lowering my fatboy
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: weatherford texas
lowering my fatboy
i know this has been discussed before but i am thinking of lowering my 05 fatboy. about 1 inch in rear and 1 to 2 in front. i am thinking of the harley kit for this. i would like some opinions from some of you who have done this . is therea better kit.do i need any special tools to disassembe the shock.what about front fork oil. i am not replaceing the shock.just going the cheaper way.. also do i need to replace the jiffy stand with a shorter one.. thanks in advance for any advice..............kerry
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: lowering my fatboy
Lower the front as well as rear and you're going to lose lean angle... ie. you'll scrap floorboards easier.
I just went with a shock lowering kit (I think it was the wild 1 kit, but there are several for OEM shocks).
Lowered it about 1" and it's great.. I may drop the rear to a 1 1/2 under stock.. Sits nice as it is though.
I'd try lowering just the rear first.. you may find that's all you need.. and it's adjustable.
I just went with a shock lowering kit (I think it was the wild 1 kit, but there are several for OEM shocks).
Lowered it about 1" and it's great.. I may drop the rear to a 1 1/2 under stock.. Sits nice as it is though.
I'd try lowering just the rear first.. you may find that's all you need.. and it's adjustable.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: lowering my fatboy
I am yet to do this but have read that by using the progressive 422 shocks your ride will be greatly improved as well. I have always found that aftermarket suspension has been expensive but well worth it.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1490374/tm.htm
This also gives a link of where to get them for a good price.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_1490374/tm.htm
This also gives a link of where to get them for a good price.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
RE: lowering my fatboy
I highly reccommend going with the Progressive 422 Shocks instead of just the lowering kits(bolts). By lowering your bike even as much as 1" you change the design of the bike and affect the handling . Improving the quaility of the shocks over the stock shocks I think will help to improve the ride.
I lowered my bike using the 422s by about 1.5" and it now handels better than before, I believe because of better shocks. But the down side of lowering , no matter how you do it is you will scrape floorboards earlier (less lean angle). Lowering less than 2 " doesnt seem to be a big problem though depending how aggressive you ride.
I lowered my bike using the 422s by about 1.5" and it now handels better than before, I believe because of better shocks. But the down side of lowering , no matter how you do it is you will scrape floorboards earlier (less lean angle). Lowering less than 2 " doesnt seem to be a big problem though depending how aggressive you ride.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
RE: lowering my fatboy
I recently lowered just the rear of my 07 Fatboy and noticed almost no change in ride quality..... at least when riding solo. I just installed the Ness Slammer kit, (about $80), which is basically just a longer stud coming off the stock shock. It dropped about 1.25-1.5" and you can adjust it anywhere from stock to 2" of drop. It looks so much better and the stiffness is only noticeable when my wife is on the back with me.... Btw, I weigh about 185 and I'm sure rider weight will affect the magnitude of the change in ride quality. Good luck!
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From:
RE: lowering my fatboy
I went with the 422s and slammed my fatty pretty low. I also increased the preload a little for preference. Now I'm just waiting for that brutal Indiana winter to kick in so I can break the front end apart and install the progressive front end lowering kit. I can't wait to level em' out. I have no experience with the shock bolt kits, but I'll fully vouch for the 422s.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
From:
RE: lowering my fatboy
hi,
i just lowered the rear of my 07 fxstc by 2 inches with the chrome progressive kit , i couldnt believe how much better it handled
even coming up to a stop it didnt have any tendancy to lean either way seemed much more stable. i took it for a run through the winding roads i usually
go in the mountains an the rear lowering really hasnt made it any more scrapable than before. iam extremely happy with this mod.
cheers
i just lowered the rear of my 07 fxstc by 2 inches with the chrome progressive kit , i couldnt believe how much better it handled
even coming up to a stop it didnt have any tendancy to lean either way seemed much more stable. i took it for a run through the winding roads i usually
go in the mountains an the rear lowering really hasnt made it any more scrapable than before. iam extremely happy with this mod.
cheers
Trending Topics
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: lowering my fatboy
Just by installing the rear kit on mine, I noticed it handles slightly better and I haven't really noticed it scraping sooner.. I think the slightly lower rear end and actually adjusting the pre-load appropriately makes the bike a little easier to push into the turns.. May just be my perception but it's like the bike has a noticeable lower center of gravity.. If you have a smaller profile style seat, it sits even lower, but I've been quite pleased with the stock height of the mustang with the lowered rear end. No doubt though if you have the cash, the progressive 422's are a nice upgrade though, and it's probably an easier swap rather than pulling shocks, dissassembling to install the kit (which requires press or a special tool). Easier to just swap out the shock entirely and adjust.
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
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: weatherford texas
RE: lowering my fatboy
thanks all , i think i will probably use the 422 set as recommended when and if i do it. i think i will also only do the rear first to see.i amm concerned about the floorboards scraping. thanks to all for the advice... back under my rock... kerry
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From:
RE: lowering my fatboy
I did the bolt kit, just swaps the shock bolts for a longer set, lowered it 1.5 inches and now it rides and handles much better. I still get the floorboard scrape but that just makes everyone look at you when your carving turns. My 98 was dropped 2 inches and it was a bit much with a passenger on board and a tbag.