Road King on a diet
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,466
Likes: 425
From: Illinois
I've had baggers stripped of all the tins for paint jobs and haven't noticed a big difference in weight pushing them around. Pull the engine and trans off,that makes 'em easier to push.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 4
From: SouthWestern Ontario
Just my opinion here but I don't like the idea of switching out to a Mustang seat especially with you being a big guy. You will lose out in the comfort department. My buddy made that mistake. He just can't get comfortable on the Mustang.
I really can't suggest that you do what I did because it would be "apples & oranges". I replaced the air ride shocks on my '07 FLHP with Progressive 944 shocks, which lowered it just better than an inch. I also eliminated the "air ride" and replaced it with a "Kong" to suspend the stock solo seat. It sits a bit lower. Some larger guys customize the T-bars on the solo seats to better fit them as well. Check out the mods done on retiredpolicebikes.com. Some have made the T-bars adjustable. A pre '09 bike is somewhat lighter to start with and mine is kind of barebones but I kept the bag guards. Weight really won't make as much difference as you think.
I always wear a good pair of riding boots that have thick soles & heals with real good tread. Get used to planning ahead, so you don't get into a situation where maneuvering backwards could possibly be complicated or difficult. I have seen a lot of guys dump their bike while trying to back up in a confined area of a garage, slight slopes, wet surface, etc.
I really can't suggest that you do what I did because it would be "apples & oranges". I replaced the air ride shocks on my '07 FLHP with Progressive 944 shocks, which lowered it just better than an inch. I also eliminated the "air ride" and replaced it with a "Kong" to suspend the stock solo seat. It sits a bit lower. Some larger guys customize the T-bars on the solo seats to better fit them as well. Check out the mods done on retiredpolicebikes.com. Some have made the T-bars adjustable. A pre '09 bike is somewhat lighter to start with and mine is kind of barebones but I kept the bag guards. Weight really won't make as much difference as you think.
I always wear a good pair of riding boots that have thick soles & heals with real good tread. Get used to planning ahead, so you don't get into a situation where maneuvering backwards could possibly be complicated or difficult. I have seen a lot of guys dump their bike while trying to back up in a confined area of a garage, slight slopes, wet surface, etc.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
Trying to make a Road King lighter is like throwing deck chairs off the Titanic. Learn to read the pavement so you can see even the slightest incline. Then, don't park the bike head in on an incline.
Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 16
From: Raymond, NH
I got rid of the air seat and put on a Lepera Bare Bones solo. Really changed the feel of the bike sitting still and walking it around. I'm going to lower it next, that should help even more I'd think.
I took all the bumpers off the fenders and took the crash bars off as well. It still has fenders though, just no more crash stuff. Easily 50+ lbs of chrome sitting in my basement.
I took all the bumpers off the fenders and took the crash bars off as well. It still has fenders though, just no more crash stuff. Easily 50+ lbs of chrome sitting in my basement.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: PA
I got rid of the air seat and put on a Lepera Bare Bones solo. Really changed the feel of the bike sitting still and walking it around. I'm going to lower it next, that should help even more I'd think.
I took all the bumpers off the fenders and took the crash bars off as well. It still has fenders though, just no more crash stuff. Easily 50+ lbs of chrome sitting in my basement.
I took all the bumpers off the fenders and took the crash bars off as well. It still has fenders though, just no more crash stuff. Easily 50+ lbs of chrome sitting in my basement.
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Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 62
Likes: 16
From: Raymond, NH
Really? Mine was 2 bolts coming up from the bottom and it was out. The rear bracket/compressor thing sucked way worse than the seat did.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: PA
Pull off seat and plastic thingy.
The shock itself is bolted in such that you have to pull out the battery and a bunch of other stuff to unbolt it. That's the bitch. Then the line threads through the frame (in weird ways so I'll have to unhook the air line probably to fully get it off. I don't have a garage so this is a real PITA.