Lowering the back end

[ochstephen]

Progressive 412's totally improved my XLH 883/1200 conv' no end...

BUT.. i've had to crop all the inside bolts (indicator stalks,sissy bar bolts) also the wiring got fouled (fu*ked the indicator and rear light, still isnt totally sorted)

I'm using Conti' tyres which may be wider than Stock or Avons.

something to bear in mind....

[MarlboroMan]

cheaper solution, let me sit on it for a week, dayum that will lower it rofl ;)

[Adam 105th sportster]

Ah yes something I found on fitting the Hagon rear coil overs. The spacers they provide are too wide. IMO there is not enough thread engagement especially on the bottom bolts (the chain guard side is even worse) and the top chrome 'eye' cover sits too far off the bike. I made 4 new ones 4mm thinner which work better. You can use a belt sander to take yours down as they are only ally or some emery paper on a piece of toughened glass to help keep it all straight.

[Bilbo]

Before:



After:




Close up:



They are much stiffer and nearly put my back out going over a 2p piece with the setting on medium, but the soft setting is pretty good one up.

I'm really happy with them and the riding position is better. These are 280mm and the originals were 330mm. No issues with fender clearance but it is not a standard rear fender. What do you think?

[Adam 105th sportster]

I think the new stance looks the dog's danglies mate. Now't looks good jacked up, cars or bikes. Slam it to the ground, it aint 1976!

[Squiz]

Do you realise that your tax disc is illegal on the right-hand side of your bike? Don't give the fookers an easy opportunity to pull you! It happened to me once.

[Bilbo]

Thanks Squiz. I'll move it over. Hope you're feeling better.

[Bilbo]

There must be some sort of bedding in required. The Hagon shocks feel much better now than they did when I first put them on.

Medium 2 up, or luggage, and soft 1 up is fine. The bike feels much more planted than it did before.

I also changed the fork oil to SE heavy (from Preston H-D) and that has stopped the front end patter, so all in all it is handling a lot better, although the rear ground clearance is obviously reduced.

[winty]

Im with Adam, I went with longer Hagon Customs too which were 1.5" longer than stock on my 2006 Sportster low.
Lowering will look grerat but you will compromise ride quality and ground clearance .
I havent managed to scrape an exhaust or footrest since fitting the Hagons, before it was all the time.

[Jon]

I just got my new Iron 883 few weeks ago, and against my own judgement, my very helpful sales rep at the dealer said to keep the stock 13"+ shocks because of bottoming out issues. But like some of you, I too hate the space between the wheel and rear fender. The US spec (11" shocks I think) looks helluva lot better riding ~2" lower 'specially with the chopped fender on the Iron 883 and Nightsters. Definitely a more slammed look without going full-on hardtail So alas I'm going to cave and take the compromise of style over performance (let's face it I didnt buy a Harley to race jap bikes at the traffic lights!!). Besides I will be doing city riding most of the time and I can always swap back my longer shocks for those longer (bumpy-er) road trips in the countryside in the summer.

I've already read quite a few posts on this forum about rear shocks. So I'm aware belt tension change is a potential concern. But silly question; no one seems to have mentioned having to replace the jiffy stand. Has anyone who's lowered their bike had any problems with their original jiffy stand being too long?? I only ask because I'm guessing they must sell different length jiffies for a reason and wondering if 2" lower would come with the headache of replacing the jiffy. And lastly, not asking for much detail, but is it generally a pain to replace the shocks (I'm very VERY green if you haven't already guessed by now heheh)? Or maybe worth buying one of those step-by-step manuals?

Cheerio!