lowering bike?
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 5
From: miami,fl
lowering bike?
I was thinking of possibly lowering my 02 fatboy.Only thing is i'm worried about bottoming out especially if 2 up.Mind you i'm pondering the thought right now.I dont know what lowering entails.I'm asking here on anyones thoughts on this.Any experiences obviously would be very helpful also.And any regrets from those who have lowered.So can you guys enlighten me.
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/520AB112B3164930B7B3E9FF4A43E971.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/07109A889A9C4B9B915C58A16F2413CF.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/520AB112B3164930B7B3E9FF4A43E971.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/07109A889A9C4B9B915C58A16F2413CF.jpg[/IMG]
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 362
From: Mansfield Texas
RE: lowering bike?
I had the HD lowering shocks on my old Night Train and I have put the lowering
bolt kit on a friendâs bike. On my 05 Springer Classic I used the kit from
Burnout Cycles and it was too easy. Now at the bikes highest point it is
as low as the two mentioned above (about 1 1/2") , but it gives you more adjustment if
you want to go lower. It will stiffen the ride some, but I have not played with
the preload on the shocks yet.
http://burnoutcycles.com/c-2-softail-lowering-kit.aspx
bolt kit on a friendâs bike. On my 05 Springer Classic I used the kit from
Burnout Cycles and it was too easy. Now at the bikes highest point it is
as low as the two mentioned above (about 1 1/2") , but it gives you more adjustment if
you want to go lower. It will stiffen the ride some, but I have not played with
the preload on the shocks yet.
http://burnoutcycles.com/c-2-softail-lowering-kit.aspx
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: lowering bike?
Hey rick, try these and let us know how they are.http://www.worksperformance.com/html/softail.html
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From:
RE: lowering bike?
I used the Ness kit to lower my Deuce, it bottoms out when riding 2 up. I have been waiting for someone to come out with a stiffer spring set for the shocks, I haven't heard of anyone the makes a shock that will lower and not have the bottoming problem. I don't want to go with air ride system. I rarely ride 2 up my wife has her own bike.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 127
Likes: 27
From: SW, AR
RE: lowering bike?
I used White bros in rear and harley on front ,went 2 in front and rear ,looked great but rode like crap scraped in corners,& when 2 up bottomed out when going over a crack or even a shadow, now have Legend Air in rear , dont get no better, rides great , add a little more for 2 up rides fine no bottoming and when you pull up somewhere and drop it down, people come runnin to look , and aint that part of it anyway?
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From:
RE: lowering bike?
Why are you considering lowering it? More stability? Flat feet on the ground? Or, just looks?
It will ride rougher when lowered and speed bumps all of a sudden look like hills! But, the handling is much better for my 5-9" frame.
It will ride rougher when lowered and speed bumps all of a sudden look like hills! But, the handling is much better for my 5-9" frame.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 5
From: miami,fl
RE: lowering bike?
I was actually interested more in looks,but dont want to sacrifice too much on the ride i'm 6'1".So appparently lowering is no longer an option.thanks
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/AA40B8FD19F9429EAC931C285FBD41BC.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/9AD8A55F29A7435DA92AF80FBA97AB69.jpg[/IMG]
ORIGINAL: jwilli01
Why are you considering lowering it? More stability? Flat feet on the ground? Or, just looks?
It will ride rougher when lowered and speed bumps all of a sudden look like hills! But, the handling is much better for my 5-9" frame.
Why are you considering lowering it? More stability? Flat feet on the ground? Or, just looks?
It will ride rougher when lowered and speed bumps all of a sudden look like hills! But, the handling is much better for my 5-9" frame.
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/AA40B8FD19F9429EAC931C285FBD41BC.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/7312/9AD8A55F29A7435DA92AF80FBA97AB69.jpg[/IMG]
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,380
Likes: 3
From: NC
RE: lowering bike?
Went with a progressive lowering kit onto OEM shocks.. adjusted the preload to about the same as before.. dropped it about 1" or so.. Rides great, haven't bottomed (that I can tell) yet. Rode hard before, so really not much difference. It wasn't so much looks to me as I just like a lower seat height and since I added the mustang I knew I'd raise up a bit more than the skinny barhopper seat it replaced.. So now, I've got the lowered ride height but better comfort with the mustang..
Nice thing about just adding a kit (white bros, ness, progressive, burnout cycles, etc) is you typically can raise the bike back up to stock or close to it. (Verify this when you pick one out). With my bike 1" lower, I really can't tell a difference in the ride, but rather the ride height.. I do sense it turning a little easier, maybe due to a lower center of gravity. Haven't scraped yet, but I typically don't throw it around too hard into turns these days.
For worrying about bottoming 2-up.. Just adjust your preload setting and test down the road a bit.. Once you get it dialed in, you should be ok.. Whatch for big potholes (which I do anyway, lowered or not).
I say go for it..
Nice thing about just adding a kit (white bros, ness, progressive, burnout cycles, etc) is you typically can raise the bike back up to stock or close to it. (Verify this when you pick one out). With my bike 1" lower, I really can't tell a difference in the ride, but rather the ride height.. I do sense it turning a little easier, maybe due to a lower center of gravity. Haven't scraped yet, but I typically don't throw it around too hard into turns these days.
For worrying about bottoming 2-up.. Just adjust your preload setting and test down the road a bit.. Once you get it dialed in, you should be ok.. Whatch for big potholes (which I do anyway, lowered or not).
I say go for it..
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: Fort Lauderdale FL
RE: lowering bike?
I have my '02 FB lowered >1.75".
It doesn't cost that much to do yourself (white bros kit)
If you don't like it, all it takes is a few turns of the wrench and you're back to your OEM height.
I've had this setup 3 years, never go back to stock.
Does it scrape? Sure, if I get too aggressive.
The 'killer' look overtakes a few scrapes now and then.
It doesn't cost that much to do yourself (white bros kit)
If you don't like it, all it takes is a few turns of the wrench and you're back to your OEM height.
I've had this setup 3 years, never go back to stock.
Does it scrape? Sure, if I get too aggressive.
The 'killer' look overtakes a few scrapes now and then.