Lowering the rear.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 376
Likes: 2
From: Statesville, NC
Lowering the rear.
I am thinking of lowering the rear shocks only. Can anyone give me any information, pictures of theirs, likes, dislikes, etc.
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
Likes: 45
From: Western Washington
RE: Lowering the rear.
T-Bone, why were you just gonna lower the back only? Just curious, 'cause I've been thinking of dropping my Classic front and rear, but Mama's not a small girl, so I'm wondering if it's a bad idea myself.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: Lowering the rear.
It's really not suggested to drop only the rear of the bike--especially if you have a tour-pak and carry a passenger. By doing only the rear, you are changing the center of gravity point from middle-rear to now mostly rear! Then, add baggage and passenger, you now have a recipe for a possible mishap. Your front end will get pretty squirly at slow speed, and braking may take more distance.
By lowering both front and rear together, you will improve the overall center of gravity of the bike. Thus, maintaining stability.
Just my two cents!
By lowering both front and rear together, you will improve the overall center of gravity of the bike. Thus, maintaining stability.
Just my two cents!
ORIGINAL: TBone
I am thinking of lowering the rear shocks only. Can anyone give me any information, pictures of theirs, likes, dislikes, etc.
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
I am thinking of lowering the rear shocks only. Can anyone give me any information, pictures of theirs, likes, dislikes, etc.
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas
RE: Lowering the rear.
I chose to lower only the rear using brackets that relocate the lower shock mount. No dif in the ride at all with or without her etc. 1 inch lower makes very little steering angle difference and does little to nothing on the center of gravity. Brackets will run you $59 to $100 shock kits from $275 to $1500.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 704
Likes: 45
From: Western Washington
RE: Lowering the rear.
Prw3: Do you have a Road King Classic? I'm wondering if those bracket kits change the angle of the shocks to the point that the saddlebags no longer fit? That's what I've read in here before.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
RE: Lowering the rear.
Not a bash here...
If you lower your bike you are not really changing the center of gravity. Your not really doing that unless you move weight around. And isn't the street glide lowered in the back only? Probably wrong, but thought I read that somewhere.... besides if center of gravity were an issue on these bikes they wouldn't put big-a$$ tour packs on them (and fat ole-ladys) for that matter. I don't think an inch or two is gonna matter in this guys case. Next to me and my wife..they weight nothing...
If you lower your bike you are not really changing the center of gravity. Your not really doing that unless you move weight around. And isn't the street glide lowered in the back only? Probably wrong, but thought I read that somewhere.... besides if center of gravity were an issue on these bikes they wouldn't put big-a$$ tour packs on them (and fat ole-ladys) for that matter. I don't think an inch or two is gonna matter in this guys case. Next to me and my wife..they weight nothing...
ORIGINAL: Kahuna
It's really not suggested to drop only the rear of the bike--especially if you have a tour-pak and carry a passenger. By doing only the rear, you are changing the center of gravity point from middle-rear to now mostly rear! Then, add baggage and passenger, you now have a recipe for a possible mishap. Your front end will get pretty squirly at slow speed, and braking may take more distance.
By lowering both front and rear together, you will improve the overall center of gravity of the bike. Thus, maintaining stability.
Just my two cents!
It's really not suggested to drop only the rear of the bike--especially if you have a tour-pak and carry a passenger. By doing only the rear, you are changing the center of gravity point from middle-rear to now mostly rear! Then, add baggage and passenger, you now have a recipe for a possible mishap. Your front end will get pretty squirly at slow speed, and braking may take more distance.
By lowering both front and rear together, you will improve the overall center of gravity of the bike. Thus, maintaining stability.
Just my two cents!
ORIGINAL: TBone
I am thinking of lowering the rear shocks only. Can anyone give me any information, pictures of theirs, likes, dislikes, etc.
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
I am thinking of lowering the rear shocks only. Can anyone give me any information, pictures of theirs, likes, dislikes, etc.
I do ride with my wife a lot. I am 6'0" 185lbs. and she is 5'3" 105lbs. Will this make it uncomfortable for her?
Thanks for any feedback
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Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 611
Likes: 3
From:
RE: Lowering the rear.
My RK is lowered with a 1 1/4 with solow bracket and rides the same. I am 6'0 and 190 lbs and I had my mom who weights about 140lbs on the back with a tour pak. Rode 200 miles with no problems at all. I pumped up the shock to about 20 lbs and no complaints from me or the passanger.
Solow makes brackets specifically for RK Classic as well.
Solow makes brackets specifically for RK Classic as well.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 873
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Lowering the rear.
I lowered my First RoadKing in 95. Haven't done it to a bike since. Got tired of grinding the exhaust and footboards everytime I went around a corner hard. The bike did not seem to handle as well after I lowered it. Had about 10 FLH's since and haven't lowered any of them. Just took a lowering kit off a friends 95 ElectraGlide for the same reason... JMHO I wouldn't do it..
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Lowering the rear.
why are you lowering the bike? I am going thru this right now, and seem to have found a happy medium, Progressive 440 but stock length.
have not done it to my bike, but have ridden someone's FLHRCI with the Progressive lowered and Progressive stock length shocks.
I like the ride better with the Progressive in stock length, he doesn't so I may be getting a discount on some like new 440's.
have not done it to my bike, but have ridden someone's FLHRCI with the Progressive lowered and Progressive stock length shocks.
I like the ride better with the Progressive in stock length, he doesn't so I may be getting a discount on some like new 440's.