HD Inverted Front End
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 812
Likes: 4
From:
RE: HD Inverted Front End
ORIGINAL: markthecelt
Anyone ever strapped one of these on a Fatboy? I am looking to replace the front end on my 07 fatboy with something more Softail Standard.
Anyone ever strapped one of these on a Fatboy? I am looking to replace the front end on my 07 fatboy with something more Softail Standard.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
RE: HD Inverted Front End
Turtle needs to visit China more often.
 \\;
Manufacturing in China is state of the art. \\; Unlike many shops here in the United States that are still using broken down machines from the 1930's.
 \\;
Thats why Harley Davidson uses China for the bulk of its after market goods. \\; It is unfortunate that the United States has not kept up with the times.
 \\;
Manufacturing in China is state of the art. \\; Unlike many shops here in the United States that are still using broken down machines from the 1930's.
 \\;
Thats why Harley Davidson uses China for the bulk of its after market goods. \\; It is unfortunate that the United States has not kept up with the times.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
Hi Brian..sorry for taking so long to respond, I have been away. You are correct to concern yourself with the offset, as near as I can figure. My thoughts are that we share a frame with the FXST so if I use wheels made for an FXST, front and rear for an 06' or 07'(aftermarket :-) ), I will net the same geopmetry as the FXST and be rid of that rediculous offset...make sense??? If the FXST has that offset and is masking it better than the Fatboy (I have never read this to be the case) same thing to me, my bike won't look like a freak sidewinder. Not sure if I will fo 18", 19" or 21" in the front yet....point is I will be spaced as an FXST, front and rear. I will go 17 X 210 on the rear.
Last edited by markthecelt; Aug 7, 2008 at 04:18 PM.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
Lets look at the wheel alignment than look at the weight from one side to the other. Your bike does not weigh the same on both sides from centerline. Next, why do you think that the new Softails have the wheels aligned in the front end? Do you think it might be that the frame neck in relationship to the rear tire might be offset in the newer bikes and when the 200 tire came out the frame & motor was mounted (dimension wise) differently? Maybe you could look at the different p/n's and see if the frames are interchangeable between years ie: where the front end/wheel is centered or not?
These are major components and once you start changing them you had better know what you are doing and the reasons why you can do it. If you wish to check this out for yourself pop on by and we can measure it for you. This is the equipment we have HERE than scroll to the bottom. You can learn first than do. Education saves on bad experiences. As far as spacers goes, what are you going to do with rotor/caliper alignment?
Last edited by FastHarley; Aug 8, 2008 at 09:57 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 0
From: Vermont
I don't mean to step into this chinese-American spat you guys are having,but I put H.D. inverted forks on my 07 fxstc and they're great!!! They perform good on bad roads.hang well in corners,they don't slam and bang like the Showa forks(if that's what Harley still uses) , and they look great.Everything fits to a tee and it goes together in no time at all.
Just follow the directions.
Just follow the directions.
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
Hey Captain, could you help me with the below (this is a paste from another post of mine)?
For the inverted forks, I would appreciate the measurement from the centre of the axle to the centre of the fender mount bolts and the distance between the inner forks where the fender mounts. As well, the measurement from under the top triple tree to the axle centre...thanks, really appreciate it!!!
For the inverted forks, I would appreciate the measurement from the centre of the axle to the centre of the fender mount bolts and the distance between the inner forks where the fender mounts. As well, the measurement from under the top triple tree to the axle centre...thanks, really appreciate it!!!
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
Hey FastHD, if you read my post carefully, you will see that I am suggesting we emulate the offset on the FXST on our fatboys using the parts from an FXST (wheels, spacers, forks, etc.)which have the same frame, motor and swingarms...this is not rocket science, we will net the same geometry as the FXST. We are maintaining a harley recipe in every regard.
Having said this, to blindly trust that HD does 'what is right' is a very bad premise. If I look at all the short comings on my 07' Fatboy that the MoCo produced for only 1 year before getting it right (or lets say, closer to right) in 08'. HDs haste to cram a 200mm tire onto a fatboy came at the cost of some really $hitty design, such as the rediculous offset and cowbells that scrape fenders which they fixed by carving out a piece in later models (and retrofitting early ones) and sticking a shim on to prevent the fork from travelling fully. Lets not even talk about the crappy new cranks that are so sloppy that HD chose to change the published tolerance (from .003" to .011") rather than fix the core problem...I question the integrity of the lousy bandages they produce rather than proper fixes..this is also a testimony to the quality of the engineering in the first place. I personally refuse to hang my hat on HD integrity or ability to design.
The MoCo is a corporation, as greedy as any example you will find out there, nothing more.
Having said this, to blindly trust that HD does 'what is right' is a very bad premise. If I look at all the short comings on my 07' Fatboy that the MoCo produced for only 1 year before getting it right (or lets say, closer to right) in 08'. HDs haste to cram a 200mm tire onto a fatboy came at the cost of some really $hitty design, such as the rediculous offset and cowbells that scrape fenders which they fixed by carving out a piece in later models (and retrofitting early ones) and sticking a shim on to prevent the fork from travelling fully. Lets not even talk about the crappy new cranks that are so sloppy that HD chose to change the published tolerance (from .003" to .011") rather than fix the core problem...I question the integrity of the lousy bandages they produce rather than proper fixes..this is also a testimony to the quality of the engineering in the first place. I personally refuse to hang my hat on HD integrity or ability to design.
The MoCo is a corporation, as greedy as any example you will find out there, nothing more.