Lowering Front end Only
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 9
From: Washington
Lowering Front end Only
I know some riders here says lowering just the front end and leave the rear end alone will screw up the bikes handling.
Well I did it and the result is no different than stock.
My 2012 roadking classic. I had to lowered my front end 1" and replaced my stock rear shocks with 12" ohlins so I can flat foot during stops. When my ohlins rear shocks needed rebuilt, I removed them and reinstalled its stock pair of shocks which is 12-3/4" tall. While waiting for my ohlins to come back, I rode my bike in all kinds of riding modes. To my surprise, there was no change in its handling. Everything was ok. I even had my friend come over and rode it. I did not tell him about the suspension. He could not tell any difference.
So this is my experienced of riding a touring bike with just the front end lowered to 1". It is possible to just lower the front end and leave the rear end at stock height.
Well I did it and the result is no different than stock.
My 2012 roadking classic. I had to lowered my front end 1" and replaced my stock rear shocks with 12" ohlins so I can flat foot during stops. When my ohlins rear shocks needed rebuilt, I removed them and reinstalled its stock pair of shocks which is 12-3/4" tall. While waiting for my ohlins to come back, I rode my bike in all kinds of riding modes. To my surprise, there was no change in its handling. Everything was ok. I even had my friend come over and rode it. I did not tell him about the suspension. He could not tell any difference.
So this is my experienced of riding a touring bike with just the front end lowered to 1". It is possible to just lower the front end and leave the rear end at stock height.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Did you install stiffer springs? Set a minimum sag? Lowering front reduces rake and trail. Taking hits that compress front suspension, decreases rake and trail even more. Hard front braking also reduces rake and trail. And hitting corners at speed+ with reduced rake and trail could prove to be problematic, or worse. Even at stock rake and trail, touring bikes are known for death wobble, and deaths. No thanks!
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 527
Likes: 25
A few years back, i did the same as you on one of my Road Kings. I had the White Brothers kit installed to lower the front. Had 12" shocks on the rear. Started riding two up all the time, so went back with the stock 13" shocks and left the front lowered. I figured when we were on the back it was certainly lowered in the rear. Never had anyone mention that it looked out of whack as it really didn't. Handled great too.
Head
Head
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
physics.
altering rake and trail will alter the way the bike handles, you can make more stable or more twitchy.
the bike may seem to handle just fine, until it doesn;t-
- unless you really understand the results of such changes, leave stuff like this to the engineers
Mike
altering rake and trail will alter the way the bike handles, you can make more stable or more twitchy.
the bike may seem to handle just fine, until it doesn;t-
- unless you really understand the results of such changes, leave stuff like this to the engineers
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Jun 7, 2016 at 02:21 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Further to Mike's point, Harley sells us touring models with 13" and 12" shocks. Their engineers will have considered the benefits and consequences of those differences, also extensively tested them both, to confirm that all is well. They have yet to do that with shortened forks AFAIK, with or without different length shocks.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
You know how when you apply the front brakes the nose dives, compressing the forks? And of course how the handling instantly goes to heck in a handbasket, with the bike wildly weaving all but out of control, until you die in a fire ball wreck?
Lowering the fork an is about that dramatic an effect. Actually less. But what the heck, it scares the daylights out of some people.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 908
Likes: 117
From: Texas....6ft from the sun
physics.
altering rake and trail will alter the way the bike handles, you can make more stable or more twitchy.
the bike may seem to handle just fine, until it doesn;t-
- unless you really understand the results of such changes, leave stuff like this to the engineers
Mike
altering rake and trail will alter the way the bike handles, you can make more stable or more twitchy.
the bike may seem to handle just fine, until it doesn;t-
- unless you really understand the results of such changes, leave stuff like this to the engineers
Mike
That small of a change isn't going to put the bike out of spec. for the designed rake and trail numbers. Generally when you have real issues is when you rake the front end by cutting or even using raked cups in the neck.
You're not gonna have any issues with a 1" drop front or rear. The numbers don't even really change.
Last edited by Sturgis67; Jun 7, 2016 at 11:23 AM.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,806
Likes: 281
From: Green Country Oklahoma
As long as rear end is lower then 13" lowering the front end won't effect the suspension geometry.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
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From: Bay Area
That small of a change isn't going to put the bike out of spec. for the designed rake and trail numbers. Generally when you have real issues is when you rake the front end by cutting or even using raked cups in the neck.
You're not gonna have any issues with a 1" drop front or rear. The numbers don't even really change.
You're not gonna have any issues with a 1" drop front or rear. The numbers don't even really change.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Go to RB Racing's rake and trail calculator. You'll see that lowering the front end 1" actually/only increases the trail .1". This must be due to the negative offset trees the touring bikes use.