Lowering Road King
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Stage II
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Lowering Road King
Ok, I know this has been asked before but...
I'm a short guy 5'6 and would like to hear from people that have lowered their RK's. What have you found to be the best way to do it and remain comfortable? meaning not just shopping down the seat to the bone ..
Thanks for the Help
I'm a short guy 5'6 and would like to hear from people that have lowered their RK's. What have you found to be the best way to do it and remain comfortable? meaning not just shopping down the seat to the bone ..
Thanks for the Help
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
I had my road king lowered front and rear when I purchased it at the dealer. It made a huge difference to me, I can flatfoot now, before I was on my toes. It was lowered using HD profile lowering components.
I also installed a reach seat and had Mean City Cycles modify it. It sits as good as my Lazy Boy now.
I also installed a reach seat and had Mean City Cycles modify it. It sits as good as my Lazy Boy now.
Last edited by 2004Sierra; Jan 4, 2011 at 03:47 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,864
Likes: 3
From: Dallas, TX & Santa Fe, NM when I can find the time....
Lowered my '09 front and back 1" through the Dealer. Started with the back...wasn't enough...then went back and had the front lowered...did the trick for me. I'm 5'8".
Seat? Hated the H-D Reach seat (thankfully, the let me try it out so I was able to return it). Main seat now is the Mustang Vintage solo...a bit narrower in the front and may get me 1/2" or so lower. It's SO hard to tell. I even did a comparison in my garage with my stock, H-D Sundowner, H-D Badlander and Mustang. The differences were not night and day for sure. The Badlander is clearly the lowest, but not good for touring. Mustang next lowest. Sundowner and stock seemed to be the same.
Being a girl, my leg strength isn't what you guys have so it was really important for me to have my feet flat. Esp when maneuvering around while in neutral, backing up and when I'm on gravel/loose ground. Having it lowered gave me a lot more confidence/control.
I'm at the point now where I'm starting to scrape more often (don't like scraping...still makes me nervous) so I'm contemplating raising the front back up. I like the looks better how it is though. We shall see...not wanting to throw MORE $$ at the bike at this point.
As far as ride...some guys will say lowering it makes the ride too stiff/bumpy. Sure seems cushy to me, but I'm no suspension expert since i haven't ridden very long so I don't have much to compare with. I keep my tires at the "correct" psi, I don't weigh as much as most guys and don't carry a passenger...that all stuff affects the ride/suspension. Also, I've found, getting the rear shock air psi adjusted "right" makes a big difference. Especially when it's carrying luggage.
Bottom line, if you want a King and you're 5'6"...lowering 1" and getting a different seat will probably be your best bet.
Seat? Hated the H-D Reach seat (thankfully, the let me try it out so I was able to return it). Main seat now is the Mustang Vintage solo...a bit narrower in the front and may get me 1/2" or so lower. It's SO hard to tell. I even did a comparison in my garage with my stock, H-D Sundowner, H-D Badlander and Mustang. The differences were not night and day for sure. The Badlander is clearly the lowest, but not good for touring. Mustang next lowest. Sundowner and stock seemed to be the same.
Being a girl, my leg strength isn't what you guys have so it was really important for me to have my feet flat. Esp when maneuvering around while in neutral, backing up and when I'm on gravel/loose ground. Having it lowered gave me a lot more confidence/control.
I'm at the point now where I'm starting to scrape more often (don't like scraping...still makes me nervous) so I'm contemplating raising the front back up. I like the looks better how it is though. We shall see...not wanting to throw MORE $$ at the bike at this point.
As far as ride...some guys will say lowering it makes the ride too stiff/bumpy. Sure seems cushy to me, but I'm no suspension expert since i haven't ridden very long so I don't have much to compare with. I keep my tires at the "correct" psi, I don't weigh as much as most guys and don't carry a passenger...that all stuff affects the ride/suspension. Also, I've found, getting the rear shock air psi adjusted "right" makes a big difference. Especially when it's carrying luggage.
Bottom line, if you want a King and you're 5'6"...lowering 1" and getting a different seat will probably be your best bet.
Last edited by monstead; Jan 4, 2011 at 04:07 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 231
Likes: 3
I am 5'9" and I had the dealer put the HD lowering shocks on the rear, which helped. My FLHP is an 09 and has a 17" wheel on the front. I will be changing the front wheel to 16", which is the same as the rear, and that will lower the front 1/2". I also put on the Mustang solo vintage seat. This has worked for me, and I think the new lower front wheel will help.
Halfbreed
Halfbreed
6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Spring City, PA
The harley lower shocks are awesome, my dad has them on his 04 and they handle great and the bike is still super comfortable but every time I go over the speed bump at work I am reminded its lowered.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 535
Likes: 9
From: Long Beach
I've seen a lot of people get the lower shocks and fork springs and it was night and day difference for them.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 23
From: Orange County Texas
I'm not Vertically impaired. 6 foot, 198 pounds and 32 inch inseam.
I changed out my standard Road King air shocks for the premium ride hand-adjustable low shocks. Apx 3/4 to 1 inch lower.
I really like the ability to adjust the shock just by turning a **** and you only adjust the left shock.
Even though I'm taller I like my bike lowers, it feels more comfortable.
I changed out my standard Road King air shocks for the premium ride hand-adjustable low shocks. Apx 3/4 to 1 inch lower.
I really like the ability to adjust the shock just by turning a **** and you only adjust the left shock.
Even though I'm taller I like my bike lowers, it feels more comfortable.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,022
Likes: 3
From: Hudson Valley- NY
I too have lowered the front and rear of my 2004 King Standard. Being less than 6' tall 
it was important to keep my feet flat on the ground. I started with the HD lowering kit up front and a set of 12" air shocks out back which dropped me a little. Mean City Cycles reworked my Mustang Vintage Solo Seat and the 2-up I have off of a Road King Custom and it was pretty good with a nice ride.
Last winter I went 1/2" lower first with air shocks then with Progressive 412's and another 1/2" off the front with a Progressive drop in spring kit (drop in, sure). The ride suffered to the point where I put a set of 12" air shocks off a 2010 FLHX back on at the end of the summer and bought some logger soled boots which make up the lost 1/2" at the back.
All is now good. I can reach the ground w/o any problems and the ride is very acceptable. Keep in mind, a lot of how crappy the ride becomes is a direct result of how much you weigh, where and how you ride and how low you drop the front/back of your bike.
There are vendors that will sell you touring shocks that will drop the back of the bike up to and over 2", leaving you with barely any travel. They may look "cool", but my guess is that after 1 ride your *** will be as sore as a prison newbie! I weigh 168 and dropping the rear of my bike that last 1/2" was very noticeable. Thin line between "cool" and "ouch"
it was important to keep my feet flat on the ground. I started with the HD lowering kit up front and a set of 12" air shocks out back which dropped me a little. Mean City Cycles reworked my Mustang Vintage Solo Seat and the 2-up I have off of a Road King Custom and it was pretty good with a nice ride.Last winter I went 1/2" lower first with air shocks then with Progressive 412's and another 1/2" off the front with a Progressive drop in spring kit (drop in, sure). The ride suffered to the point where I put a set of 12" air shocks off a 2010 FLHX back on at the end of the summer and bought some logger soled boots which make up the lost 1/2" at the back.
All is now good. I can reach the ground w/o any problems and the ride is very acceptable. Keep in mind, a lot of how crappy the ride becomes is a direct result of how much you weigh, where and how you ride and how low you drop the front/back of your bike.
There are vendors that will sell you touring shocks that will drop the back of the bike up to and over 2", leaving you with barely any travel. They may look "cool", but my guess is that after 1 ride your *** will be as sore as a prison newbie! I weigh 168 and dropping the rear of my bike that last 1/2" was very noticeable. Thin line between "cool" and "ouch"
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Belle Plaine MN.
I'm 5'6" with 29 inseam. Used lowering blocks to lower the rear 1 inch,the front I left alone. I wear a Red Wing thick soled boot and I could use another inch. I just got my seat back from Mean City Cycles,and thats the ticket! I got an additional inch lower and better positon as well. Of course I havent ridden it yet,weather in Minnesota is not the greatest in January!