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Author Topic: Softail Lowered 1" Worth the Effort?  (Read 1248 times)

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ltank

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    • CVO1: 2000 FXR4 S&S V111, CustomS.S. 2-1 exhaust, Primo-Rivera OD 6 speed, 49mm Custom Front End Ohlins 30mm Fork cartridges , Hyperpro Shocks, Barnett Scorpian Clutch
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Softail Lowered 1" Worth the Effort?
« on: February 21, 2017, 09:28:37 AM »
I bought a Midwest 5-140 lowering kit to lower the bike one inch.
It is well made of S.S. with brass bushings. Is lowering the Bike one inch worth the effort?  I read that 1.25" is about max for every day use high mileage Bikes. Does anyone have any before / after pics of their bikes lowered 1" ? Thanks
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coloradotom

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Re: Softail Lowered 1" Worth the Effort?
« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2017, 09:47:29 AM »
I don't have any before/after pics but I did this to my old FatBoy and put 75k on it while lowered. Cons - it scrapes a lot and bottoms out a lot more. The turning radius is reduced since it'll scrape so easy. Pros - It looks really good. And if you aren't tall the saddle is nice and low.

If you do it, make sure you grab a kickstand for the 1" lowered setup too.
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ltank

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    • LA

    • CVO1: 2000 FXR4 S&S V111, CustomS.S. 2-1 exhaust, Primo-Rivera OD 6 speed, 49mm Custom Front End Ohlins 30mm Fork cartridges , Hyperpro Shocks, Barnett Scorpian Clutch
    • CVO2: 1983 88" Shovelhead Won the World of Wheels 1985 Sept 85 Issue of Hot Bike Mag
    • CVO3: 1989 FXRS, 1990 Custom 100" Shovelhead/ EVO
Re: Softail Lowered 1" Worth the Effort?
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2017, 10:47:17 AM »
Will the rear drive belt get tighter and slack off on the tension?
Will I have to increase shock preload?
I turn the plate with holes clockwise to increase?
Bike should be jacked with rear wheel off ground?
Thanks
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ltank

  • 1K CVO Member
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    • LA

    • CVO1: 2000 FXR4 S&S V111, CustomS.S. 2-1 exhaust, Primo-Rivera OD 6 speed, 49mm Custom Front End Ohlins 30mm Fork cartridges , Hyperpro Shocks, Barnett Scorpian Clutch
    • CVO2: 1983 88" Shovelhead Won the World of Wheels 1985 Sept 85 Issue of Hot Bike Mag
    • CVO3: 1989 FXRS, 1990 Custom 100" Shovelhead/ EVO
Re: Softail Lowered 1" Worth the Effort?
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2017, 10:50:17 PM »
The shock lowering kit is installed.  But Man what a Bitch compressing the shocks to remove the wire clip. 1" lowered bike worked well for my son's short legs. Both feet firmly on the ground.
This still gives him 2.5" of shock travel. If bike was lowered 2" then he would only have had 1.5" of travel.  Witch one would you rather ride on a bumpy road?
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