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[diverchuck]

I am looking to lower my 2014 SERK an inch or two.  I'm 5'9" and I don't sit flat footed.  Plus I just like to be a little lower.  Anyone lowered their SERK?  I looked at Progressive 444 shocks but that will only give me about a half an inch.  Too much $$ for that little bit.  Any suggestions?

[Midnight Rider]

This is has been discussed at length here...If I'm not mistaken (and I'm not sure about the '14 models), the back of your bike is already lowered 1".  I would NOT lower it more than that. The front end is "normal" height...again, if I'm not mistaken.  You could lower it an inch by installing different fork components, such as Progressive Monotubes, Ohlins, Traxxion Dynamics, etc.

As has been suggested many time here, you might try modifying the nose of the seat to make it a bit narrower so that your legs are a bit closer together, and you might also buy a pair of boots with really thick soles.

If you start lowering any HD more than one inch from stock, you are asking for 1) A bad ride quality  2) dragging hard parts in curves...enough so that you could easily lever the rear wheel off the ground in a sharp curve.  Not a good thing.

Of course, if you want the best of all worlds, there is always the option of installing Legend Air Ride rear shocks...you can drop the rear end up to 3.25 inches when needed, and since they have an on board compressor with a handlebar switch, they are infinitely adjustable at any time.  Just don't ride with them all the way down or it'll be like an old hardtail.  With a 28" inseam, I have installed them on two different CVO touring bikes I've owned.  But they ain't cheap...

[DICKW]

  But they ain't cheap...

Nope

[grc]

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=96497.0

Lowering the suspension should be the last resort, not the first.  You will give up ground clearance, cornering clearance, and ride quality.  As previously noted, the rear of your bike is already lowered 1" from the factory.

As for the Legends or similar air ride systems, they are an expensive option that can work if you don't mind constantly lowering for stops, raising back up for actual riding, lowering again for stops, etc..  And I've heard just as many negative reviews as positive reviews when it comes to actual ride quality.  I'd suggest trying a bike that's already equipped with the air ride system first to make sure you will like it, before springing for one yourself.

Seat and boots are the best answer IMHO.

Jerry

[casbar]

Not much help, but I am 5ft 8 and I can flat foot my 14 CVO RK no problem. Maybe try some air shocks on the rear. Think Shotgun shocks now do a touring setup, had them on my Heritage and they worked well

[Mandrew13]

I had a bit of a disappointing day yesterday.  First, I managed to negotiate a pretty good deal for a 2014 Road King CVO.  I took it for a test ride and then spent about an hour and a half talking to the parts department about options to help get my feet flat on the ground.  We put different seats on the bike.  The reach and super reach seats brought me closer to the bars, but they didn't help very much vertically.  Even if we install the premium ride lower front shocks, I'll still need a little more help- so I decided to hold off on finalizing the deal until I'm certain I have a safe and confident solution. 
I will not ride two up.  Even with me and the bike fully loaded and ready for a trip, I will stay below 180 pounds.
The stock ground clearance of a road king CVO is higher than a Streetglide (5.3 versus 4.9 inches) and matches ground clearance for a Limited.  Ground clearance on the Limited Low is 4.6 inches.  Installing something like Progressive's 944 Ultra-Touring Low (and a different seat) would get me closer to solid footing, but would take the ground clearance about a quarter inch lower than the Ultra-Limited Low.  Given that the road king's ground clearance is on the tall side, it seems like there is some room for lowering, but are the available options too risky?
Thanks. 


 

[speeder]

The 14 CVO RK already comes with the premium cartridge lowered front suspension and the 12" premium shocks. The RK seat is quite wide so it sits up higher. You need a narrower width seat and especially at the nose.

[wachuko]

5'9" and not flat footed?!  You must be all upper body man or sitting on the passenger seat ... I am 5'7" and the RK CVO works like a charm for me.  I don't even have to mess with the stock windshield as it routes the air perfectly for my height.