Lowering my Fatboy?
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Los Angeles
Lowering my Fatboy?
I've been planning on lowering my FB with the HD factory low-profile rear shocks and the HD front fork kit with new springs and dampers. I had assumed that going this route would preserve the stock ride and handling. Now, I have been reading that even this way would be detrimental to the ride. I already have both kits and was ready to install. Am I going to notice an adverse change in ride quality? (BTW, I ride solo 95% of the time and weight 170-ish.)
I want to find out since it looks like taking apart the forks is a bit more complicated than I thought. If I do go ahead and install the fork lowering kit, is there anything that I should be careful or aware of? I have the 5-page instructions that came with it and the factory manual, of course.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Yes, I know that air shocks are the way to go, but if I don't use the kits that I already have, then I'm leaving it at stock height.
I want to find out since it looks like taking apart the forks is a bit more complicated than I thought. If I do go ahead and install the fork lowering kit, is there anything that I should be careful or aware of? I have the 5-page instructions that came with it and the factory manual, of course.
Any thoughts are appreciated. Yes, I know that air shocks are the way to go, but if I don't use the kits that I already have, then I'm leaving it at stock height.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
Yes, anytime you lower the bike you loose some suspension travel so the ride and handleing may suffer.
if you can return the HD parts do it and if your sure you want to lower the bike use suspension parts that will improve the ride quality and are better than the HD stuff.
IMO for the $ go with Progressive Cartridges in the front. They are gas charged monotube replacements for your forks, when you pruchase them you need to select stock, 1" or 2" lower. They will greatly improve the suspension qualities of your forks. For the rear the least expensive way to get a better shock is to go Progressive 422, they are a better quality shock and are adjustable from stock to 2" lower. The better way to do it is with Shotgun Air Shocks but a lot more $.
The HD Low Profile shocks are just stock softail shocks with the lowering bolts installed at the factory so the shock quality is no better than stock
I lowered my old Fatboy 2" using progressive products and the handling was better than stock, more responsive but over larger bumps you will still bottom out sooner and remember that if you are an agressive rider you will be draging floorboards a lot sooner, but they are cheap, I replace a set in the time I owned my Fatty
if you can return the HD parts do it and if your sure you want to lower the bike use suspension parts that will improve the ride quality and are better than the HD stuff.
IMO for the $ go with Progressive Cartridges in the front. They are gas charged monotube replacements for your forks, when you pruchase them you need to select stock, 1" or 2" lower. They will greatly improve the suspension qualities of your forks. For the rear the least expensive way to get a better shock is to go Progressive 422, they are a better quality shock and are adjustable from stock to 2" lower. The better way to do it is with Shotgun Air Shocks but a lot more $.
The HD Low Profile shocks are just stock softail shocks with the lowering bolts installed at the factory so the shock quality is no better than stock
I lowered my old Fatboy 2" using progressive products and the handling was better than stock, more responsive but over larger bumps you will still bottom out sooner and remember that if you are an agressive rider you will be draging floorboards a lot sooner, but they are cheap, I replace a set in the time I owned my Fatty
Last edited by XARAN; Sep 26, 2011 at 10:01 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,729
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From: Republic of Texas
The Deluxe comes stock with the HD low profile shocks which are 1" lower than other softail shocks, except the FB LO. My Deluxe rode very well and smooth with the stock shocks and I am 190lbs. I have since installed lowering bolts and have lowered the rear 1 3/4". In turn I tightened up the preload on the shocks so it still has a nice ride. I also purchased a Progressive drop in kit to lower the front but after further research have decided to buy tube assemblies for an FLH which will lower the front 2". I plan on using the FLH tubes up front along with SE heavy oil and it should provide as just as good a ride as stock if not better. If you decide to lower your bike don't waste your money on the over priced kits. Buy the rear bolts off of EBAY for $16.00, the front FLH tube assemblies off of EBAY for less than $150.00 complete with the springs and all other internals and buy a Softail Deluxe kickstand.
BTW: If you go ahead and use the kit you have to lower the front then use SE heavy oil. It will help to keep the ride quality at stock levels if not better.
BTW: If you go ahead and use the kit you have to lower the front then use SE heavy oil. It will help to keep the ride quality at stock levels if not better.
Last edited by ghostrider69; Sep 26, 2011 at 01:15 PM.
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