Rigid Struts query

[Bizzkit]

Thinking of lowering the bike was going to go with shocks but have seen these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BILTWELL-B...#ht_2440wt_956

Question is how will it affect everything from ride to handling to comfort?
Never used or considered these before so what are your views?
Please bear in mind i would like the Burley slammers but cannot afford getting them over from US.

p.s when i do a search for strut/s it finds nothing, surely this has been discussed before?

Or what about the lowering kits? any good?

[racerwill]

well, it definitely hurts the handling but if you don't ride fast, it will be fine..... as far as comfort goes, it hurts that too but if you don't ride too far, it will be fine......some people don't mind the shock and vibes from struts but others end up with beat up internal organs

Ww

[Big Rob]

I looked at those and boughta set of ebay from a different company they were 39.95 made from chromemolly 10inches slammed the rearend on my 97 bike handles real well even at high speeds I ride all over fl dosent beat me up to much but i run mid controls so that helps and u learn to watch for rough patches of pavement all in all i suppose its as comfy as a cafe bared sporty gets for a 6 ft 275lbs man !

[jharback]

The problem with struts is that they don't flex the way a true hard tail does. So they don't really ride like a hard tail but, even worse. Some don't mind it but, don't think that it's similar to riding a hard tail frame. If you don't weigh 250 pounds and are just using the bike for a bar hopper you might not mind the struts.

[Bizzkit]

Cheers for the replies! Spoke to my local shop today, they reckon it can do damage to the mounts??!!
Are they trying to steer me to the expensive shocks??
I still like the idea, but they reckon (and i have had no chance to check) that the XL1200N has an 11" shock anyway but i was under the impression its a 13" shock.

I do ride fairly fast and sometimes i have to do some quick filtering and i do some Motorway (freeway?) at an average of 80 mph and the roads are pretty so i guess i am still undecided.

On a good note i can get a set of 28" drag bars for a good price but he says i should get risers but i want my bars low down and similar to clip ons.

[jharback]

Originally Posted by Bizzkit

On a good note i can get a set of 28" drag bars for a good price but he says i should get risers but i want my bars low down and similar to clip ons.

If you don't get the risers you'll end up with dents in your gas tank or you'll drastically restrict your turning radius. What size gas tank do you have? With a small tank you can move it rearward, if you have the right kind of seat, to allow room for the drag bars.

[Bizzkit]

Originally Posted by jharback

If you don't get the risers you'll end up with dents in your gas tank or you'll drastically restrict your turning radius. What size gas tank do you have? With a small tank you can move it rearward, if you have the right kind of seat, to allow room for the drag bars.

Standard Nightster tank, 12 litre? not the tiny 48 tank size.
Guess it depends on the pullback?

Seat wise i will be changing from the nightster seat to a sprung or a 48 style, am undecided as yet!

I heard that i will be okay with cables except brake line which may be too long.

[jharback]

Originally Posted by Bizzkit

Standard Nightster tank, 12 litre? not the tiny 48 tank size.
Guess it depends on the pullback?

Seat wise i will be changing from the nightster seat to a sprung or a 48 style, am undecided as yet!

I heard that i will be okay with cables except brake line which may be too long.

Actually the front brake line is usually the shortest one.

Normally with drag type bars the front brake reservoir is the item that will hit the tank first on a right hand turn. I think it has less to do with pull back and more to do with riser height.

[Big Rob]

i was thinkin about the drag bar thing or a stright type bar mounted low but ended up getting cafe bars from licks cycle werent to pricey like rsd bars were had to mount above the tripple trees though cause the bending sucked like i said before im 6ft 275 so bending over to tie my shoes sometimes ends up in a thrown out back lol !! on a sde note i had no issues with clearance with anything running the clip ons nor did i have cable length issues just had to re route them (to long) im runnin a 3.1 pandemonium choppers fuel tnk if any of that helps