Going rigid?
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 597
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Going rigid?
Last week I decided to not worry about the factory warrenty and started modifying my 2006 Sportster 1200 Custom. I added 1.25 inch spacers in the front fork which got rid of all that fork sag. It rode great, but I about took off my figer trying to get those things compressed and the cap to grab the threads.
Yesterday, I got a wild hair. I picked up some 1.25 wide steel bar stock, cut it up, drilled, shaped and came up with a set of10 inch rigid struts for the back end. I have to do some fine tuning, adjust the drive belt, and I will be ready for a test drive. Other than airing down the back tire a little, any suggestions? Man, it cleaned up the back tire and it looks so much better.
The struts are possibly temporary depending on the ride and how bad it is on the wife. Actually I think I could switch back and forth with only about 30 minutes of work each swap.
Pics will be coming later...
Yesterday, I got a wild hair. I picked up some 1.25 wide steel bar stock, cut it up, drilled, shaped and came up with a set of10 inch rigid struts for the back end. I have to do some fine tuning, adjust the drive belt, and I will be ready for a test drive. Other than airing down the back tire a little, any suggestions? Man, it cleaned up the back tire and it looks so much better.
The struts are possibly temporary depending on the ride and how bad it is on the wife. Actually I think I could switch back and forth with only about 30 minutes of work each swap.
Pics will be coming later...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
RE: Going rigid?
ORIGINAL: georgiabiker
Other than airing down the back tire a little, any suggestions?
The struts are possibly temporary depending on the ride and how bad it is on the wife. Actually I think I could switch back and forth with only about 30 minutes of work each swap.
Pics will be coming later...
Other than airing down the back tire a little, any suggestions?
The struts are possibly temporary depending on the ride and how bad it is on the wife. Actually I think I could switch back and forth with only about 30 minutes of work each swap.
Pics will be coming later...
[8D] Then again, Georgia's road are typically pretty smooth so it shouldn't be all that bad.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 7
From: Chester County, PA
RE: Going rigid?
ORIGINAL: georgiabiker
Last week I decided to not worry about the factory warrenty and started modifying my 2006 Sportster 1200 Custom. I added 1.25 inch spacers in the front fork which got rid of all that fork sag. It rode great, but I about took off my figer trying to get those things compressed and the cap to grab the threads.
Last week I decided to not worry about the factory warrenty and started modifying my 2006 Sportster 1200 Custom. I added 1.25 inch spacers in the front fork which got rid of all that fork sag. It rode great, but I about took off my figer trying to get those things compressed and the cap to grab the threads.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,899
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From:
RE: Going rigid?
I also put rigid struts on my Sporty when i had it and loved every minute of it. I like rigids and hard riding bikes though. It's not for everyone.
One thing to keep an eye on is the belt to oil tank clearance. Not sure how it is on the newer bikes but my 97 was pretty close. The good thing about running it rigid is that you can run the belt a little tighter since you don't have to compensate for swingarm movement.
My buddy put rigid struts on his older Sporty that had a chain and he managed to grind a hole in the bottom of the oil tank because he didn't make sure he had clearance. That's one way to lube the chain I suppose.
One thing to keep an eye on is the belt to oil tank clearance. Not sure how it is on the newer bikes but my 97 was pretty close. The good thing about running it rigid is that you can run the belt a little tighter since you don't have to compensate for swingarm movement.
My buddy put rigid struts on his older Sporty that had a chain and he managed to grind a hole in the bottom of the oil tank because he didn't make sure he had clearance. That's one way to lube the chain I suppose.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Going rigid?
Don't go with the low tire pressure, the ride improvement is not worth the handling loss at speed. The possibility of breaking the bead on a pot hole and having a blowout is not worth it. I run atleast 36 psi or more on mine. I can recommend the Conti Blitz as a softer tire even at 40 psi, it works well on my rigid and the handling is excellent even on rough roads. I added some padding to my cobra seat to help on the really big bumps, works good! Have fun, it's a different ride but I love it.
[IMG]local://upfiles/36103/CDC379E9AE5E46CC898FF4FCAFCE7F04.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]local://upfiles/36103/CDC379E9AE5E46CC898FF4FCAFCE7F04.jpg[/IMG]
Banned
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,899
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From:
RE: Going rigid?
Good advice DeJa,
Running lower pressures worked okay on the bikes that had the 230mm 15" setup a few years ago because the tire had so much sidewall, but onanything other than those I would run 35+. It's going to be a rough ride no matter what. Either you can deal or you can't.
Running lower pressures worked okay on the bikes that had the 230mm 15" setup a few years ago because the tire had so much sidewall, but onanything other than those I would run 35+. It's going to be a rough ride no matter what. Either you can deal or you can't.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 597
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Going rigid?
I gave it a test ride without messing with the air pressure. It actually rode pretty good. My only concern is it increases the engine vibrations. Pull the clutch in, and the vibrations go away. I hope rigid isn't causing problems with the rubber mounted engine. I would hope it is because the engine vibrations were previously dampened by the rear shock?
I still need to do some finish work and get them powder coated.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1287.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1284.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1286.jpg
I still need to do some finish work and get them powder coated.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1287.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1284.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...g/106_1286.jpg
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 427
Likes: 1
From: Down North
RE: Going rigid?
Rigid !
If you don't have to go to the can alot now , you will when you are older .
If you don't have to go to the can alot now , you will when you are older .
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Banned
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,349
Likes: 2
From: Appling GA
RE: Going rigid?
Continetals do ride good but yer lucky to get 5k out of one... I wont use them again because I didnt even get that out of my last one.
ORIGINAL: DeJavu
Don't go with the low tire pressure, the ride improvement is not worth the handling loss at speed. The possibility of breaking the bead on a pot hole and having a blowout is not worth it. I run atleast 36 psi or more on mine. I can recommend the Conti Blitz as a softer tire even at 40 psi, it works well on my rigid and the handling is excellent even on rough roads. I added some padding to my cobra seat to help on the really big bumps, works good! Have fun, it's a different ride but I love it.
[IMG]local://upfiles/36103/CDC379E9AE5E46CC898FF4FCAFCE7F04.jpg[/IMG]
Don't go with the low tire pressure, the ride improvement is not worth the handling loss at speed. The possibility of breaking the bead on a pot hole and having a blowout is not worth it. I run atleast 36 psi or more on mine. I can recommend the Conti Blitz as a softer tire even at 40 psi, it works well on my rigid and the handling is excellent even on rough roads. I added some padding to my cobra seat to help on the really big bumps, works good! Have fun, it's a different ride but I love it.
[IMG]local://upfiles/36103/CDC379E9AE5E46CC898FF4FCAFCE7F04.jpg[/IMG]
