Lowered 2001FLHTPI - Harley Forum

bullisw · #1 08-13-2008, 09:45 PM

I'm thinking of lowering the front & rear suspension on my 2001 FLHTPI cop bike 1 inch. If the whole bike is lowered will this effect the handling? If I change the front wheel to 18 " and leave the rear stock will this effect the handling? The bike is fast enough for me but I would like to improve the handling. I purchased the True Track kit but have not installed it yet.

clif02 · #2 08-13-2008, 10:22 PM

bullisw- My 01 Glide is dropped an inch front and rear with no ill effects on handling. My tires are stock size and I don't have a true track. From the accounts I've read in this forum and the article in AI mag when they put a true track on Buzz's bike it does indeed improve the handling. As long as you drop the front and rear equally the handling should not be negatively affected. I wouldn't go any more than that though...Clif

milindh · #3 08-13-2008, 10:47 PM

Stuff (like floorboards and pipes) will drag sooner. You'll also lose some suspension travel so your bike will bottom out sooner.

clif02 · #4 08-17-2008, 11:13 AM

I lost a little bit of suspension travel but overall it is negligable. Biggest problem is when riding two up. You go off a driveway with a steep angle and the rear of my pipes will drag. Never had an issue with the floorboards but I'm not super aggressive on the corners either. Clif

shovelmike · #5 08-17-2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clif02

I lost a little bit of suspension travel but overall it is negligable. Biggest problem is when riding two up. You go off a driveway with a steep angle and the rear of my pipes will drag. Never had an issue with the floorboards but I'm not super aggressive on the corners either. Clif

I have an "02 Ultra which has not been lowered. It is True-Track equipped. Riding 2 up, I have had the same difficulty with driveways. It has not been the pipes dragging, but the True-Track making contact. The bottom line is that lowering the suspension will intensify the probability of dragging pipes/ True-Track unit or both. Proceed with extreme caution please. I don't want to see you get hurt. Ride safe and God bless. Sincerely: Shovelmike.

bullisw · #6 10-13-2008, 03:34 PM

Thanks for all the feedback, I took a 2600 mile ride to Savannah, GA. and back via the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive on the return. The bike handled like it was on rails with the True Track on the twisties, the stretched bags touched down a couple time so I think I'll leave the stock height on the suspension. Great ride, I recommend it if you have the time, bring warm gloves, long johns and face protection. Every morning was in the low forties.

wideglidebill · #7 10-13-2008, 05:40 PM

you might try, if the problem is feet not completely on the ground,...peeling back the seat cover and taking a drywall rasp to the foam, sides and top since seats are so darn wide.

wideglidebill.

bullisw · #8 10-13-2008, 05:59 PM

Feet on the ground isn't a problem, I'm 6 foot tall and the seat is a C&C solo that puts my butt almost 2" closer to grade. I was looking for "cool" in a lowered ride, I'll do something with the tin work to get the look. Good idea with the seat though.