kit is not quite at its very lowest point but very close.
They made the kit that way on purpose because it works.
This is my bike with 2 1/2 inches in the front and about 3 inches in the rear.
It's hard to tell via the picture but I think you'd be fine...and honestly that kit for the FXST lowers the rear more than an 1 1/2 inches...at least mine did as you can see. This picture is before I installed my air ride and the lowering kit is not quite at its very lowest point but very close.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
RE: How much should I lower the front?
My bike(in this pic) is lwr'd 1" in frt and 1.5Rr. He's right, it's not that noticeable . . . until you park next to a stock one.
All this talk about lowering . . . and I'm putting mine back to stock height. I just want the decent ride. All BS aside, they do ride better stk height. Plus the ground clearance. Lowered (by far) looks cooler though.
All this talk about lowering . . . and I'm putting mine back to stock height. I just want the decent ride. All BS aside, they do ride better stk height. Plus the ground clearance. Lowered (by far) looks cooler though.
RE: How much should I lower the front?
I my self would not go more than an inch and I like the white brothers kit about $89.00 including shipping from eastern performance. Every inch you lower the front that is the amount of travel you lose. Travel is what reduces the feel of the bumps in the ride the more travel you take out of the front end the rougher the ride will be. I ordered a white brothers kit today
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How much should I lower the front?
i went about a1 1/2,probably close to 1 3/4, thats about as low as i want to be. i drag pipe ,floor board, floorboard mounts, i also ride hard and i'm not afraid to lean in to the corners. i would also go to a heavy fork oil. me and old lady think it rides better after i dropped the front
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: weatherford texas
RE: How much should I lower the front?
leave it stock ride height if you ride in all road conditions. i ridden both ways stock and low.set your stock suspension to suit you best and leave it. just my opinion. with experience...........kerry
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,702
Likes: 38
From: Houston area
RE: How much should I lower the front?
Yup, like it or not, there is a reduction in ride quality with rear lowered. Cannot change the fact that total suspension travel is reduced. I have my reardown 1 1/2" with Progressive shocks and it is fine, not as good as stock height Progressives would be, but way better than stock shocks and longer bolts. The front is down 1 1/4" with Progressives and I find it is still at least as comfortable as stock height/stock springs. Not reaching for a slammed look, just not crazy about stock height dirt bike fender look..and I am not just short, I am the world's largest midget. Keeping suspension geometry was very important to me since I felt Deuce handling was just right and appearancewise the drop in front is not very apparent. John
[IMG]local://upfiles/20872/EE33E31B037D48398448EBDBAD0FDE7B.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/20872/5F572A1606804C6C9633DCA9F99AC225.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/20872/EE33E31B037D48398448EBDBAD0FDE7B.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/20872/5F572A1606804C6C9633DCA9F99AC225.jpg[/IMG]
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How much should I lower the front?
Thanks everyone for your inputs! I think I have decided to go 1" in front and 1" in rear with progressive springs front and progressive 422 shocks in the rear. After I started this endeavor I started questioning wether its worth the money or not. I will have about 600.00 invested in it when its all said and done. Thats including labor. I tend to start projects and not think about total cost. I decided I would just go with it and if it is a mistake it will be a lesson learned. I can justify both stock and lowered and I feel I just need to see for myself I guess. I am not worried about solo riding at all! Its 2 up I am worried about. I hate making it uncomfortable for the girlfriend, because that makes it less likely we will go on trips together. With that being said I will hopefully have the front done by end of month and the rear I have the studs for now but I plan on the progressive 422 soon. I found them on Ebay for 350.00, with the help of another member on here pointing out in another thread. It seems most say the rear shocks lowered an 1" is tolerable if you buy the new shocks. So I really need to get them soon. Thanks everyone and if anyone else has some comments I would be very appreciative!
Brad
Brad
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,749
Likes: 4
From: Augusta, Ga.
RE: How much should I lower the front?
No offense...but thats nuts.
600 bucks to lower an inch?
For 200 bucks you could lower up to3 inches in the rear and whatever you choose in the front if you use spacers with the Ness Kit.
600 bucks to lower an inch?
For 200 bucks you could lower up to3 inches in the rear and whatever you choose in the front if you use spacers with the Ness Kit.