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I read your post and if I understand it right you want to modify your softail so you can see if a rigid is the way to go on bike #2.. Is that correct? If so, buy a rocker bump stop and then drop your bike 2" til it's on the stop then start riding.. What the others said about watching the road is so true.. I had a rigid at one time and road to Sturgis from ATL with a group of guys.. I was in tears by the time we hit StL.. lol.. Needless to say I rented a trailer to bring it home.. LOL
I say go for it. I have had this idea as well and was wondering what would be the safest, and sturdiest. Struts are not the answer. Check out The Horse Back Street Choppers issue #96 March 2010, Fabricator Kevin takes a Softail and welds on a rigid rear section. After all said and done it shaved 113 lbs off the bike and utilizes the stock drive components. I am sure a local indy shop could do the same. Check it out
Last edited by travis dasher; Apr 9, 2010 at 03:33 PM.
never ridden a rigid but i am saving up for bike number 2. i was wondering if anyone sells
rigid struts to replace the shocks on my softail. also if there are concerns to frame geometry
when ridin like this i understand this may be an unpopular subject on this forum, but please
spare me the: why would you want to do that b.s.
Unlike most of the posters I actually read your question. To the best of my knowledge no one makes rigid struts for Softails. I have seen them for sporties and Fxr's... might check those and see if they are close enough to work. Any welder could make you a set on his lunch break. As far as putting more stress on your frame...most rigid frames eventually wind up cracked...so I would say yes it will. In the time frame it takes you to decide whether or not a rigid is for you...you would probably be OK.
I say go for it. I have had this idea as well and was wondering what would be the safest, and sturdiest. Struts are not the answer. Check out The Horse Back Street Choppers issue #96 March 2010, Fabricator Kevin takes a Softail and welds on a rigid rear section. After all said and done it shaved 113 lbs off the bike and utilizes the stock drive components. I am sure a local indy shop could do the same. Check it out
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