Help! I'm too short!
Road Warrior
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And, that's why new riders shouldn't start out on big *** bikes?
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I've taught a lot of people to ride. The BIGGEST H-D I think anyone should learn on is a Dyna SuperGlide and the guy on that was my brother, with a clue what he was doing and he's 6'2" and 220. Hes got a SHOT of not dropping the bike on himself, though even he did once or twice.
A typical guy should learn on a nice 500 or 650. A slighter/older or woman on a nice Rebel 250 or similar Virago.
Not being sexist - but the first 100 times you start, ride and come to a stop while learning, you're going to be (and most important stop) awkward 25-40 times. The next 100 times, 20-30 times. You can only handle not being able to simply hold the bike up and/or being flatfooted AFTER YOU'VE LEARNED to control the bike from 0-100Mph and back to zero. And most important, when you stop quickly, wind up with the bike leaning to one side, and drop the foot on the side your leaning land in a ditch two inches lower than you thought and on gravel... The money you "save" by not buyin a 500 is gonna be made up with the damage you are gonna do on a big bike learning on it.
Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now..
I agree with you MC, if you can ride the bike, you do NOT need to flat foot. In fact, most good riders can stop with one foot down.
A typical guy should learn on a nice 500 or 650. A slighter/older or woman on a nice Rebel 250 or similar Virago.
Not being sexist - but the first 100 times you start, ride and come to a stop while learning, you're going to be (and most important stop) awkward 25-40 times. The next 100 times, 20-30 times. You can only handle not being able to simply hold the bike up and/or being flatfooted AFTER YOU'VE LEARNED to control the bike from 0-100Mph and back to zero. And most important, when you stop quickly, wind up with the bike leaning to one side, and drop the foot on the side your leaning land in a ditch two inches lower than you thought and on gravel... The money you "save" by not buyin a 500 is gonna be made up with the damage you are gonna do on a big bike learning on it.
Sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now..
I agree with you MC, if you can ride the bike, you do NOT need to flat foot. In fact, most good riders can stop with one foot down.
Last edited by nine11c2; Jul 10, 2011 at 11:32 AM.
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You are correct in that shorter shocks makes for a stiffer ride, but the lowering blocks don't have the same effect. The lowering blocks let's you keep the stock shock travel and only changes the shock angle slightly. I've been riding since 1967. I know a good ride from a bad one. Getting the center of gravity lower improves handling. I've been running lowering blocks on three bagger's now. An 08 UC, a 09 EGC and have them on my 2010 RK. Ride is not compromised a bit. I think it rides better!
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From: earth
You are correct in that shorter shocks makes for a stiffer ride, but the lowering blocks don't have the same effect. The lowering blocks let's you keep the stock shock travel and only changes the shock angle slightly. I've been riding since 1967. I know a good ride from a bad one. Getting the center of gravity lower improves handling. I've been running lowering blocks on three bagger's now. An 08 UC, a 09 EGC and have them on my 2010 RK. Ride is not compromised a bit. I think it rides better!
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Congratulations, you got about 7 years riding experience on me. No doubt folks have had succes by their own definition, by running shorter shocks, lowereing blocks, or a combination of the two. As one of the other Napoleans mentioned, It can be done. I know as well as anyone, that damn near anything can be done. A lowered machine may feel fine, or acceptable to some people, but all other things being equal, there is absolutely no way it will ride or handle as well as standard height machine with the correct suspension components and geometry set up properly. Lowering blocks on a SG with OEM SG shocks will result in the rear wheel rubbing the fender on compression. Just ask around, a whole lotta folks go back to standard components or configuration after trying out the lowering route. You short guys can keep telling each other what a sweet ride you got, but don't waste your breath on me. It would be a lot cheaper and quicker to just get some Radar O'reily elevator boots from the Deluth Trading Company.
Last edited by Ronp42; Jul 10, 2011 at 02:07 PM.
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Kit..
If you use a Progressive kit - which lowers but replaces the standard spirngs with ones that are stronger,at least towards the end of travel - does it make the lowering better handling than the blocks?
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From: Jaw-Jaw (Near The BIG Chicken!)
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Think about it, If you shorten a shock travel and put heavier springs in, it's going to stiffen the ride a lot. Theres a reason the MoCo put these shocks on touring bikes. They are touring bikes!