DIY Cheap Mods
Thread Starter
|
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
Very clever and it will keep the mice and spiders out while the bike is hiding from the winter snow.
But I gotta ask, whats the 9 'kill' marks for on the oil tank?
But I gotta ask, whats the 9 'kill' marks for on the oil tank?
$9 ride improvement
If you're super aggressive on your FLST like me, the soft riding front end is holding you back.
I stripped the lights and panels off the front end, took loose the top triple tree and opened the tubes to the springs. Harley springs are under MUCH more tension than the Triumphs I worked on so long and I wound up with a fender ding as one exploded on me.
Anyway, I cut some 1" PVC spacers to put over the springs and increase the spring rate, holding the front of the bike up higher in the curves. Couldn't get those in, so cut some 5/8" ones and with ALL my strength, managed to get the caps back on. I then put in Maxim 15 weight heavy fork oil ($9) and put it all back together. Went for a neighborhood cruise and was amazed. The bike feels like it's SMALLER somehow, and it's not stiff at all; if anything, it actually rides SMOOTHER! I can't explain it; you'd think it would be harder but it's not. Stock is 12.9 ounces and I put in just over 13 for less brake diving. It worked.
While the trees were loose, I got to the neck bearings and greased them. Harley necks would take a full tube of grease (and it's weight) to get to the bearings, so many of us don't fill them. If you do NOTHING else, change your oil before 10k. Mine was nasty with metal at 14k. The book is wrong.
Hopefully, now I'll stop banging my crash bars.
I stripped the lights and panels off the front end, took loose the top triple tree and opened the tubes to the springs. Harley springs are under MUCH more tension than the Triumphs I worked on so long and I wound up with a fender ding as one exploded on me.
Anyway, I cut some 1" PVC spacers to put over the springs and increase the spring rate, holding the front of the bike up higher in the curves. Couldn't get those in, so cut some 5/8" ones and with ALL my strength, managed to get the caps back on. I then put in Maxim 15 weight heavy fork oil ($9) and put it all back together. Went for a neighborhood cruise and was amazed. The bike feels like it's SMALLER somehow, and it's not stiff at all; if anything, it actually rides SMOOTHER! I can't explain it; you'd think it would be harder but it's not. Stock is 12.9 ounces and I put in just over 13 for less brake diving. It worked.
While the trees were loose, I got to the neck bearings and greased them. Harley necks would take a full tube of grease (and it's weight) to get to the bearings, so many of us don't fill them. If you do NOTHING else, change your oil before 10k. Mine was nasty with metal at 14k. The book is wrong.
Hopefully, now I'll stop banging my crash bars.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 0
From: Ewa Beach, Oahu
The hash marks are for each time a person/animal has been injured/killed by my bike. Which reminds me, I ran over someones cat the other day...gotta get the paintbrush out and fix my count.
You gotta stop aiming for critters! I saw an armadillo shoot a guy 3' in the air in Texas.
Those pipes really work with that bike; super bad. Don't you hate rain? I saw a clipon front fender somewhere else that I thot was a good plan. Someone should do a fab here.
Those pipes really work with that bike; super bad. Don't you hate rain? I saw a clipon front fender somewhere else that I thot was a good plan. Someone should do a fab here.
Thread Starter
|
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
feef,
What pipes are those baffles for, V&H BR's?
DarkTrak,
I didn't notice your out in the islands.
Snow is the white slippery stuff we on the mainland, and especially up north have to contend with between around November and March.
Its very annoying cause only someone who's a bit suicidal would try to ride something like a Harley in it.
Now go add your new hash mark.
What pipes are those baffles for, V&H BR's?
DarkTrak,
I didn't notice your out in the islands.
Snow is the white slippery stuff we on the mainland, and especially up north have to contend with between around November and March.
Its very annoying cause only someone who's a bit suicidal would try to ride something like a Harley in it.
Now go add your new hash mark.
Last edited by In Memoriam Citoriplus; Oct 13, 2010 at 09:12 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: France
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
If you're super aggressive on your FLST like me, the soft riding front end is holding you back.
I stripped the lights and panels off the front end, took loose the top triple tree and opened the tubes to the springs. Harley springs are under MUCH more tension than the Triumphs I worked on so long and I wound up with a fender ding as one exploded on me.
Anyway, I cut some 1" PVC spacers to put over the springs and increase the spring rate, holding the front of the bike up higher in the curves. Couldn't get those in, so cut some 5/8" ones and with ALL my strength, managed to get the caps back on. I then put in Maxim 15 weight heavy fork oil ($9) and put it all back together. Went for a neighborhood cruise and was amazed. The bike feels like it's SMALLER somehow, and it's not stiff at all; if anything, it actually rides SMOOTHER! I can't explain it; you'd think it would be harder but it's not. Stock is 12.9 ounces and I put in just over 13 for less brake diving. It worked.
While the trees were loose, I got to the neck bearings and greased them. Harley necks would take a full tube of grease (and it's weight) to get to the bearings, so many of us don't fill them. If you do NOTHING else, change your oil before 10k. Mine was nasty with metal at 14k. The book is wrong.
Hopefully, now I'll stop banging my crash bars.
I stripped the lights and panels off the front end, took loose the top triple tree and opened the tubes to the springs. Harley springs are under MUCH more tension than the Triumphs I worked on so long and I wound up with a fender ding as one exploded on me.
Anyway, I cut some 1" PVC spacers to put over the springs and increase the spring rate, holding the front of the bike up higher in the curves. Couldn't get those in, so cut some 5/8" ones and with ALL my strength, managed to get the caps back on. I then put in Maxim 15 weight heavy fork oil ($9) and put it all back together. Went for a neighborhood cruise and was amazed. The bike feels like it's SMALLER somehow, and it's not stiff at all; if anything, it actually rides SMOOTHER! I can't explain it; you'd think it would be harder but it's not. Stock is 12.9 ounces and I put in just over 13 for less brake diving. It worked.
While the trees were loose, I got to the neck bearings and greased them. Harley necks would take a full tube of grease (and it's weight) to get to the bearings, so many of us don't fill them. If you do NOTHING else, change your oil before 10k. Mine was nasty with metal at 14k. The book is wrong.
Hopefully, now I'll stop banging my crash bars.