I am looking for a definitive answer on the best way to lower a springer

I am fitting a 21" up front and would like to drop it an inch

From what I have read the "proper" way to do it is with rockers

I have even read I can simply flip & swap the stock rockers?

I would like your input & appreciate some before & after pics


So here's mine as she sits



Thanks
Dan

 

Very nice springer you got there. I am no expert on springers. I did just what you are looking to do a month ago. I used the Burly/white bros. springer lowering kit. It replaces the bottom springs to a more mushy one and uses a spacer on the top. It lowers it about 1.5 inches down. I have heard about doing the rockers, but it is quite a bit more $$. This option did worked pretty smooth for me. Don't feel too much of a change in ride.

Here some thoughts:

Your springer is an FLH, which I hear has the fender closer to springs out of factory. So if you lower an 1.5" and raise a bigger tire/wheel, be careful on clearance.

The 21 inch wheel will add some height off the floor. So depending what wheels size you have now will determine how many inches off the floor it will raise up. In my case the 21" wheel raised my current set up an inch off floor. The actual increase was 2 inches, 1" on top of wheel and1" on bottom to raise. so it offset the lowering and kept my geometry the same almost.

Next thing to consider is how much clearance inside of your fender do you have and what tire you use will determine the fitment in the fender. I had to add an inch height on my front fender, because it would have rubbed.

Check out this link to figure your size vs the new tire size. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tir...0r18-130-50r21

Also, Harley made a new tire size for those with the wide fenders. It is only made by Dunlop and it was for the Breakout, but now can be used on the big fenders to widen up the gaps that everyone had to use a 120 tire on. Now you can order through Harley a 130/60/r21. That's the lowest profile tire for that width and rim size. It's perfect and will minimize the height a 21 with the older profiles and width.

Here is a picture of mine lowered. Excuse the black cables. I will change out to smaller ones later this year. I used these ones from my old bars that are a little too long for me. But hopefully this will help. No before pictures.

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White Brothers used to have a lowering kit where you replace the springs. The "upper" spring is a solid piece and an inch lower that the stock. http://www.retrocycle.com/CustomChro...o_Present.html

A word of caution. People that have lowered the front end of a springer have hit the fender against the acorn nuts causing some not so nice damage.

 

Exactly why I left my suspension alone after adding the 21" wheel. I was sure that I'd hit the fender.

I haven't noticed any difference in handling with the larger wheel, either.

I would suggest riding it with the 21" first, before adjusting the suspension.

 

Here's one the same colors as yours. This has not been lowered. I don't really see that it needs to be.

 

I lowered the front of my 00 Springer one inch using lowering rockers. The advantage to using the rockers is that you do not lose suspension travel. I got my rockers from Speed Dealer Customs. They make some sick pegs, grips, controls and gas caps. Check them out at speeddealercustoms.com.
The picture in my signature is before lowering. Sorry no after pics yet.

 

Cool bike rockinred!! I did that CVO 21...Great info, thanks


HDSpring... Thank you I really appreciate the pics it looks to sit okay with the 21 up the front

Red beard I think you're right, I'll get it on there first


SB, that's exactly what I was looking to do




I just needed some feedback on this product & what others have done



Now can I ask if anybody has had any experience with flipping the rockers?

It seems plausible.. It couldn't just that easy could it??

 

I use the burly spring lowering kit and its drop 1,5 ... And have change front wheel To 21" this year ..havent ride it more than a few test rides .

 

I haven't taken any measurements, but to me it don't look like that would work.

The fork of the front leg don't look like it would fit over the rocker once it's inverted. If it did fit over the rocker, it don't look like there would be any room for movement.

 

I put on some progressive 422's and dropped it 2 inches.