Lowering - Aesthetics or Function???
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
It's definetly about the looks for me...gotta scrape my boards and pipes down the blvd or I feel like I'm missing out 
...the ride just isn't as smooth as before...but If I wanted a smooth ride, I'd ride a glide!!!
...the ride just isn't as smooth as before...but If I wanted a smooth ride, I'd ride a glide!!!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
Lowering, just like ape hangers. Looks cool but hurts the ride quality. Some people don't care about handling and comfort as long as they look like cool badasses.
Uh oh, I'm going to get beat up now!
Uh oh, I'm going to get beat up now!
Supporter
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,685
Likes: 37
From: Hoboken, NJ
To me it depends on the bike- to me, Trains are made to be lowered. I dropped mine 2" in the rear and have had no issues with handling. I am a cruiser rider, not a sport bike rider. I took corners carefully 2" ago- I still take them carefully.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
I just bought some progressive 422s for the rear and installed them tonight. I'll be testing the ride out tomorrow after I torque the bolts down correctly and will report the difference to stock ride. I weigh 225, so I'm pretty heavy. I left the preload at the default lightest setting for now until I can test ride it. I tried to bottom it out in the garage by jumping up and down on it and didn't seem too. I went 1.5" in the rear. and doing 2" progressive drop-ins in the front.
Dale
Dale
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,067
Likes: 60
From: Chesterfield, VA
I just insulted ape hangers and lowering but JayDee's ride does look awsome. I just saved the picture to my "best looking bikes" folder.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
Mine actually handles better although I did it for the look.
I hardly ever scrape and when it does its the frame rails as it aint my opegs or my pipe.
I was looking at the HD website and noticed that the Night Train in the buy a bike section has the front end slammed to the point of being photo shopped or severly modded simply gutted fork tubes.
So they know...Bet that they know.
I hardly ever scrape and when it does its the frame rails as it aint my opegs or my pipe.
I was looking at the HD website and noticed that the Night Train in the buy a bike section has the front end slammed to the point of being photo shopped or severly modded simply gutted fork tubes.
So they know...Bet that they know.
Road Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 941
Likes: 27
From:
Only benefits is if lowering allows rider to put feet down and some preffer the look. Handleing wise lean angle will lesson as will suspension travel.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Reporting back.... Installed the 422s with a 1.5" drop in the rear. The ride is night and day IMO. Handling seems better in corners and the ride is much smoother. I don't feel small bumps at all anymore in the rear like I used to down this common road I ride down frequently. Preload is set at the default setting and I didn't bottom out; however, I didn't hit any huge bumps either. 422s were well worth the money in my book and my lower back is thanking me already.
Front was still hitting pretty hard and I'm going to drop those 2" next week. I don't imagine those will get any better, but I plan on draining the oil and adding some good stuff.
422s TWO THUMBS UP FROM ME.
Dale
Front was still hitting pretty hard and I'm going to drop those 2" next week. I don't imagine those will get any better, but I plan on draining the oil and adding some good stuff.
422s TWO THUMBS UP FROM ME.
Dale
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 729
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
Reporting back.... Installed the 422s with a 1.5" drop in the rear. The ride is night and day IMO. Handling seems better in corners and the ride is much smoother. I don't feel small bumps at all anymore in the rear like I used to down this common road I ride down frequently. Preload is set at the default setting and I didn't bottom out; however, I didn't hit any huge bumps either. 422s were well worth the money in my book and my lower back is thanking me already.
Front was still hitting pretty hard and I'm going to drop those 2" next week. I don't imagine those will get any better, but I plan on draining the oil and adding some good stuff.
422s TWO THUMBS UP FROM ME.
Dale
Front was still hitting pretty hard and I'm going to drop those 2" next week. I don't imagine those will get any better, but I plan on draining the oil and adding some good stuff.
422s TWO THUMBS UP FROM ME.
Dale