Howard's 49mm Fork Review
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From:
The diving is basically eliminated , I get no wheel hop , you have extra travel which eliminates hop and improves traction , turbulence stability is good , I was riding 80mph in 15-20mph cross winds on the interstate and the bike was rock solid , slow speed maneuverability I didn't notice a difference , the front end does not need adjustment like the rear end 1up , 2up and loaded , I noticed no difference in braking distance but better control under hard braking , going into turns I did not have to find new lines it just stayed where I put it and did not drift , compression is on the left fork , rebound on the right fork , this front end shines on interstate or less maintained roads , it really doesn't matter , it is super smooth with improved traction
Thread Starter
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
Waskier01 , enjoy , it is hard to put into words what these do for a bike , the ride is just so much more enjoyable , but the majority still buy a bike for show not to ride and will not get it
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From:
Super accurate tractability, communicability, and yet sublety. I can put the bike in a specific part of a pavement irregularity and easily keep it there. AND feel the edge of the ripple in that section of pavement. Astounding.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 35
My 2014 street glide now has a set of Howard's reworked Ohlins NIX30 cartridges installed in my stock 49mm forks. I installed a set of HD909 shocks late last year, but now, with the Ohlins cartridges. WOW!! The communication through this suspension is astounding. I feel every bump but zero sharpness. These 49mm legs are what inspired me to work with Howard to do this conversion. I'm still a bit speechless. Subtle seems to be the most accurate description I can find so far. The 49mm HD legs track so nice, but, now with four Ohlins.....
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 35
I understand that he has the 2014 with the clamping triple tree, but I still would like to know if he used the stock triple tree or Howard's. It appears to me based on the design that Howard's triple tree is superior to even the new 2014 triple tree. Just curious. I plan to do this mod with my 07 Road King this fall or winter. A friend of mine is interested for his 2014 after my install.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
The MoCo really should sell us a premium Touring model with Ohlins suspension front and rear. THEN the Harley World will sit up and take notice! If only.......
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4,245
From: U.S.A. Upstate N. Y.
Howards 49 m/m Front end kit
Very nice write up on Howards new front end kit.. Last year I purchased the JRI-B shocks from Howard and could not be happier. Howard took me to class on suspension . I thought about the progressive kit for the front end and spoke to Traxion about their kit. The one thing I could not get past in my case was the cost. After some research I decided to go with the Race kit front end kit with their new springs ,seals and gold valves., with 15wt Spectro Front end oil,sent by Race Tech with the kit. The difference in the bike is night and day.. For someone who has raced I'm sure its not on par as your set up, but for the two up touring couple, it was night and day.
Enjoy your new suspension ! It sure is sweet..
Enjoy your new suspension ! It sure is sweet..