First 2up ride with lowered RG
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 524
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From: Dewey, AZ.
First 2up ride with lowered RG
Took the wife for a ride last night for the first time since lowering the ride with Solow kit. Couple blocks down the road I returned home to add air to the shocks cause it sounded like we hit tire to fender(left with 20#). Back on the road things seemed ok, but could have used a bit more air (at 30#)....FYI, our Trip to cali., fully loaded we ran at 23# with no issues. My major concern last night was on decelleration to a stop and appling rear brakes there was a rather bad vibration from the back end, right up until the clutch lever was pulled. Im thinking drive belt is now either way to loose or to tight?????? Any of you Harely vets know what this could be?? Im thinking the bike wil have to go back to stock cause we had no issues then and this is just plain scary, having new noises and vibrations without knowing all about the goins on when the swing arm is tucked up with the lowering kit.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 137
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From: NY
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
think of it the wheel is at a certain distance and now it is all new everything needs to be looked at. i was going to lower mine but my buddy had similar issues. i trashed the idea. when you put 2 on the bike you need to be sure it's all good.no sense in trashing the drive belt either. so get it to a shop to adjust the belt or leave alot of air in it.air ride did the same, be safe
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
I have a SG which naturally comes stock with lowered shocks. Although they look cool they ride like crap when you hit certain kinds of bumps. I changed mine to standard shocks from a 2005 Ultra Classic that I purchased on Ebay. I believe you'll be better off without the lowering kit. Just my opinion.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,307
Likes: 9,428
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
I feel the stock air shocks do not offer a very good ride. I went to Progressive 412's with H.D. spring at 12" length and couldn't be happier with ride on my FLHT. Swapping to these shocks improved ride quality alot.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,012
Likes: 13
From: Fredericksburg,VA
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
I had my 2005 Road Glide lowered front and rear before taking delivery of it and have no issues like you are talking about. Even riding two up it seems fine, of course my wife is only 4'11" and 105lbs so its hard to tell she is back there anyway. If you get your drive belt adjusted, I bet you will see an improvement.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 510
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From: Arizona
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
I drove my '06 FLTRI home from the stealer and put the SoLow 1 1/4" lowering kit on straight away. My gal and I put 460 miles on the first weekend and I have none of the issue's you speak of and typically ride with no air in the shocks. Our combined weight is 275 lbs. The bike now has 1100 miles, just did a new years day ride (2up) to Tortilla Flats which has semi-mountainous grades and many switchbacks, still no issues. Just curious, what is your combined 2up weight and how long have you been riding Harley's?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 260
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RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
ORIGINAL: foneman
I have a SG which naturally comes stock with lowered shocks. Although they look cool they ride like crap when you hit certain kinds of bumps. I changed mine to standard shocks from a 2005 Ultra Classic that I purchased on Ebay. I believe you'll be better off without the lowering kit. Just my opinion.
I have a SG which naturally comes stock with lowered shocks. Although they look cool they ride like crap when you hit certain kinds of bumps. I changed mine to standard shocks from a 2005 Ultra Classic that I purchased on Ebay. I believe you'll be better off without the lowering kit. Just my opinion.
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RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
Did you put the 1 1/4 in lowering kit on with the already lower shocks that came on your bike. That would be a problem. You can only install the 1 1/4 in kit on stock shocks (the stock shock for an ultra, classic or roadglide).
Terry
Terry
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 524
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From: Dewey, AZ.
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
Terry
Are you saying the RG shocks are shorter then stock touring shocks? I installed the solow kit with the shocks that came on it.
Jfanton
Combined 2 up load is just over max. We are not the little people from younger days....LOL
I did air up the shocks as per past trips and rides, but only feels safe and right when Im solo riding. I have only had a Harley for 4 months now for what its worth. Thats why I am part of this forum, to learn by asking questions.
Are you saying the RG shocks are shorter then stock touring shocks? I installed the solow kit with the shocks that came on it.
Jfanton
Combined 2 up load is just over max. We are not the little people from younger days....LOL
I did air up the shocks as per past trips and rides, but only feels safe and right when Im solo riding. I have only had a Harley for 4 months now for what its worth. Thats why I am part of this forum, to learn by asking questions.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
RE: First 2up ride with lowered RG
I think Terry was thinking of the Street Glide which comes with lower factory shocks. Your bike is an '05, so I guess we can assume it has the stock shocks. Although, don't know if you bought it new or used.
I didn't mean any offense by asking how long you've been riding Harley's. It's just that if you have never owned a bike, or are coming from a Japanese touring bike, you might think that there is a problem when it could be normal. H-D has made many refinement's to their bikes over the years, but all in all, they are still very raw machines, comparatively speaking.
That being said, it sounds like you really feel there is a problem. If you bought the bike used, the previous owner may have put on the H-D low profile rear shocks, which I believe LOOK the same as the stock shocks. This combined with the Solow kit would lower the bike 2"-2 1/4", and with your combined "max" weight, could be a real problem. Don't have my manual with me so not sure what the max weight is. The belt should not need adjustment with just the Solow kit installed.
Again, no offense meant. Good luck in your quest...
I didn't mean any offense by asking how long you've been riding Harley's. It's just that if you have never owned a bike, or are coming from a Japanese touring bike, you might think that there is a problem when it could be normal. H-D has made many refinement's to their bikes over the years, but all in all, they are still very raw machines, comparatively speaking.
That being said, it sounds like you really feel there is a problem. If you bought the bike used, the previous owner may have put on the H-D low profile rear shocks, which I believe LOOK the same as the stock shocks. This combined with the Solow kit would lower the bike 2"-2 1/4", and with your combined "max" weight, could be a real problem. Don't have my manual with me so not sure what the max weight is. The belt should not need adjustment with just the Solow kit installed.
Again, no offense meant. Good luck in your quest...