Shock absorber length
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3,072
Likes: 1,727
From: Dallas, Texas
Wife's got Burley 11.5" on her 04 1200 Custom. Had to modify the dented upper belt guard to lower it because the fender strut was hitting it. Replaced it with a chrome one with the same modification. Looks like new BUT rides like a HARDTAIL.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 492
From: Northern CA
Same frame as all the other sportsters. Lower shocks in the rear. The front is lowered too. The fork tubes and sliders are exactly the same length across the board its the internal dampers that are shorter causing the fork tube to sit deeper in the slider. You can install shorter dampers in your forks and get some 10.5 or 11 shocks so your custom will sit like a low.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 468
From: shore of Gitche Gumee
Same frame as all the other sportsters. Lower shocks in the rear. The front is lowered too. The fork tubes and sliders are exactly the same length across the board it’s the internal dampers that are shorter causing the fork tube to sit deeper in the slider. You can install shorter dampers in your forks and get some 10.5 or 11” shocks so your custom will sit like a low.
Last edited by hammer6315; Jul 27, 2022 at 10:05 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,699
Likes: 3,495
From: Wake Forest, NC
My 2011 883 Low rear shocks are 10.5" without rider. Not much travel before it bottoms out. Previous owner had lowering blocks at one time and the belt guard hit the frame. Blocks aren't on there anymore, and I'm planning on 1 inch longer shocks, and raise the front for a little more travel.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 1,582
From: Scottish Highlands.
Same frame as all the other sportsters. Lower shocks in the rear. The front is lowered too. The fork tubes and sliders are exactly the same length across the board its the internal dampers that are shorter causing the fork tube to sit deeper in the slider. You can install shorter dampers in your forks and get some 10.5 or 11 shocks so your custom will sit like a low.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 12,254
Likes: 4,946
From: England
A typical front wheel is shod with 100/90 19" tyres. Compared to the 120/70 18" on a T that will drop the front by about 3/4".
A typical rear wheel is shod with 150/80 16" tyres. Compared to the 150/70 17" on a T that will drop the rear by about 1/10".
The T also has 11.5" rear shocks.
Good site this for seeing what a different tyre size makes - 150/70-R17 vs 150/80-R16 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator (tacomaworld.com)
A typical rear wheel is shod with 150/80 16" tyres. Compared to the 150/70 17" on a T that will drop the rear by about 1/10".
The T also has 11.5" rear shocks.
Good site this for seeing what a different tyre size makes - 150/70-R17 vs 150/80-R16 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator (tacomaworld.com)
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,087
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
My '11 Custom is the same. I can pretty much flat-foot now, but am looking for a more comfy ride. Been looking at these Ohlins Sportster shocks. They are 11 5/8" length with a 2 3/4" stroke. With the proper sag set that will bring the length to 10 3/4" when sitting on the bike. No need for lowering blocks.
Another idea, if you haven't already, is get a lower profile seat to get you closer to the ground.
I have 12" online shocks on my '13 RK with a 3 1/8" stroke and I can flat-foot the King.
Another idea, if you haven't already, is get a lower profile seat to get you closer to the ground.
I have 12" online shocks on my '13 RK with a 3 1/8" stroke and I can flat-foot the King.
Last edited by RKZen; Jul 29, 2022 at 09:54 AM.