I want to replace the stock shocks on my wifes sporty with some 10" shocks to lower the bike. Any tips? Should I take them both off at once or one at a time? Any special tools involved? Is it something I can do under the shade tree or should I take it to the local HD Stealer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated


Tony

 

11" is as low as I've seen (stockers on Customs are 11.75", not sure on Lows though I think the seat height on Lows is only 0.25" lower than a Custom). Any lower than 11" and there may not be enough travel to work with and you'd get some fender rubbin' / belt guard bangin' issues. 11" shocks (Progressives are often mentioned - I have them myself) coupled with a seat and front lowering springs, you can get the bike down fairly low. I guess the only other option to go lower in the rear (and not create mechanical issues) would be fixed struts (ouch!). My 2 cents!

 

i also argeee with 11" progresive anything shorter is getting close and also can have cornering issues. drag also makes a 11' Shock made by progresive and a little less pricie.

 

As far as the shock change, it's real easy. Even someone with all thumbs like me did it. I would recommend you get a lift or a "centerstand" which will straighten the bike and lift the rear wheel a bit off the ground. Do them one at a time. the only trouble i had was the right side as the muffler wouldn't give me enough room to get the bolt back in. I also found that loosening the bottom nut first, before the screw side worked for me.

 

You will need a jack of some kind to raise the rear wheel. I mounted a front wheel chock (home made out of plywood) on a sheet of plywood, added some hooks and strapped the bike up right using straps from the hooks to the handle bars. Then used my small floor jack and raised the rear wheel. I would (and did) change both at one time. Your are going from a 13 3/4 in. to 11 in. You are going to have to compress the old shock or stretch the new shock over 2 inches. Remove both and use the jack to adjust swing arm height. Get one started and the other is right there. You may have remove the rear axle and reinstall it with the nut on the left side so it will not interfere with the mufflers. Take your time and enjoy the experience.

 

Hi. I'm new here and I'm a new bike driver too (got my MSF - lic. endorsement in March 2006). I actually put these on myself with no problems. I have a 1987 883xlh. Had it around 4 months now. I've put over 1,000 miles on it just riding on the weekends. Changing the shocks made a TON of difference in security feeling.

Used a Sears bike/atv jack (on sale $80) and it worked great. Jacked it up a little so the bike was sitting upright and stable. Took off both old shocks, put another little car jack under the rear tire to move it up enough to attach the bottom bolts of the 11" Progressives, torqued all the bolts and voila, feet flat on the ground now. I'm not skinny so I put the preload on the firmest setting so there wouldn't be any chance of the tire scraping the underside of the fender and asst. wires, etc. when I hit bump/pothole. 1,000 later - So far so good. It is really that easy to do.

Just the beginning of tweaking. I have a service manual and most things look pretty simple to do. Even for a grrrrl. haha. woman.

Hope this helps some. Go for it. Don't forget the Threadlocker on the bolts.

IMHO of course.
Christine Mc.

 

Thanks for all the input folks! I got it done last night. I just started loosening the left side shock while the bike was on the kick stand and it came right off. With the right side stock shock still in place, the bike sank immediately to just about the height needed for installing the short shock on the left side! After I put the left side shorty on, I leveld the bike and jacked it up just enough to let the pressure off the right side stock shock and it came right off. Next I installed the upper bolt on the new short shock (right side) then lowered the bike with the jack SLOWLY to the correct height for fastening the bottom bolt. Piece of cake.
Next project: Installing Ape hangers on my '03 Softail!

 

what is the size of the allen weanch that goes on the shocks, just couldn't find one that size in my tool box.
Wanted to do the shocks last night and no proper tools for the job.

 

Did you use the 10 inch shocks? i just bought a 05 883 xl for my wife and i was thinking of using them.

 

Mine aren't allen heads, they're Torx heads. Size T50 to be exact.