Lowering my bagger
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 3,421
Likes: 726
From: Tiffin,Oh
Lowering my bagger
Could you guys tell me the pros and cons of lowering my king? I realize that shorter rides may want to. I realize it would reduce lean angle. But, other than that? Enlighten me, lol, and pix would be AWESOME!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Despite being a short-*** I've never done it. A popular thing is to use shorter shocks and lower the forks, both of which also reduce suspension travel, hence are likely to reduce comfort and ride quality. I really value those, even more so does Mrs B!
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
I lowered my SGS (and my Heritage) 1" front and back because I'm short and can not reach the ground comfortably in their stock configuration. Because I did both front and back the bike profile is not changed and the lowering is not visually noticable (see my Sig pic).
If you use quality shorter shocks, the ride quality is not compromised too much, if any. And also, unless you are a very agressive rider and ride real tight twistys all the time, the lean angle is not impacted so much as to be noticible. I can scrape my boards in a tight turn but when practicing slow manuvers I can make U-turns in about 24 feet and do tight circles and figure eights without scraping. When I'm able to reduce these figures in size, I might find I will scrape, but for now I don't.
When parked, my SGS sits a little taller because I did not change the Jiffy Stand, but for a short rider like me that is a good thing as it makes picking the bike up off the stand easier. Just need to be carefull about the paving side slope when parking.
As far as I'm concerned thare are NO cons and only pros to lowering a bike if it allows you to operate it more comfortably and safely.
Lowering for appearence purposes is another motive but that is purly a riders choice and really serves no other benefit.
If you use quality shorter shocks, the ride quality is not compromised too much, if any. And also, unless you are a very agressive rider and ride real tight twistys all the time, the lean angle is not impacted so much as to be noticible. I can scrape my boards in a tight turn but when practicing slow manuvers I can make U-turns in about 24 feet and do tight circles and figure eights without scraping. When I'm able to reduce these figures in size, I might find I will scrape, but for now I don't.
When parked, my SGS sits a little taller because I did not change the Jiffy Stand, but for a short rider like me that is a good thing as it makes picking the bike up off the stand easier. Just need to be carefull about the paving side slope when parking.
As far as I'm concerned thare are NO cons and only pros to lowering a bike if it allows you to operate it more comfortably and safely.
Lowering for appearence purposes is another motive but that is purly a riders choice and really serves no other benefit.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Ive gone back and forth on it myself, being short limbed myself. Ultimately, I stuck with stock height and installed a reverse gear.
Pros:
I can better reach the ground.
Which means I can better push the bike backwards while astride it.
Am less likely to have any tipping problems if Im not paying attention to where Im stopping and putting my feet down.
Cons:
Ride quality suffers.
If the springs arent stiffer, the bike bottoms out more. A most unpleasant riding experience.
Many use stiffer springs, which gives an overall harsher ride.
Bike is more upright on the stock kickstand, making it more likely to fall over on the right side if care isnt paid to parking.
Clearance over speed bumps becomes problematic. Particularly where tall speed bumps are installed.
checking rear tire pressure becomes even more difficult.
Pros:
I can better reach the ground.
Which means I can better push the bike backwards while astride it.
Am less likely to have any tipping problems if Im not paying attention to where Im stopping and putting my feet down.
Cons:
Ride quality suffers.
If the springs arent stiffer, the bike bottoms out more. A most unpleasant riding experience.
Many use stiffer springs, which gives an overall harsher ride.
Bike is more upright on the stock kickstand, making it more likely to fall over on the right side if care isnt paid to parking.
Clearance over speed bumps becomes problematic. Particularly where tall speed bumps are installed.
checking rear tire pressure becomes even more difficult.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
I’ve gone back and forth on it myself, being short limbed myself. Ultimately, I stuck with stock height and installed a reverse gear.
Pros:
I can better reach the ground.
Which means I can better push the bike backwards while astride it.
Am less likely to have any tipping problems if I’m not paying attention to where I’m stopping and putting my feet down.
Cons:
Ride quality suffers.
If the springs aren’t stiffer, the bike bottoms out more. A most unpleasant riding experience.
Many use stiffer springs, which gives an overall harsher ride.
Bike is more upright on the stock kickstand, making it more likely to fall over on the right side if care isn’t paid to parking.
Clearance over speed bumps becomes problematic. Particularly where tall speed bumps are installed.
checking rear tire pressure becomes even more difficult.
Pros:
I can better reach the ground.
Which means I can better push the bike backwards while astride it.
Am less likely to have any tipping problems if I’m not paying attention to where I’m stopping and putting my feet down.
Cons:
Ride quality suffers.
If the springs aren’t stiffer, the bike bottoms out more. A most unpleasant riding experience.
Many use stiffer springs, which gives an overall harsher ride.
Bike is more upright on the stock kickstand, making it more likely to fall over on the right side if care isn’t paid to parking.
Clearance over speed bumps becomes problematic. Particularly where tall speed bumps are installed.
checking rear tire pressure becomes even more difficult.
This is just me but I don't quite agree with all of your Cons.
Yes I have heavy duty (stiffer) springs on my rear shocks, but I do not find them to cause an unpleasant riding experience. In fact, like I said, if you install quality brand shocks, the ride is not compromised much at all. (I may be different, but I prefer a sport car suspension over a luxury car suspension so the slightly stiffer ride does not bother me at all.) When riding solo I never bottom out and when riding 2-up the Heavy Duty springs prevent bottoming out on all but the harshest bump or pothole.
Yes there is a clearance issue, but I try to go around speed bumps whenever possible and slow down going over RR tracks. The bigger clearence issue is having to use 2X boards under the wheels when trying to fit a MC jack under the frame.
Checking the rear tire pressure is a PITA in any case, so yeah a little harder, but you got to live with it if the bike 'needs' to be lowered.
Last edited by FrankEV; Feb 10, 2020 at 07:04 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I've never suffered from either sporty or luxury suspension when riding a Harley! We spend so much time discussing suspension on Harleys because the darned things rarely come with any worthy of the name. My FXDXT was good, as are my Firebolts, but they are rare in the Harley world, coming as they all did with fully adjustable suspension f&r. Unfortunately it is not often we can say that!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,420
Likes: 2,484
From: Lititz Pa
All my bikes I have had was lowered. 2014 SGS 48000 miles 1" on the front lowered don't remember if I changed the shocks, bike road very good. Next one was 20115 ultra low liked that bike 57000 miles I did scrap the road on tight right hand corers, Road very good. New bike 2019 Ultra Limited only 4900 miles lowered 1" front rear 1" also I think I used SGS shocks seems to ride good its not as low as my Ultra low but I get my feet down better. Another way to get your feet down is to remove some of the padding from the front of your seat on each side. All of that said my ridding style is some what aggressive meaning I don't let the grass grow under my tires and I see no problems with lowering your bike.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Ill agree that the increased spring rate in the shorter rear shocks doesnt make the ride unpleasant. Its just not as soft a ride as the stock height springs give. By no means is the difference a significant factor to me, just noting that it is different.
No experience two up riding my Harley with either.
No experience two up riding my Harley with either.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,503
Likes: 7,807
From: Long Island, New York
I lowered my 2005 Road Glide purely for looks using Progressive Suspension components front and rear. Bike rides better then before, and I use her for touring Two Up. Zero down side, has been lowered for the last 7 years, about 25k miles ago. I also physically lowered the front fender to make it closer to the wheel, that to me is a dramatic visual difference as well