Lowering Front End Only
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 287
Likes: 4
From: Alabama
Lowering Front End Only
Has anyone ever know of a stock touring bike where someone lowered the front end with harley springs but not the rear end? Would it have a negative effect on balance. The front end kit description in the catalog advises it only be used in conjunction with harleys rear end kit but the same advice is not in the description of the rear end lowering kit.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
what bike ? Street Glides and Road Glide Customs come lowered on the rear and not the front plus 2010 and newer have 18" front tires not 17" so lowering them front only puts them closer to stock set up for other bikes
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
Lowering the front will make the handling turn/lean inward quicker; on a long sweeping turn the bike will pull more to the inside of the turn with less effort as opposed to pushing to the outside of the turn.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
BAD IDEA!
You can kick a front end out -which is essentially what happens when the rear is lowered, but to "pull" the front end in will make for an unstable ride.
the unique geometry of our "backwards" triple trees is to maximise low speed stability with out compromising road speeds
Mike
You can kick a front end out -which is essentially what happens when the rear is lowered, but to "pull" the front end in will make for an unstable ride.
the unique geometry of our "backwards" triple trees is to maximise low speed stability with out compromising road speeds
Mike
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 287
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From: Alabama
The bike is a 2011 FLHTK. I didn't choose to do it this way. When I bought it I mentioned lowering it to the sales manager who told me the 2011s were already lowered 1" in the rear so all I had to do was install the kit for the front. Along with some other things I had them doing I added the front end kit. Later I found out the back was not lower for 2011, the seat was an inch lower. So then I read the kit descriptions in the catalog and realized it may have been a bad mistake.
It is not the only thing I was told that was completely incorrect and led to me buying something other than what I may have chosen given correct information. I don't think they were deliberatelly misinforming me they are just arrogant and will say anything to make a sale. This dealership is owned by an old time car dealership owner and now that I have gotten to know them realize they are not much different then a car dealership in terms of aggressiveness to make a sale, anything goes I guess. No offense to anyone in the car business, I know many good people who do that for a living but they will sell anything. Most Harley dealerships, although also wanting a sale, are a little more laid back about it and are typically preety well informed.
This dealership's service manager told me the catalysts were not in the pipes but in the mufflers which led to another poor purchase. Yep I should have done my own research but it was my first new bike in 9 years and I was completely taken by it and just wanted it out the door on its way home with me.
It is not the only thing I was told that was completely incorrect and led to me buying something other than what I may have chosen given correct information. I don't think they were deliberatelly misinforming me they are just arrogant and will say anything to make a sale. This dealership is owned by an old time car dealership owner and now that I have gotten to know them realize they are not much different then a car dealership in terms of aggressiveness to make a sale, anything goes I guess. No offense to anyone in the car business, I know many good people who do that for a living but they will sell anything. Most Harley dealerships, although also wanting a sale, are a little more laid back about it and are typically preety well informed.
This dealership's service manager told me the catalysts were not in the pipes but in the mufflers which led to another poor purchase. Yep I should have done my own research but it was my first new bike in 9 years and I was completely taken by it and just wanted it out the door on its way home with me.
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Long Island
It is best to keep rake/trail numbers the same and lower evenly. Then you don't have to worry about squirrely handling issues. As already mentioned, you can get away with dropping the back some but I don't think anyone would recommend lowering the front only.
If you already lowered the front and now discover the back wasn't lowered, you don't have to go for the pricey shocks. You can go aftermarket, which is just a bracket and changes the angle of your rear shocks, usually with your choice of 2 positions. I put one of these kits on my cop bike, cheap fix for short legs.
If you already lowered the front and now discover the back wasn't lowered, you don't have to go for the pricey shocks. You can go aftermarket, which is just a bracket and changes the angle of your rear shocks, usually with your choice of 2 positions. I put one of these kits on my cop bike, cheap fix for short legs.
