Wife says, "Lower it"

[MidWest XL]

I am a proud new owner of my first Harley, an '03 1200 Custom (brilliant silver over vivid black) with only 100 miles. My wife was talking with a co-worker who used to teach one of the Motorcycle Training Courses out here, who drives a Fatboy, by the way. As the conversation went on, she helped relieve some of my wife's anxiety over me owning this beautiful bike after being off a bike for over 20 years. I plan on taking the course in March or April. Anyway, back to the subject. After the woman found out what Harley I had she told my wife that they aren't the most "stable" Harley out there because their center of gravity is higher. She went on to say that this bike is one of the taller models. So I suggest that there are lowering kits out there that are fairly easy to install or have installed. She says I should definitely do it and I really like the look of the lowered Sportsters I've seen in some of the pics here.
I'd like to lower the rear and the front at the same time. I've read posts about the Progressive 412s for the rear and the White Bros. or Progressive 2" fork lowering kit. I'm 5'-10" and weigh in at 180. I'd like to get feedback and or comments before I make the purchase.

Thanks in advance.

[Wardog]

I am 5t 10 in and I have a 04 1200 C and the center of gravity is higher than my previous bike a Honda Spirit 750. I did not have to lower the bike once I got used to the difference. You should take the course and try the bike first before you expend the dollars to lower the bike. If you can flat foot the bike at a stand then you may not need to lower it. Also any bike at a slow enough speed (parking lot manuvers) will feel top heavy.

As a disclaimer I am not an expert on motorcycles only dogs.

[klown]

I am 5t 10 in and I have a 04 1200 C and the center of gravity is higher than my previous bike a Honda Spirit 750. I did not have to lower the bike once I got used to the difference. You should take the course and try the bike first before you expend the dollars to lower the bike. If you can flat foot the bike at a stand then you may not need to lower it. Also any bike at a slow enough speed (parking lot manuvers) will feel top heavy.

As a disclaimer I am not an expert on motorcycles only dogs.


I agree, 5'10" should be plenty tall enough, unless you are jsut going for the looks, you should not lower it.

[missyd]

I would never lower a bike only for the looks! :smoke

[MidWest XL]

I do like the look. I was just at a local dealership to get a feel for the drag bars. Previous owner had replaced them with the stock style bars. They had an '03 1200C with the drag bars and I wanted to sit & compare the 2. I noticed that I will be stretched further forward some, but I just like the look of those too. I suppose it's an individual thing - You get what you like and you don't worry about it.
The dealer did say he wouldn't lower it any. The customs all come about an inch lower than the standard models in '03. Problems with scraping on speed bumps, stiffer ride, etc. They had it sitting next to an '05 883. Those things sit low as hell, I think 26" ride height now! Does anyone know the ride height of the '03 1200 Customs?

[Shu]

I have lowered my customn one inch in the rear and getting ready to go 2.5 inches up front. My brother has a custom as well and he has already completed the loweing and I love the way his looks. I am 5' 11" and weigh about 190 and his rides just perfect. Ground clearance is not the greatest, but as long as you always keep it in mind, you can approach tighter situations differently and you'll be just fine. We both went with the White Brothers (now Bully) 1 inch lower kits on the rear because of cost and he went with the Progressive front kit (which is the one I am going with as well). A couple of tips....get the HD fork fluid instead of the regular stuff and two don't forget the lower kickstand.

[MidWest XL]

Thanks for the info, Shu. 2.5 inches up front sounds like a lot. I'm kind of anxious to see how it would look.
Did you do the installs yourself?
Do you have any pics of yours & your brothers?

[toe]

I wouldn't lower the rear.

You can cheaply (as in free) lower the front an additional .5" to .75" buy slipping the fork tubes up the triple trees.

[ESCOBAR]

<----------------------------2 in the front and 2 in the rear!


:yikes ESCO :yikes

[fleiszpelz]

i've lowered my "espresso glide" 2" in front and 2" in the rear. there exists a rather good rear lowering kit from white brothers, which is just a bracket and a srew on each side, that brings the rear shocks a little bit backwards and souch the rear end of the bike about 1 inch lower. this makes sense, becouse the shocks can be longer this way.
what you by with lowering your bike is:
1. you need a new side stand, which is shorter,
2. you need to be very slow when you turn right, otherwise the muffler will scratch. (that's the reason for my selfmade exhaust pipe)
3. your fenders will look like the too big suit of your big brother

i like the look of lowered bikes, but it is much work to get them fast and nice

so:
go on lowering it!!!


-please excuse my english :D -

[MidWest XL]

My stock rear shock length is 11.5". Does lowering the front a couple of inches and leaving he rear where it is work? Will this adversely effect the bikes handling characteristics?

[bubbahog]

Lower it for the looks, but don't lower it for stability. Once you're above parking lot speeds, it's not going to matter.

[Shu]

Thanks for the info, Shu. 2.5 inches up front sounds like a lot. I'm kind of anxious to see how it would look.
Did you do the installs yourself?
Do you have any pics of yours & your brothers?

I'm trying to add the pictures to my gallery on here right now, but am having some problems with the total size limitations of my gallery. If you send me a PM with your email address, I could just email them to you.

[fleiszpelz]

My stock rear shock length is 11.5". Does lowering the front a couple of inches and leaving he rear where it is work? Will this adversely effect the bikes handling characteristics?

if you lower it just in the back, it will run straight more stable.
if you rise it in back, it will be easier in corners.
if you lower it in front and back, you did not really change the setup.
the only thing you've changed is: it will feel harder, more direct, and so you can go faster, because you feel the road better

mine is lowered in back and front, but not to make it stable. it's just for the look of the bike.

http://galerie.sr500.de/albums/userpics/10175/espresso_glide_2004_12_31.JPG

[Shu]

My stock rear shock length is 11.5". Does lowering the front a couple of inches and leaving he rear where it is work? Will this adversely effect the bikes handling characteristics?


Lowering the front of a custom by two inches turns it into a "hugger", that is exactly what HD did to make the "hugger". You will nbeed to get a kickstand off a hugger or even one off a 2004 or later bike.