front and rear drop? Recommendations...
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
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
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...ml#post5354623
regards,
Dale
S/F
Freefall
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 953
Likes: 0
From: SOUTH-ALABAMA
Mmmmmmmm . . . Just what Ive been waiting for! ^ Bring the drop! Gotta know how well it rides after the drop, thats what concerns me most as I have a passenger a lot of times and dont want to have to wear ear plugs when I ride to drown out the complaining.
Awesome feedback guys. Thank you very much...I have the hardware at my house, but have not lowered it yet. Time is a precious commodity these days. Come this weekend, I should have a lot more time on my hands. I will be taking next semester off of school.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
OK, I had the drop in kit installed with the 4.5" spacer.
It only dropped my front end 1".
I'm gonna ride it for a few days to decide if I want to tear it apart and cut the spacer to try to drop it some more.
Sorry for not having a good before and after pic, will try tomorrow to get some good comparison shots. Anyway, here is the before 8" and after 7".
S/F
Freefall
It only dropped my front end 1".
I'm gonna ride it for a few days to decide if I want to tear it apart and cut the spacer to try to drop it some more.
Sorry for not having a good before and after pic, will try tomorrow to get some good comparison shots. Anyway, here is the before 8" and after 7".
S/F
Freefall
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
Likes: 9,320
From: Georgia
http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tec...tor/index.html
This is a pretty simple explanation of the Race Tech valve some of you have asked about or were thinking of getting.When I dropped the front with the tubes-2" and Genesis springs-2" the bike handled great until 85 or so then it was all down hill,wandering and a hint of high speed wobble was not far off.I already had the Gold valve in and set soft as part of the drop which gave me almost 5" total drop.Looked cool as hell and up to the above speeds handled like it was on rails.Downside I've wore the bottom of the brake pedal off no matter how much air in the rear shocks.Actually got the rear so high to keep the brake pedal off the ground that the bike had a nose down attitude which contributed to the ill handling.Might be fine for a balanced sport bike like that but sucks on a land whale Night Train.I had the front apart 2 times and and it made no difference no matter how much compression I put in or took out of the emulator valve.Today I took the stock Harley 3/4" spring out from below the damper and drilled the 2ND hole in the stock damper tube. That was the ticket. Handling has returned to what I will call great for a softail.Ran the bike up over a hundred and all is well again.I know this won't help you guys with the drop in kits but for those that are considering or already have the full spring kits this will save you some time.Bottom line is 5" of drop is too much.
http://racetech.com/page.aspx?id=59&menuid=67
http://www.patriotsuspension.com/ I used the Genesis springs.I had the Progressive regular 2" kit.No comparison in my view.G.
This is a pretty simple explanation of the Race Tech valve some of you have asked about or were thinking of getting.When I dropped the front with the tubes-2" and Genesis springs-2" the bike handled great until 85 or so then it was all down hill,wandering and a hint of high speed wobble was not far off.I already had the Gold valve in and set soft as part of the drop which gave me almost 5" total drop.Looked cool as hell and up to the above speeds handled like it was on rails.Downside I've wore the bottom of the brake pedal off no matter how much air in the rear shocks.Actually got the rear so high to keep the brake pedal off the ground that the bike had a nose down attitude which contributed to the ill handling.Might be fine for a balanced sport bike like that but sucks on a land whale Night Train.I had the front apart 2 times and and it made no difference no matter how much compression I put in or took out of the emulator valve.Today I took the stock Harley 3/4" spring out from below the damper and drilled the 2ND hole in the stock damper tube. That was the ticket. Handling has returned to what I will call great for a softail.Ran the bike up over a hundred and all is well again.I know this won't help you guys with the drop in kits but for those that are considering or already have the full spring kits this will save you some time.Bottom line is 5" of drop is too much.
http://racetech.com/page.aspx?id=59&menuid=67
http://www.patriotsuspension.com/ I used the Genesis springs.I had the Progressive regular 2" kit.No comparison in my view.G.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Got out today and put about 60 miles on the lowered front end.
Again, I only got an inch of drop but it handles way better than the stock settings. Much firmer and does not dive when I go hard on the front brake.
Next question:
I have never changed the preload from stock.
Front rides great, now to tweak the rear so it rides a little better.
I found this link on another thread (can't find it now) and I have the Service Manual for my bike. http://fatbillscustoms.com/
I ordered and received a shock spanner wrench and bought a 1 1/16 open end wrench. I was all ready to go set my preload but can't get both the spanner wrench and the open end wrench on there at the same time.
It appears that the 1 1/16" nut is to far recessed in the shock and not enough room to get the open end wrench on there.
According to the link, I have 4 visible threads and want to adjust it so I have 3 threads.
Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong or a way to fix it?
Do I need to remove the shocks? I don't see how removing them will help, as I can't get the wrench on the nut. BTW, I have a Craftsman lift so access is not an issue.
Also, I have the rear lowering kit that did not require the shocks to be pressed.
Hope this explains my problem.
Open for suggestions.
Thanks much
S/F
Freefall
Again, I only got an inch of drop but it handles way better than the stock settings. Much firmer and does not dive when I go hard on the front brake.
Next question:
I have never changed the preload from stock.
Front rides great, now to tweak the rear so it rides a little better.
I found this link on another thread (can't find it now) and I have the Service Manual for my bike. http://fatbillscustoms.com/
I ordered and received a shock spanner wrench and bought a 1 1/16 open end wrench. I was all ready to go set my preload but can't get both the spanner wrench and the open end wrench on there at the same time.
It appears that the 1 1/16" nut is to far recessed in the shock and not enough room to get the open end wrench on there.
According to the link, I have 4 visible threads and want to adjust it so I have 3 threads.
Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong or a way to fix it?
Do I need to remove the shocks? I don't see how removing them will help, as I can't get the wrench on the nut. BTW, I have a Craftsman lift so access is not an issue.
Also, I have the rear lowering kit that did not require the shocks to be pressed.
Hope this explains my problem.
Open for suggestions.
Thanks much
S/F
Freefall
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R.I.P. BROTHER
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
Got out today and put about 60 miles on the lowered front end.
Again, I only got an inch of drop but it handles way better than the stock settings. Much firmer and does not dive when I go hard on the front brake.
Next question:
I have never changed the preload from stock.
Front rides great, now to tweak the rear so it rides a little better.
I found this link on another thread (can't find it now) and I have the Service Manual for my bike. http://fatbillscustoms.com/
I ordered and received a shock spanner wrench and bought a 1 1/16 open end wrench. I was all ready to go set my preload but can't get both the spanner wrench and the open end wrench on there at the same time.
It appears that the 1 1/16" nut is to far recessed in the shock and not enough room to get the open end wrench on there.
According to the link, I have 4 visible threads and want to adjust it so I have 3 threads.
Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong or a way to fix it?
Do I need to remove the shocks? I don't see how removing them will help, as I can't get the wrench on the nut. BTW, I have a Craftsman lift so access is not an issue.
Also, I have the rear lowering kit that did not require the shocks to be pressed.
Hope this explains my problem.
Open for suggestions.
Thanks much
S/F
Freefall
Again, I only got an inch of drop but it handles way better than the stock settings. Much firmer and does not dive when I go hard on the front brake.
Next question:
I have never changed the preload from stock.
Front rides great, now to tweak the rear so it rides a little better.
I found this link on another thread (can't find it now) and I have the Service Manual for my bike. http://fatbillscustoms.com/
I ordered and received a shock spanner wrench and bought a 1 1/16 open end wrench. I was all ready to go set my preload but can't get both the spanner wrench and the open end wrench on there at the same time.
It appears that the 1 1/16" nut is to far recessed in the shock and not enough room to get the open end wrench on there.
According to the link, I have 4 visible threads and want to adjust it so I have 3 threads.
Any ideas on what I may be doing wrong or a way to fix it?
Do I need to remove the shocks? I don't see how removing them will help, as I can't get the wrench on the nut. BTW, I have a Craftsman lift so access is not an issue.
Also, I have the rear lowering kit that did not require the shocks to be pressed.
Hope this explains my problem.
Open for suggestions.
Thanks much
S/F
Freefall
Its time to sacrifice.....I cant remember if mine were easy to get a wrench 0n....My guess is that if they were I musta used the sacrificied cresent!
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
Sacrifice a cheap harbor frieght cresent wrench to the grinder. Make it narrow as you can short of brittle and ready to break. I have a cresent wrench that is used all the time especially on my KTM's fork preload that comes in very handy.
Its time to sacrifice.....I cant remember if mine were easy to get a wrench 0n....My guess is that if they were I musta used the sacrificied cresent!
Its time to sacrifice.....I cant remember if mine were easy to get a wrench 0n....My guess is that if they were I musta used the sacrificied cresent!
Anyone else run into this problem or have a recommendation?
S/F
Freefall