Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

rear lower than front,bad handling?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:04 AM
  #1  
phatsanders's Avatar
phatsanders
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default rear lower than front,bad handling?

if you lower rear of bike 2",and not front will it change handling of bike? 99 fatboy with 18"s front and rear
 
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 09:47 AM
  #2  
handyhoward's Avatar
handyhoward
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 5
From: Emerald Coast, FL
Default

It will change it some but not to the point of a safety issue... could give you the feeling of riding uphill when you take off.......................
 
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 01:20 PM
  #3  
DMJFatboy's Avatar
DMJFatboy
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 452
Likes: 1
From: Delaware
Default

I am running 18's and dropped about 2" in the rear only. It sits low but never really noticed any change in handling.
 
Attached Thumbnails rear lower than front,bad handling?-010.jpg   rear lower than front,bad handling?-009.jpg  
Reply
Old Aug 29, 2009 | 04:53 PM
  #4  
Chazmanian's Avatar
Chazmanian
R.I.P. BROTHER
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,076
Likes: 6
From: Colorado Springs
Default

When the back of my Train was dropped 2" it had some high speed understeer going into tight corners and felt kinda out of sorts. Rode fine but here with our twisty mountains roads in Colorado a guy need to be spot on.

Dropped the front 2" and it turned way better and held its line in said turn better.

Dropped it even more with a set of shorty fork tubes and now it can be hammered through the twisties like a.....Dyna!!

If you are passionate about riding your bike hard? Get the rake angles back where they should be which means drop the front when you drop the rear.... If you just cruise and dont really ride the bike close to the limit? It dosent matter as much.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 07:15 AM
  #5  
tk353's Avatar
tk353
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
Default

i raised the front about 1 inch by getting a larger front tire. then i dropped it 2 inch by getting a smaller tire. the smaller front tire makes turns feel much better like having power steering
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 08:02 AM
  #6  
aviscomi's Avatar
aviscomi
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 464
From: Philadelphia
Default

Originally Posted by DMJFatboy
I am running 18's and dropped about 2" in the rear only. It sits low but never really noticed any change in handling.
I'm running with the same set-up as the above quote and I haven't had an issue yet. I tend to ride very fast; but I do throttle down in the turns.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 08:15 AM
  #7  
'05Train's Avatar
'05Train
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Default

In a perfect world, they should be even and your bike should sit level. My front end sits a little higher than the rear, but it's not worth the effort for me to lower the front. I've got no clearance issues as it is and would like to keep it that way.
 
Reply
Old Aug 30, 2009 | 09:53 AM
  #8  
128auto's Avatar
128auto
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,114
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver B.C. Canada
Default

Most ppl don't realize the handling changes until they ride serious twisty road, do front and the back, you will be impressed. I have seen ppl riding with the rear 2" drop without any problem, they learned and got used to you know.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 09:35 PM
  #9  
mjp750's Avatar
mjp750
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Default

my '04 train has a 2" drop in the azz end only. low speed it will get floppy on you if you don't know it's coming (trains do some of that anyway). but I love the look and don't plan on punishing the twisties as much as enjoying them (or I'd have sporty or a Buell), so I'm not worried about the understeer too much. and I love the even more raked look of the bike and super low slung seat position... but that's on a Train.

on a Fatty, I'm not sure what you'd get from dropping the back and not the front. I was about 48 hours away from getting a Fatty instead of the train, so I love the way they look sitting level. if you do it, I'd like to see some pic's. I'm having a hard time seeing that in my little brain.
 
Reply
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 10:12 PM
  #10  
phatsanders's Avatar
phatsanders
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Default

yea, im doin front and back,just wondering.....heh heh heh
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:00 PM.


Top

© 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands

Follow Us        



When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE