Lowering the bagger
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,083
Likes: 1,959
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Welcome from NC.
My King has been lowered an inch front and rear as well with new shocks. I get a little spirited in the corners now and then but very seldom have scraped the boards. I also have a bigger wheel in front now, so it's lowered a smidge more for that with no issues there.
Modify your seat as well and you too can get the feet on the ground.
My King has been lowered an inch front and rear as well with new shocks. I get a little spirited in the corners now and then but very seldom have scraped the boards. I also have a bigger wheel in front now, so it's lowered a smidge more for that with no issues there.
Modify your seat as well and you too can get the feet on the ground.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
I've done it to the rear. And gone back and forth on it. I do like the better footing of having it lower, but the ride quality degradation, oye! But, a lot of that depends on what sort of surfaces you ride on, and how you ride.
In the end, I added a reverse and kept the full stock height.
In the end, I added a reverse and kept the full stock height.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,784
Likes: 100
From: Pasadena TX
I left my front alone, but used a pair of stock 13" touring air shocks that I sent to bitchin baggers and had them cut them down one inch. FLHX shocks are also 12", but the spring rate in a 12" shock is different than a 13" one. I'm happy with the ride quality, I can't tell any difference in them. It was $175 for the service, and I got some low mile take off shocks for $20 on eBay. I only did it for the looks. As seen in my sig pic.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,052
Likes: 19,188
From: The Wasteland
I ride an 09 Road King Classic lowered front and rear by the previous owner. I scrape the boards fairly often and the kickstand scrapes almost every time I make a hard left turn. But the worst part, as someone else mentioned, is the ride quality sucks. I had an 03 RK with stock suspension before this one and it rode a whole lot better than the 09. Thankfully the guy who I bought the 09 from gave me the stock suspension parts when I bought the bike from him. I think Im going to go back to stock and sell the lowered stuff.
As stated earlier it's all about doing it correctly with QUALITY products.
My bike rides much smoother and handles 100% better than it ever did stock. Harley suspension pretty much sucks, so regardless if it is stock height or lowered, it can be greatly improved, with the correct geometry and products.
If all you do is get lowering blocks or lower HD shocks and drop-in lowering springs for the front, be prepared to be disappointed in the ride.
My bike rides much smoother and handles 100% better than it ever did stock. Harley suspension pretty much sucks, so regardless if it is stock height or lowered, it can be greatly improved, with the correct geometry and products.
If all you do is get lowering blocks or lower HD shocks and drop-in lowering springs for the front, be prepared to be disappointed in the ride.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 520
Likes: 37
From: houston, tx
Previous owner did some suspension work on my bike, Ohlin rear and all kinds of stuff on the front forks. Bike is maybe 2" lower than a factory FLHT. It's not a terrible ride but drags on everything in turns including my highway pegs, will eventually upgrade to better Ohlin rear shocks and inverted front forks and go back to factory ride height.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 101
Likes: 2
From: bay area calif
i lowered my 07 rk 13/4 inches in the front and 2 1/8 inches in the back no drag issues speed bumps are as well as getting it up on my bike jack i have also had an issue with the rear tire rubbing the inside of the rear fender taking out my rear wiring harness this was my fault for not checking my air pressure in my rear air shocks i had also changed my rear shock oil i have a great ride corners fantastic i can walk away from 103s and 110s in corners
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 108
Likes: 7
From: Carpentersville , IL
I lowered my 09 with the adjustable Progressive front springs probably a little over an inch and used 15w Spectro fluid. In the rear I installed a Dirty Air air ride. Bike handles much better than stock, I wouldn't be afraid to lower it at all!
