11" shocks with rider on 01 883?

[admin]

Want to lower the back end of my 2001 sportster 883 xlh,Would like to got to 11" shocks my wife rides with me often will i have clearance issues if so can anyone recommend a better option?

Posted by: hdrider on May 31, 06 3:15:59 pm

[admin]

You might want to lower the front end the same and keep the weight ratio front-to-back the same, otherwise you're shifting a lot of weight to the back all the time, especially taking off and in corners.
Get some good shocks, like Progressives that will take a better weight load. I have an '01 883 XLC and the stock shocks were cranked to their stiffest and the shocks would still bottom out. So don't go cheap on the new shocks. Like one of the recent columns said - It's the frequent passenger that's going to determine a lot of what goes on that bike (not to mention what life at home is going to be like).

Posted by: Majicbringer on May 31, 06 4:06:31 pm

[admin]

Maj is right progressive is the way to go even though there are other quality shocks out there. I went with the 412's on my 97 Dyna. Just remember there are two types, standard and heavy duty. If you ride two up most of the time you have to go with the heavy duty ones. Also before i purchased them i spoke to a tech at progressive because i was looking to lower the back end. As long as you don't lower it any more than one inch there's no need two lower the front end and your handling will be slightly improved. Now if you have twelve inch shocks you don't want to purchase eleven inch shocks because if you take into consideration the angle of the shocks you actually wind up lowering your bike more than an inch, ie my bike came stock with twelve and five eighths inch eye to eye and the shocks i purchased were twelve inches eye to eye. Now you would think that i would have dropped my bike only five eighths of an inch but actually because of the angle of the shocks it was dropped about 9.52 inches.

Posted by: mtyevo on May 31, 06 7:56:10 pm

[admin]

OOPS i meant .952 inches. The decimal point makes a big difference!

Posted by: mtyevo on May 31, 06 7:58:46 pm

[admin]

If I hot lotto I'd be getting Progressiv's I.A.S. shocks, but even their 412's (their starting point) are 10X better than HD's stock shocks.

Posted by: Majicbringer on May 31, 06 11:06:20 pm

[admin]

Another thing to check is drop your rear wheel a little and
make sure you don't have any wires running along the top
inside of the fender. If so, move them to the side.
Don't ask me how I know that.

Posted by: maddog on Aug 5, 06 5:54:26 am

[admin]

madddog i got your drift!

Posted by: mtyevo on Aug 5, 06 6:32:13 pm