Fat Boy vs. Fat Boy Lo
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 784
Likes: 10
From: SE Pennsylvania
I don't get the whole lowering fad. I like aspects of both bikes. I guess I'd get the Lo, put a Springer seat on it to raise it back up to standard height, and go with a black/chrome blend of parts,
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
I wouldnt call Lowering a fad! Bikes have been lowerd since forever! Long before Harley started doing it from the factory with the Lowrider, sporty Low, 883 supper Low, Softail deluxe, and now the Fatboy Lo. Guys were lowering them and customizing on there own and still are! A lowerd bike gives you a way better center of gravity and puts you down in the bike instead of sitting on top of it! That was my only problem with the Crossbone when i was looking at a new bike i felt like i was sitting way too high! And i would of put a different seat on it even tho i love the look of the sprung seat and the lowerd seat wouldnt have looked as good!
Last edited by Zakk13; Aug 12, 2011 at 09:13 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: New York
1 inch won't make to much of a differance but often the lowering of a bike will compromise on the suspension.
Also, I got 2% financing when I bought my bike in May this year. 9% is just unacceptable IMO.
Whatever the case, I got my Fatboy cause I dig the chrome but I did really like the Lo when it 1st came out and all the blackness.
Buy what you like !!!
Last edited by Totally Bored; Aug 12, 2011 at 09:41 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
I don't either. Bikes handle better when you are up taller. Better lean angle.
1 inch won't make to much of a differance but often the lowering of a bike will compromise on the suspension.
Also, I got 2% financing when I bought my bike in May this year. 9% is just unacceptable IMO.
Whatever the case, I got my Fatboy cause I dig the chrome but I did really like the Lo when it 1st came out and all the blackness.
Buy what you like !!!
1 inch won't make to much of a differance but often the lowering of a bike will compromise on the suspension.
Also, I got 2% financing when I bought my bike in May this year. 9% is just unacceptable IMO.
Whatever the case, I got my Fatboy cause I dig the chrome but I did really like the Lo when it 1st came out and all the blackness.
Buy what you like !!!
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: New York
Yes normally bikes do handle better with taller suspension! But like i said before on these new bikes i could not tell the difference at all. The suspension on the Fatboy Lo is great. And a half inch to an inch in lean angle really isnt that much of a difference and yes it might afect some riders like guys just making the switch from a sport bike to a harley! But i live on and around mountain country and extremly twisty roads and i have not scraped the foot boards once!
I rode both bikes and didn't notice much differance either but... I rode the Lo 1in the summer of 2010 or 10 months earlier and only for 20 minutes so it was probaly not a good comparison.
Yup 1 inch isn't much of a differance but I have to say you that when I put 13.5 shocks on my Sportster that had 12'' stock. It made a huge differance in the handling.
I'm also saying that when you get lower shocks, you often loose some of the travel in your shocks and it could make the bike handle worse in some case's or at least stiffen the ride and or bottom out more
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
I rode both bikes and didn't notice much differance either but... I rode the Lo 1in the summer of 2010 or 10 months earlier and only for 20 minutes so it was probaly not a good comparison.
Yup 1 inch isn't much of a differance but I have to say you that when I put 13.5 shocks on my Sportster that had 12'' stock. It made a huge differance in the handling.
I'm also saying that when you get lower shocks, you often loose some of the travel in your shocks and it could make the bike handle worse in some case's or at least stiffen the ride and or bottom out more
Yup 1 inch isn't much of a differance but I have to say you that when I put 13.5 shocks on my Sportster that had 12'' stock. It made a huge differance in the handling.
I'm also saying that when you get lower shocks, you often loose some of the travel in your shocks and it could make the bike handle worse in some case's or at least stiffen the ride and or bottom out more
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: New York
Well for comparison purpose on my Sporty I went from Stock 11.75" crappy Harley shocks. Yeah they bottom'd out big time.Then I went to Progressive 12" HD 440 Shocks and then I went to Progressive 13.5" HD 440 Shocks. The taller shocks made such a differance in handling. Greater lean angle and you could just throw the bike into the turns with ease.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,275
Likes: 669
From: The Rust Belt!
Well for comparison purpose on my Sporty I went from Stock 11.75" crappy Harley shocks. Yeah they bottom'd out big time.Then I went to Progressive 12" HD 440 Shocks and then I went to Progressive 13.5" HD 440 Shocks. The taller shocks made such a differance in handling. Greater lean angle and you could just throw the bike into the turns with ease.
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Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,714
Likes: 650
From: San Ramon, Ca
Been there done it.
Had mine lwr'd for a couple years. The profile (Harley) fork springs. Those are a JOKE. Had Harley lowering shocks in ther rear. Had stk shocks with the adj/extenders and Progv 422's. Btwn the hard ride and the no ground clearance I see no pont in lowering a Softail (other than looks) If you only barhop and ride on perfect manicured roads, sure why not. But I put the stock susp back in. The ride is good (as good as one of these can ride)
and you can actually go around corners at a decent clip.
When I need a reminder, I ride my wife's 03 Heritage with the 1" lwr'ing kit
and I HATE IT!! Rides like a Schwinn Stingray.
Had mine lwr'd for a couple years. The profile (Harley) fork springs. Those are a JOKE. Had Harley lowering shocks in ther rear. Had stk shocks with the adj/extenders and Progv 422's. Btwn the hard ride and the no ground clearance I see no pont in lowering a Softail (other than looks) If you only barhop and ride on perfect manicured roads, sure why not. But I put the stock susp back in. The ride is good (as good as one of these can ride)
and you can actually go around corners at a decent clip.
When I need a reminder, I ride my wife's 03 Heritage with the 1" lwr'ing kit
and I HATE IT!! Rides like a Schwinn Stingray.
