Lowering '85 FXRT : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

davidj92 · 08-08-2008, 05:53 PM

Trying to help a friend who's short lower his '85 FXRT. It's got 11" shocks on rear and he needs another 1" to 2", I think there's enough clearance to get him 1", not sure about 2".
Anyone know of a lowering kit for this bike?
What affect on the seat heighth will lowering the front 2"?
Any suggestions welcome.
Thanks,
Dave

hardluk1 · 08-08-2008, 07:35 PM

Contact Works Performance suspension for a frontend lowering kit . Might get one more inch . How about the seat?? Narow up the front and shave down some material,check with local automotive interior. Does this person have to lean to the handelbars,if so move forword in the seat and lowerd with a narrow front you can reach the ground. Maybe change seat? whats onit and how tall is the rider and inseam. My wife is 5'-1 and can flat foot my fxr with the one peice junk seat that was on it when i bought it. Its the hd real low one that just follows with the bike. Even with the 11" shocks it has damd near no travel in the rear now. Maybe some engineer's boot ,they have a 2" heal to help.

ClassicRider · 08-09-2008, 04:50 AM

davidj92,

You might pass along this information to your friend so he can take a peek at some of the History Of The FXR....

click, view, and read:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.p...ic=25417.0;all

If I were him I would look at the part numbers for his front forks....I BELIEVE they are actually "perhaps" longer than say some other forks that were also used on the FXRs. There are a couple of things to consider here, not until 1988 were all the models using 39mm forks prior to 1988 [except for the 1987 FXRS LOW RIDER SPORT EDITION & THE 1987 FXLR LOW RIDER CUSTOM WHICH EACH HAD 39mm FORKS] so your buddies 1985 FXRT if it's still remains as a stock bike is "sporting" or "using" 35mm forks....so I would compare part numbers for the 1984 - 1987 years comparing the 35mm forks that he has...once you can determine the length of his current front forks then you could always have him take a peek at the years of 1988-1994 for front fork lengths which are 39mm. 39mm forks would provide more stability of course as well as more dampening.....so what I am saying is he needs to not only consider the length of shocks he is using but also the length of front forks he is working with. Here is the problem he "may" have....remember the FXRT if he is using it as intended has the capacity to carry loads ie: fiberglass saddlebags as well as the rear fiberglass luggage carrrier....thus reducing his shocks to accommodate his need for a "lower" bike may be unfortunately taking him down an undesirable path for the way that bike is intended to function. Here is another thought the lowest of the FXR's would be to sit on a CVO 1999 FXR2 with it's "OEM" seat would afford him the 'lowest" sitting arrangement possible....if he can acquire access to sitting on such a bike then perhaps he would know whether the size of such a bike was more suited to him before taking such a path to lower his bike....Remember the WHOLE intent of the FXRT bike is to be up a bit "higher" to function as it was intended to be able to handle the curves a bit more aggressively ie: as it was called the 1985 FXRT "Sport Glide".

You definitely don't want to see him go below an 11" shock.....that wouldn't be good....because of the lack of "dampening" affect of such a "limiting" designed shock....the rider is better off keeping the bike "taller" and getting some larger heeled boots to get another 1" in height....I would of course concentrate on a lower seat.....I am not sure if a "Badlander" seat that fits on an FXR2 would also fit on the 1985 FXR, it won't feature a "hinged" set up I can tell you that....but it will offer a much "lower profile" seat but also perhaps at the expense of some "comfort".

Regards,

"Classic:

jduffy01 · 08-10-2008, 11:41 PM

i have custom 10 3/4 shocks on my 92. you cant go much lower cause you dont have enuff clearance between the belt and primary. yours may be diff if it has a shovel or chain drive, im not sure on those. on mine i could run 10 inch struts cause there would be no belt movement to worry about but my back is more important than that 3/4 of an inch. i have bagger air shocks custom cut to 10 3/4 and it rides like a caddy. i also have a wide glide with a rake and stock length tubes so its lower up front also.

davidj92 · 08-11-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardluk1

Contact Works Performance suspension for a frontend lowering kit . Might get one more inch . How about the seat?? Narow up the front and shave down some material,check with local automotive interior. Does this person have to lean to the handelbars,if so move forword in the seat and lowerd with a narrow front you can reach the ground. Maybe change seat? whats onit and how tall is the rider and inseam. My wife is 5'-1 and can flat foot my fxr with the one peice junk seat that was on it when i bought it. Its the hd real low one that just follows with the bike. Even with the 11" shocks it has damd near no travel in the rear now. Maybe some engineer's boot ,they have a 2" heal to help.

He was having trouble reaching the bars as well, switched to buckhorn pullback bars and now that's gone. Not sure his exact height but he's almost as wide as he is tall so I'm sure that's part of the limitations. He bought a pair of Harley boots, I talked to him this morning about getting a thicker sole added at a shoe repair, that might be the way he goes.
Dave

Milehog · 08-11-2008, 01:49 PM

Yer on the right track. Doing the thick soled boots and modified seat thing first is smart. The suspension won't have to be compromised so much afterwards.

davidj92 · 08-11-2008, 01:53 PM

Classic,

Thanks for the link, it's interesting reading. I've got a '95 Superglide and found some info in there on my bike I didn't know.
I'll check out the front forks, might be able to find a used set for reasonable dollars. Do you know if the front forks from newer FX's are a bolt-on on the '84?
I'll also look at the seat, he's got an aftermarket but there might be something a little thinner or, like you said, might be able to chop his down a bit.
Thanks,
Dave

davidj92 · 08-11-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jduffy01

i have custom 10 3/4 shocks on my 92. you cant go much lower cause you dont have enuff clearance between the belt and primary. yours may be diff if it has a shovel or chain drive, im not sure on those. on mine i could run 10 inch struts cause there would be no belt movement to worry about but my back is more important than that 3/4 of an inch. i have bagger air shocks custom cut to 10 3/4 and it rides like a caddy. i also have a wide glide with a rake and stock length tubes so its lower up front also.

Thanks for the tip, I'll look at air shocks and the 39mm front forks.
Dave

davidj92 · 08-11-2008, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milehog

Yer on the right track. Doing the thick soled boots and modified seat thing first is smart. The suspension won't have to be compromised so much afterwards.

I agree, he's so top-heavy on the bike also I'm afraid he'll be past his riding limits if we change the handling much more.
Dave

hardluk1 · 08-11-2008, 02:55 PM

The front on my 86' fxrc is 22 1/4 streached and 20 1/4 setting on the side stand from the center of the axle to the bottom of the lower tree. It's a 35mm , Probably the same size check his and see what it is.