1" lowering blocks on 12' RG custom?

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Nov 23, 2011 | 03:23 PM

#11

hoofnhog

Road Captain

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 559

Likes: 51

From: maine

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIMSFBL

Take your shocks off. Then let your jack down until swing arm or fender bottoms out. Then measure from center to center on your shock bolt holes, should be about 8 3/4" (log it). Measure the shock itself from center of hole to center of hole and subtract the remaining visable stroke (as if the shock was fully compressed and log it).

The difference is how much room you will have before bottoming out when shock is fully compressed. If the diffenerce is 1" or less than yes you will bottom out! If it's more than 1" you will be fine. Don't just take someones word for it. Good luck!

Excellent post and advice! +++

By hoofmender at 2011-04-12

Nov 23, 2011 | 04:51 PM

#12

kmayHD

Road Master

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 1,230

Likes: 2

From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by fabrik8r

RK and RKC no same same, RKC already 1" shorter shock, add lowering blocks and you are inviting bottoming tire on fender.

Yep my bad. The original posters Road Glide Custom comes with 12 inch shocks from factory. But I really feel no difference in ride quality with the blocks. But hey mines an 06, apparently its a death trap wobbly skinny tire outta dater..........

Nov 23, 2011 | 08:31 PM

#13

09BlueRoadKing

Road Captain

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 688

Likes: 2

From: Central Texas

I dont have a RoadGlide,but I have been running the road customs kit on my 09 Road king on the 1" slot for over 2 years and contrary to what all have said about bottoming out, mine never has. I run 18 psi solo (I weigh 180) and pump em up a bit more on trips with bags loaded. My ride may be just a bit firmer but I wouldnt consider it harsh. Now in your case since you already have 12" inch shocks I cant say what your ride will be like, but Im just giving you some feed back on my situation, for me its 39 bucks well spent and I can live with it till I get the air ride system.

Nov 23, 2011 | 08:39 PM

#14

dbell66253

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 5,240

Likes: 10

From: South Florida

You can also contact "Bitching Baggers" in AZ, they actually cut the shocks, works pretty well, give them a call, they'll explain.

Nov 24, 2011 | 02:39 AM

#15

Smokengun

Tourer

Joined: Sep 2011

Posts: 338

Likes: 0

From: Chicago burbs

Different model bike, but I put the LA Choppers kit on my 07 RK Police with stock shocks. Rides just as good as it did before. Haven't bottomed out yet. Maybe will? Dunno. But haven't yet. And I'm about 215lbs ish. Just my 2 cents worth. :-)

Dec 8, 2011 | 02:05 AM

#16

francisac

Intermediate

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

From: Atlanta, GA

i ride with a friend that has these lowering blocks and he rides pretty aggresive and he loves them.

Dec 8, 2011 | 05:34 AM

#17

TUCCI

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 10,216

Likes: 224

From: Glendale AZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by blockzilla

anyone here with any experience running 1" lowering blocks on the rear of a Road Glide Custom or a street Glide ? I am wanting to lower my new bike an inch and I know it has the 1" lower shocks already like the Street glides, and was wondering about travel...bottoming - riding 2 up etc ??? anyone with experience (not just I heard a friend of a friend say /owners manual says etc ) this would be LA Choppers lowering blocks that lower the shocks straight down.. i would use the stock shocks and keep the same angle so ride quality will remain the same its just bottoming , by being 1" lower that concerns me... thanks

I tried installing their lowering blocks yesterday and aside from being short two shims the kit wouldn't let my bags go back on.The shocks hit the hard bags...obviously their going back.

Dec 8, 2011 | 10:13 PM

#18

Wv7o

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2011

Posts: 257

Likes: 6

From: Auburn, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by blockzilla

I have installed the LA Choppers 1 inch lowering blocks on the rear of my 2010 street glide, this kit does lower the shocks straight down there is no shock angle change, the ride quality did not change and riding solo or 2 up there was not a bottoming out problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TUCCI

I tried installing their lowering blocks yesterday and aside from being short two shims the kit wouldn't let my bags go back on.The shocks hit the hard bags...obviously their going back.

Tucci, the reason your bags and shocks are hitting is because in order to drop the shock straight down the blocks bolt to the stock lower shock mount and in order to get the shock to drop it has to be moved out away from the center line of the bike (toward the bags).

Because the bottom of the shock is moving out the top has to be shimmed out also to keep the shock vertical rather than tipped in at the top.

The shock boot is wider than the shock at the bottom, if you look that is probably where the shock and bag touch.

I removed a shim from the top of the shock and then added 1 to the mounting brackets to be able to tip the bags out, I used 1 washer behind the front and rear bag mounting points (between the mounting point and bike).

My shimming caused the shock to tip in to the bike and the bags out. Again we are only talking about the thickness of 2 washers, you can not even tell I shimmed anything.

I thought about grinding down the face of the lowering block to keep shimming the way I did but I did not want to grind away the powder coating.

I hope this helps.

Last edited by Wv7o; Dec 8, 2011 at 10:15 PM.