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front and rear drop? Recommendations...

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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 06:23 AM
  #41  
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Do your bikes drag around corners easily once you lower the front end? I have mine just lowered in the rear and sometimes it drags when I make sharp left turns. Will lowering the front make this worse?
 
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 07:13 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by boosteddelslow
Do your bikes drag around corners easily once you lower the front end? I have mine just lowered in the rear and sometimes it drags when I make sharp left turns. Will lowering the front make this worse?
Call me crazy bro....But since lowering the fron using some 2 under tubes and my progressive lowering kit as well?

I almost never scrape.

Now that my frame is closer to level with the ground it turns so much better that I dont have to lean it so far to get sharp turn in......My pipe is also mounted up high like an old enduro bike pipe so that probably helps too!!

Very rarely does this old turd scrape and i live and ride in Colorado and generally go up the mountain at a stoopid fast pace considering I'm riding a Harley.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 07:17 AM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by FREEFALL
I just got my Drop in lowering kit and I'm kinda confused.

You say that you just dropped in the spacers as is 4.50"?
How much did it drop the front end?

The instruction sheet says that a longer spacer will raise the front end while a shorter spacer will lower the front end.

I want to drop the front end a full 2".
Do I need to cut the 4.5" spacer or just drop it in the way it is?

Thanks much for the help.

S/F
Freefall
If you just want low cut that fvcker down short.

If you want it to handle well you need a bit of preload on the springs.

The progressive instruction sheet should cover how much preload. Personally at 230 Lbs I like about 10MM of preload on the wide glider fork.

This means that the spacer should be sitting over the fork tube just a tad or 10MM hence when installed puts pressure on the springs.
 
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Old Sep 9, 2009 | 05:51 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by Chazmanian
If you just want low cut that fvcker down short.

If you want it to handle well you need a bit of preload on the springs.

The progressive instruction sheet should cover how much preload. Personally at 230 Lbs I like about 10MM of preload on the wide glider fork.

This means that the spacer should be sitting over the fork tube just a tad or 10MM hence when installed puts pressure on the springs.
Chaz,
Thanks again for the feedback.
I just want to drop it the full 2".

I am having my dealer install the kit (they kinda owe me a favor).
I would like to be able to tell them how short to cut them or cut them myself before droping the parts off. Remember, they are Okinawan and don't speak much English and I don't speak a lick of Japanese.

Anyway, can you or anyone provide an exact lenght to cut the spacers to get the 2" drop?

Thanks much

S/F
Freefall
 
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 06:29 AM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by FREEFALL
Chaz,
Thanks again for the feedback.
I just want to drop it the full 2".

I am having my dealer install the kit (they kinda owe me a favor).
I would like to be able to tell them how short to cut them or cut them myself before droping the parts off. Remember, they are Okinawan and don't speak much English and I don't speak a lick of Japanese.

Anyway, can you or anyone provide an exact lenght to cut the spacers to get the 2" drop?

Thanks much

S/F
Freefall
Do you have the kit with the 4.5" spacer?

Dale
 
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 07:37 AM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by dkyork
Do you have the kit with the 4.5" spacer?

Dale
Yes sir.

S/F
Freefall
 
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 07:52 AM
  #47  
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Default lowering

I went two in the back and one in the front. i have hit a few good size holes in the road and if i were any lower in the front i would have bottomed out the front finder and damaged it as is it was close
 
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Old Sep 10, 2009 | 08:00 AM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by FREEFALL
Yes sir.

S/F
Freefall
Rgr, I installed that kit on my NT and left it at default. I should have taken measurements before, but I didn't. I measured after and my drop was 1/2" less then Chaz's. He had that kit before the shorty tubes he bought I believe. One difference is he added 11 ounces of fluid and I added the service manual amount of 12.5. That could have caused it as. I know when I was putting it all together, the PVC stuck out of the fork about an inch or so. Right now my front shocks are easy to compress, I'm worried if I cut the PVC, I'll decrease the preload even more and it'll be even more squishy up front. I could never find any clear cut directions on how to get front end lower. The directions say keep it at 4.5" for 2" drop. I wish I measured first!

Also, ever since I replace the sliders and put in the drop kit, whenever I'm going slow and lean a little I feel a little vibration. I'm not sure if that was there before or if I'm being paranoid. I don't think the kit did it, but maybe I hosed something else up. Also, I noticed at low speeds when I hit bumps I hear a little knocking/rattling/clunking sound now....... I might try and tighten the steering head tonight, but I don't think the kit did that either. Ok, way off subject here and i'll stop. I would go with default 4.5", but if you find out more information from progressive or somebody, please let us know.

Dale
 
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 02:47 AM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by dkyork
Rgr, I installed that kit on my NT and left it at default. I should have taken measurements before, but I didn't. I measured after and my drop was 1/2" less then Chaz's. He had that kit before the shorty tubes he bought I believe. One difference is he added 11 ounces of fluid and I added the service manual amount of 12.5. That could have caused it as. I know when I was putting it all together, the PVC stuck out of the fork about an inch or so. Right now my front shocks are easy to compress, I'm worried if I cut the PVC, I'll decrease the preload even more and it'll be even more squishy up front. I could never find any clear cut directions on how to get front end lower. The directions say keep it at 4.5" for 2" drop. I wish I measured first!

Also, ever since I replace the sliders and put in the drop kit, whenever I'm going slow and lean a little I feel a little vibration. I'm not sure if that was there before or if I'm being paranoid. I don't think the kit did it, but maybe I hosed something else up. Also, I noticed at low speeds when I hit bumps I hear a little knocking/rattling/clunking sound now....... I might try and tighten the steering head tonight, but I don't think the kit did that either. Ok, way off subject here and i'll stop. I would go with default 4.5", but if you find out more information from progressive or somebody, please let us know.

Dale
Wow, almost missed this.

Thanks much. My stock distance between the bottom of the lower tree and the top of the slider cap is exactly 8" as it sits on the side stand.

Your saying if I leave the spacer at 4.5" it will drop it 2"?

I just reread the instructions again, and I think that is what it says.
When it started talking about cutting the spacer, it threw me off.

Thanks much

S/F
Freefall
 
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Old Sep 11, 2009 | 08:10 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by FREEFALL
Wow, almost missed this.

Thanks much. My stock distance between the bottom of the lower tree and the top of the slider cap is exactly 8" as it sits on the side stand.

Your saying if I leave the spacer at 4.5" it will drop it 2"?

I just reread the instructions again, and I think that is what it says.
When it started talking about cutting the spacer, it threw me off.

Thanks much

S/F
Freefall
Here you go Freefall, check out this link. Chaz and I measured out distances before. I mdid mine with the bike straight up though. You'll notice he got lower then me, he cut the PVC and put in less fluid..... so confusing, but I'm going to tear mine down again and try to get it lower.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...ml#post5354623

regards,

Dale
 
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