softail lowering kit
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 689
Likes: 0
From: Beatrice, Nebraska
RE: softail lowering kit
I'd like to lower my 99 Fatboy due to being vertically challanged, but I just had back surgery, (should be able to start riding again by April),& don't want to loose the ride comfort that I have with the stock shocks. Is it possible to achieve both, or at least get close?
Frank
Frank
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 10
From: Orange VA
RE: softail lowering kit
I put lowering bolts like these on the wife's Deuce and lowered her a good 2-2.5" and upped the preload maybe one turn. Rides as good as it did when it left the dealership. (That's on the stock shocks)
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/5615DF1C5BA04EADBA59AE14734B92B7.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/5615DF1C5BA04EADBA59AE14734B92B7.jpg[/IMG]
Banned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 7
From:
RE: softail lowering kit
Like I said above, I lowered my FXST as low as the bolts would let it with the stock shocks and it's prabably 2.5" lower than stock but at the same time I stiffened the preload as far as it would go to resist bottoming and a belt clearance issue that I was having. I probably could have experimented with the preload, but the bike riding like a shopping cart doesn't bother me.
As far as Trash Rat goes, you may be better suited to a lower seat. Lowering and stiffening the rear may play hell on your back. The beauty of the new bolts is that you can put it back if you want, like benson said, and it won't cost you an arm and leg.
Put them on, lower the bike to where you like it and test ride. If it's bottoming, stiffen the preload until it either stops bottoming or it gets too stiff for your back. If you can't get the ride good enough just crank the bolts and raise the rear a bit and mess with the preload some more. Although messing around laying on the ground that much may be a killer on the back by itself.
As far as Trash Rat goes, you may be better suited to a lower seat. Lowering and stiffening the rear may play hell on your back. The beauty of the new bolts is that you can put it back if you want, like benson said, and it won't cost you an arm and leg.
Put them on, lower the bike to where you like it and test ride. If it's bottoming, stiffen the preload until it either stops bottoming or it gets too stiff for your back. If you can't get the ride good enough just crank the bolts and raise the rear a bit and mess with the preload some more. Although messing around laying on the ground that much may be a killer on the back by itself.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 311
Likes: 1
From: Columbia MO/Breese IL
RE: softail lowering kit
mine is set as stiff as it goes right now and i only weigh 150lbs so it cant get much worse lowered haha, ill probably adjust the shocks to be softer even after i lower it, i got a solo seat too so most of the time i wont be riding 2 up
Banned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,899
Likes: 7
From:
RE: softail lowering kit
ORIGINAL: Screamin00
mine is set as stiff as it goes right now and i only weigh 150lbs so it cant get much worse lowered haha, ill probably adjust the shocks to be softer even after i lower it, i got a solo seat too so most of the time i wont be riding 2 up
mine is set as stiff as it goes right now and i only weigh 150lbs so it cant get much worse lowered haha, ill probably adjust the shocks to be softer even after i lower it, i got a solo seat too so most of the time i wont be riding 2 up
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: N.Cen.TX
RE: softail lowering kit
I used the HD rear lowering bolts...cost $80....if you have access to a press, they're very easy to change out....the instruction where very clean....but without it (press)I don't know how you would get the shock apart....It's an inexpensive way to lower your ride 1" to 2" without buying Progessive Lowering Shocks, that cost big $$$$$$$
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: new england, worcester county, mass
RE: softail lowering kit
i bought this arlen ness lowering kit... it came with everything for the front and rear witha new kickstanddesigned for a lowered bike... i installed it myself but i had to use a friends press for the rear shocks.lowering the front and rear reallyimproved the look of the bike and did NOT affect ride quality at all because instead ofputting in shorter springs, you're just adjusting where the springs sit. bought my kit from eastern performance ($139) and got free shipping... good luck...
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