lowering my bike
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 3
From: Long Island, NY
lowering my bike
Still rather new to all the customization things concerning my bike.
Was thinking of lowering my Heritage Softail Classic 2009.
Now if I remember this right, there a set of shocks for the rear suspension that will lower the ride...how hard is the install for those? (emmm...pretty new on the do stuff yourself still too)(so is that even something that I can do?)
how do i lower the front end?
do i need to lower the front end?
are there other options to lowering the bike?
thanks in advance for the help
Was thinking of lowering my Heritage Softail Classic 2009.
Now if I remember this right, there a set of shocks for the rear suspension that will lower the ride...how hard is the install for those? (emmm...pretty new on the do stuff yourself still too)(so is that even something that I can do?)
how do i lower the front end?
do i need to lower the front end?
are there other options to lowering the bike?
thanks in advance for the help
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
You can either get the lowering kit which is jsut bolts and get them pressed into the shocks, get lowering blocks, or get an air ride. I got the Hi Lo air ride a couple of months ago. From my understanding, using a loewring kit will affect your handling, but I have had all sorts of different opinions about this and have no first hand experience.
With an air ride you have on the fly adjustability and it rides like a caddy on a cushion of air. They are not cheap, but well worth it in my opinion. As far as lowering the front is concerned, it is not necessary but some people want their bike to be even and lower the front as well. Lower springs are put in to lower the front.
My air ride has a lifetime warranty and the owner gives a discount to members of the forums. See his website at http://www.hi-lorider.com/ or call up Aaron at 818 203-2853. He is a stand up guy and I don't say that about everyone. He will take the time to expalin how it works and everything else about it to you.
With an air ride you have on the fly adjustability and it rides like a caddy on a cushion of air. They are not cheap, but well worth it in my opinion. As far as lowering the front is concerned, it is not necessary but some people want their bike to be even and lower the front as well. Lower springs are put in to lower the front.
My air ride has a lifetime warranty and the owner gives a discount to members of the forums. See his website at http://www.hi-lorider.com/ or call up Aaron at 818 203-2853. He is a stand up guy and I don't say that about everyone. He will take the time to expalin how it works and everything else about it to you.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Rohnert Park
I used the Arlen Ness lowering kit...and to be honest I don't really think
the ride is affected much at all. Of course, it really depends on how much you lower it. I did not lower the front at all.
As for the installation...make sure you have a bike lift (preferably a flat lift that you can ride the bike on to). In my opinion, it is not very hard to install the kit. You might need access to a press though. If you follow the instructions with the kit, you should be ok.
I helped my neighbor install an air ride system on his softail and it really
wasn't very difficult either. Be prepared to spend about $1000 for the air-ride though (compared to $80 for the lowering kit).
Keep in mind that I am a solo rider and do not ever have a passenger, so it is not usually necessary for me to adjust my suspension. Once I found the "sweet spot" I left it there.
The air ride is very convenient if you want to adjust your suspension with ease. However, for me it just wasn't necessary. From what I have read, the air ride is possibly better riding suspension than the stock shocks.
If you run into any problems, I'm sure you can get lots of help from the kind people on this forum.
Good Luck!
the ride is affected much at all. Of course, it really depends on how much you lower it. I did not lower the front at all.
As for the installation...make sure you have a bike lift (preferably a flat lift that you can ride the bike on to). In my opinion, it is not very hard to install the kit. You might need access to a press though. If you follow the instructions with the kit, you should be ok.
I helped my neighbor install an air ride system on his softail and it really
wasn't very difficult either. Be prepared to spend about $1000 for the air-ride though (compared to $80 for the lowering kit).
Keep in mind that I am a solo rider and do not ever have a passenger, so it is not usually necessary for me to adjust my suspension. Once I found the "sweet spot" I left it there.
The air ride is very convenient if you want to adjust your suspension with ease. However, for me it just wasn't necessary. From what I have read, the air ride is possibly better riding suspension than the stock shocks.
If you run into any problems, I'm sure you can get lots of help from the kind people on this forum.
Good Luck!
Stage II
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: NW Indiana
If your looking for a cheap way to lower the rear end by about and inch, HD has a lowering kit where you take the old bolt out and put a shorter one in the shock itself, if you have the right tools, it no biggie, but if not, let your harley dealer do it, the kit is about $100....
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Rohnert Park
Here you go, Arlen Ness lowering kit on Ebay $56.95 with free shipping.
It is exactly what I used on my bike and it works great. This is how you learn man. Just get in there and start doing it. Unless you live in an apartment building and have no garage or safe place to work on your bike. You will feel a great sence of accomplishment once you finish. If you don't have a bike lift...go buy one. Your going to need one anyway if your planning on working on your own bike. Other than the right wrenches and a vise, I do believe the only other thing you will need for doing this is a press...however, if you improvise you can use something else as a press (my freind once jacked a car up and used it is a press...not safe but it worked).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARLEN...spagenameZWDVW
It is exactly what I used on my bike and it works great. This is how you learn man. Just get in there and start doing it. Unless you live in an apartment building and have no garage or safe place to work on your bike. You will feel a great sence of accomplishment once you finish. If you don't have a bike lift...go buy one. Your going to need one anyway if your planning on working on your own bike. Other than the right wrenches and a vise, I do believe the only other thing you will need for doing this is a press...however, if you improvise you can use something else as a press (my freind once jacked a car up and used it is a press...not safe but it worked).
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARLEN...spagenameZWDVW
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