I'm thinking of lowering my roadster. thinking about the 10 inch burley shocks open to other options to. I believe the stock roadster shocks are 13 inches? If I lower it that much will I need to adjust the forks for the drop or would they be ok.

 

 

I dropped my '05 by putting on a set of take-off air shocks. Thinking the shocks were the 12 inch or 11.5 inch ones. Also threw on 1 in lowering blocks. I didn't touch the front end. I did notice a slightly slower feeling steering when traveling slow. Nothing major. Been that way for 12,000ish miles.

 

I was looking at the stock tire size. on the roadster and noticed it's 2 inches taller at 18 inches. most sporster tiers are 16 inches. would I rub if I drop it that low. how much clearance do you guys have left with a 16 inch tire.

 

You should be ok with a 16 rear depending on how low your exhaust sits. You can also slide your fork tubes up alittle to even the stance out alittle.

 

I have an 18 inch rear tire

 

I understand that you have a 18 inch tire now. You can put on a 16 inch wheel and tire if you wanted to. You just need to insure you dont have a low exhaust that will drag. You will drop down about a inch or so depending on the tire you run.

 

hope you have a strong back, you're going to sacrifice a lot of ride quality if you go to those burly slammers. Sportster shocks are lackluster to begin with, once you take the extra 3" of travel away your going to have a completely different ride. might not be too bad if you are a light guy.

 

It helps when asking questions to tell us what model and year your bike is, as Roadsters have made on and off for decades! I wouldn't fit such short shocks on any Sportster - what would you like to achieve?

Here ya go - from 1981:

 

I weigh 200lbs I'm not light but not super heavy either. I know the ride quality won't be as good but im not looking for comfort out of this bike.

My roadster is a 2016 and I was thinking of making it in to a cafe racer. but I decided not to go that route and just get a sport bike for the more spirited rideing. Im wanting to make this in to a low sitting bobberish type of bike. with a springer seat.