lowering a 2011 Electra Glide
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Joined: Apr 2010
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lowering a 2011 Electra Glide
Just got back from a Harley open house and another rider and I were talking about the Electra Glide being a little top heavy and he said that he put on the Street Glide air shocks and front springs on his and it made a world of difference. Has anyone done this to their bike?
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 92
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From: Ct
Front springs are the same on Street Glide and Electra glide, it's the rear shocks that are lower. At 5'7" my '10 Ultra Classic was a little high for me, I did the street Glide rear shocks, had Mean City Cycles lower/rework my seat, and replaced the stock floorboards with street glide pegs (so I could back the bike up without the backs of my legs hitting the boards). Made a world of difference. Most people will tell you the stock air shocks are junk, maybe they're right but as long as I keep the air adjusted correctly for load/passenger they've been fine for me.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 636
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From: Monterey, CA
Front springs are the same on Street Glide and Electra glide, it's the rear shocks that are lower. At 5'7" my '10 Ultra Classic was a little high for me, I did the street Glide rear shocks, had Mean City Cycles lower/rework my seat, and replaced the stock floorboards with street glide pegs (so I could back the bike up without the backs of my legs hitting the boards). Made a world of difference. Most people will tell you the stock air shocks are junk, maybe they're right but as long as I keep the air adjusted correctly for load/passenger they've been fine for me.
Cale
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
the ride is more---"jarring" might be the word.
SG shocks give up 30% of the travel.
I use SG shocks in town and switch back to stock shocks when touring. ( the 09 and later SG shocks are said to be better- take offs from SG riders maybe $130, new at zanottis about $225)
it's 20 minutes to swap the shocks, if that.
air pressure is really important on these and I get a reasonably comfortable SG ride in town and like the Ultra "Cadillac" ride on long trips.
- I also use a SG or solo seat in town, lower windscreen.
Touring it's Ultra seat and higher windscreen
and with tourpak and traveling gear about 130 pounds of load is probably added
lowered bikes loose lean angle and cornering ability- most riders are fine with that- but the extremes are less fun. banging framerails on speedbumps, whacking your front fender on the bottom of the triple tree, scraping jiffystand on lefts, and rear tire chewing up the rear lighting wiring can result.
mike
SG shocks give up 30% of the travel.
I use SG shocks in town and switch back to stock shocks when touring. ( the 09 and later SG shocks are said to be better- take offs from SG riders maybe $130, new at zanottis about $225)
it's 20 minutes to swap the shocks, if that.
air pressure is really important on these and I get a reasonably comfortable SG ride in town and like the Ultra "Cadillac" ride on long trips.
- I also use a SG or solo seat in town, lower windscreen.
Touring it's Ultra seat and higher windscreen
and with tourpak and traveling gear about 130 pounds of load is probably added
lowered bikes loose lean angle and cornering ability- most riders are fine with that- but the extremes are less fun. banging framerails on speedbumps, whacking your front fender on the bottom of the triple tree, scraping jiffystand on lefts, and rear tire chewing up the rear lighting wiring can result.
mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Sep 18, 2011 at 10:57 AM.
09 and up have the wire out of the fender so your safe there. Get a pump and keep air in the shocks , the new shocks are better thand older ones like every thing else. As for lean angle , it all falls into how you ride . if you lower you adjust your style. I have a set of 1" brackets $40 shipped . Its cheaper than shocks if you still question if you want to lower it. pm if interested
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 4
From: nebraska
i had MeanCity Cycle narrow the nose and lower my 2008 FLHRC seat 2.5" they did a great job. i would like to find some reasnable used street glide shocks or have bitch'n baggers lower my stock shocks and maybe progressive 1"lowering springs for front forks.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,225
Likes: 9
From: 3rd Stone From The Sun
I wanted to lower my 2010 RK so I changed the seat and added the HD Low Profile Touring Shocks. I don't notice any difference in ride quality, but I probably weigh less than most riders and I only ride solo.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
If you want to lower it and improve the handling go with the Progressive Monotube at 1or 2 lower and a set of Progressive 940 (will lower you 1 " in the rear with stock travel) Total cost about or a little less than $1000.
The gas charged Monotubes are a lot better that the stock oil bath damping system on the front and the 940 are a lot better IMO than the HD shocks. For a littl more Id go Ohlins on the rear
The gas charged Monotubes are a lot better that the stock oil bath damping system on the front and the 940 are a lot better IMO than the HD shocks. For a littl more Id go Ohlins on the rear
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 92
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From: Ct
I really don't have anything to compare them to since I only put a couple hundred miles on the bike before changing them, but at 180lb body weight running around 15lb in the shocks they've been fine for me, 40lb with the passenger. I'm sure you can buy better shocks....but not for $225.
