Front Forks

[MPF1959]

Is it possible to simply bolt a set of thick forks and a wider wheel to a dyna frame? I have an FXDX and I truly hate the look of the skinny forks, OK it steers well, but lets face it if I was after steering I could look elsewhere and get much better handling at a far lower price!

Im thinking a Fatboy/Hritage style front end but with the RK wheel, as I hate spokes and solids.

Is it quite easy? and just a question of cash? Or is it a pain and better I buy a King anyway, as Im currently trying to do! This is a contingency plan in case Im lumbered with the FXDX!

[MPF1959]

Well 64 views no replies so next question, can anyone please reccommend a good place where I might be able find this type of info out?

[Tee]

Originally Posted by MPF1959

Well 64 views no replies so next question, can anyone please reccommend a good place where I might be able find this type of info out?

Yeah - look on the American HD forums or the technical forum of this site. Try a search for front end replacement and see what you get. You never know your luck - someone might have done exactly what you're asking for info on.

Myself, if I was looking to buy an RK, I wouldn't be bothering to change anything on my bike. I changed the front end on my FXSTBi for a set of inverted legs & yokes and it wasn't too much of a problem once I'd got the right tools together.

[dynalow]

Try Harley Davidson Forum - Enthusiast Forums for Harley Davidson Motorcycles

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by MPF1959

Well 64 views no replies so next question, can anyone please reccommend a good place where I might be able find this type of info out?

The few bikes I have seen with non-standard forks are all different, as no doubt were their respective owners' ambitions. So you are asking a question to which there is no simple answer.

Do you have an alternative set of Harley forks in mind, or forks from a different source? I have seen Jap forks, especially upside-down ones, on Harleys, but I suspect the owners had the skills and tools to make any necessary mods or new parts themselves.

If you can identify a more specific solution you may get a bit more help! In any event there is a wide variety of consequences to consider.

[chopper]

As said above anything is possible, i have put aftermarket softail style forks on a sporty, springers on loads of things and jap upside downs on different jap bikes etc. if you want an easy swap over then ideally you want a complete front end, forks yokes, wheel and brakes etc then just bolt the whole lot in. As long as the headstock bearings are the same size there is no reason why they wont fit.

Remember to take things like fork length and wheel size into your decision though and have a measure up before you get your wallet out. If you buy all original harley stuff you might as well just get a new bike! I would buy a nice set off beefy aftermarket harley forks personally.

[MPF1959]

Rightho chaps ta very much for the replies and I can see my post is a bit vague so:

Can I simply bolt a set of FL type forks (fatboy/heritage/rk/glide) to my bike? Is the spindle in the headstock the same size for instance? Is the length of the forks different? I would then use an FL size wheel and fender probably a fatboy fender, to beef the front end up and be rid of them weedy looking 39mm forks.

Other than buying a set of tech manuals for each bike I dont seem to be able to get the specs, but I asked here because someone might have already dont such a thing. I try the search on this site but dont have much success! :

[banquo]

Some stuff here.
I assume you have twin discs, so you need to use a wheel and fork lowers for twin discs, otherwise you need to make the backward step of going to a single disc, and changing the master cylinder to the smaller size.
The spec for the FXDX is a 28° rake, compared with 26° for the RK. Not sure if this is done by steering head angle or by the yokes, but likely to be an issue. You just need to look at the side-on photo of the FXD against the RK, and you can see how the front fender is tucked in close to the down tubes on the RK.
One reason you aren't finding anything on this, is that not many would choose an FXDX as the basis for a custom. It's considered one of the best handling and stopping Harleys in stock trim, and most would work on that to imporve performance still further. You'll find plenty of Lowriders with Wide-Glide front ends, and either fat or skinny wheels, but I've never seen or heard of anyone doing that to an FXDX. It's just an opinion, but personally, I think it would look pretty odd with a touring front end, unless you made significant and expensive balancing mods to the rest of it...
If it were me, and this was purely a cosmetic exercise, I'd trade it for a Road King. Just not worth the expense and hassle, even if the graft is more straightforward than it sounds...
IMHO of course.

[MPF1959]

I agree it's a very bad basis for a custom but that aint why I bought it 12 months ago, hindsight is always great and completely useless though aint it. Im actually trying to sell the blighter as we speak, but I sure as hell aint ready to give it away so Im thinking of a contingency plan in case I end up lumbered with it.

The bike rides great flies round corners ect ect, I just dont like the look of it. Also it's paid for and I dont want anymore finance as Im on 16 hrs a week currently, there are complications, but as allways it's generally just a lack of cash!

I could allways get a scally to nick it and burn it I spose!

[yorkshire_bloke]

Touring forks won't fit as the forklegs are behind the yoke stem and besides other isues will hit the tank. FL softails forks slightly in front of yoke stem and will hit tank unless you reduce fork lock. Wide Glide front end is a straight swap yoke wise, but will not take the tins from a fl softail. You will need extended forks for both the wide glide and fl softails and to keep twin front brakes will need fork bottoms from a fl tourer. The wheel you want to use is not a straight swap as roadking/tourers have 10" ctr/ctr fork legs and fl softails have 9.5" . Most of the above can be sorted if you have the time and equipment. The easy option is a front end from the likes of sjp who make a chunky front end for fxd's.
hope this helps
kev