Every calculation I did showed no change in trail for any difference in fork length you make. But trail isn't everything and it would look funny if you go too long in the forks.

 

this is all good advice and the proper way to do it (new trees and rake). but unfortunately, it is not the cheap nor easy way

Mean Street Products makes really nice chopped front ends that are properly raked for most applications. I had one of their billet inverted fork setups on my Big Dog chopper and it was fantastic. http://www.viciouscycleworks.us/ccp8...ory/meanstreet

these are cool- but not cheap - especially in chrome or powdercoat black - anyway check out the different rake / length options:
http://www.viciouscycleworks.us/ccp8...z973wb58360c5w

 

With the exception of being a "DIY king fu bad @$$ and know WTF you are doing",, ,, Yes, I've done the Richor / Race tech spring mod already and just want the Peter fondue cheesy rider look. I've got the 120/70 tire in hand and it will go on this spring when I renew my E3 250 rear.

I should thank you again for that entire Forum section you developed for the FXSB fork modifications. I quite seriously can't think of a single mod I've done which had a better cost/benefit impact on my FXSB.

I'm gonna try the 2" extensions on top of the mods I've already done. They're $116.00 and probably install in minutes so if they prove to be a mistake, they won't be an enduring one,, . It takes me awhile to get around to doing things but I will be sure to report re the outcome with some more of my characteristically unflattering photo work,,, "effing iPhone 4S", .

 

Cool- Yeh well thank god you referenced Peter Fonda / Easy Rider and not Lorenzo Llamas / Renegade - otherwise I'd be really worried about ya.. LOL!!!

Can you post up a link to the extensions you are considering using? I'd like to see how those work- IIRC the fork tube uppers for FXDWG are not very expensive either.

I would totally agree- the front end upgrade is a huge bang for buck mod, and I was so happy that it was a realistically do-able, and relatively inexpensive easy process.

so is the belt pulley upgrade to 30t/68t or 30t/70t. major bang for buck and difference to the bike.

heck you could just do those two mods to the Breakout, give it a Stage1 and a tune, and enjoy a massively different and more enjoyable bike in terms of power and handling (and safety too). Both are a fantastic deal in terms of typical HD upgrade costs. matter of fact I would go as far to say that they are the first two upgrades anyone should do to their Breakout. These are IMO the foundation upgrades for this bike, and actually, all other 2007-up Dyna/Softail.

 

https://www.denniskirk.com/cycle-vis...akout-fxsb.mmy

Of course they say these won't fit the BO but,,,, I sorta think they do .


.

 

double post

 

hmm- now that is a damn interesting approach. First off, yes, it will fit. these vendors are freaking stupid with not listing FXSB fitment. All of the softail / dyna bikes from the fitment list use the **SAME** diameter fork tubes and the threading is same too.

My only concern would be structural integrity. I personally would feel more comfortable with 1 solid piece of metal for tubes - but this definitely has the high marks for convenience factor.

Seems easy enough: with bike on center stand and raised just enough to take weight off front wheel, loosen left and right top tree clamps. Then carefully remove tube top nuts (per my DIY steps).

Screw on the extensions (blue locktite on threads is a good idea), add preload spacers (pvc pipe works great as spacers too if you want to lengthen/add or shorten/reduce preload), add more fork oil so oil is back to same level from top (important), then tighten up the top tube nuts.

After that, raise bike front end off ground a couple of inches and loosen bottom tree clamps just enough to drop everything down flush with top tree. Make sure left and right tubes are equal level heights in the top tree within 1mm of each other.

then tighten top and bottom tree clamps per manual. Go for a nice Easy Rider / Renegade putt down the street, see how it handles.

No need to even remove the wheel- nice.
Keep a watchful eye out for stress cracks over the thread-together section.

 

I share your concern about the integrity of the threaded connection under large impact loads. While large companies with well qualified engineers and decent testing budgets USUALLY design and test for "worst reasonably forseeable circumstances", smaller or less well financed companies often don't test for, or even know, the worst cases (like hitting a pavement bump at high speed, or while leaned over on a tight highway curve, or just hitting a deep pothole). And, as VW proved with its diesel scandal, sometimes they just don't care about potential problems for its customers.

And, in the motorcycle industry, volumes are small on customizing products, which discourages decent proper testing, and too many products are "designed" by non-engineer enthusiasts with lots of zeal but no training or materials failure experience.

I don't think I would personally be willing to take the risks involved in a part like a threaded fork extension, unless the part came from HD itself, and even then, HD has shown some spectacularly poor engineering (e.g. the high wear camshaft chain tensioner, the ignition switch that falls off, etc).

Jim G

 

Yes on that note, HKMark23 it is awesome you are willing to test the extension parts but please be careful. Right along the lines of what Jim mentioned, it only takes buying a basic $1million E&O product liability policy to be able to come to market with something like this. It does not require even basic safety testing. Hence my comment about looking out for stress cracks (or even deformation) on the threaded area.

keep in mind that the top triple clamp provides structural support and rigidity for the stock fork tube top thread area. that support is no longer present once the threaded area is dropped below the top triple and sitting in free space.

My personal weigh-in, I would not use it on my bike. But I do like the convenience factor of it.

 

I appreciate your concerns LA & Jim. I have them too. During my research, (shopping ), I found no less than 3 outfits that make a version of these, one was European and they styled theirs in the form of an extended "cap", complete with integrated nut. No-one I found makes an "extension" longer than 2 " so installed the joint will be perhaps an inch below the upper pinch bolt. I found this interesting and, right or wrong, I take some degree of design confidence away from that fact.