fxr lowering help...??

[speedkills]

im now to this forum.. but im doing a 93 fxr for my brother whos over in iraq and just have a few questions.. i wanna lower it.. now has anyone here have any experience cutting front forks if so how hard and involved is that? and how low can i go in the rear before running into problems with the rear fender..?

[Don Camillo]

Originally Posted by speedkills

im now to this forum.. but im doing a 93 fxr for my brother whos over in iraq and just have a few questions.. i wanna lower it.. now has anyone here have any experience cutting front forks if so how hard and involved is that? and how low can i go in the rear before running into problems with the rear fender..?

With Progressive Suspension lowering kit you can lower frond end by 2" - that should be enough (no cuting just replace/add springs). My FXRS was lowered about 2-3 " - no problems with fender (but lots of problems with turns).

[sconant]

I bought an '89 FXLR that was already lowered (2-3" front, probably same rear). They used shorter Koni shocks in the rear, about 11" between mounting hole centers. Tire doesn't hit over bumps. Suspension still works fine, though it was REAL tough getting the springs back in the shortened forks when I changed the fork oil. I guess they kept the stock springs? Also had to change the staggered duals to V&H short shots to avoid grounding out every right-hand turn... But they look and sound great.
Looks great, but you'll run into unintended consequences. Good luck!

[9192champs]

You definitely do not want to try cutting the front forks. If anything, you will want to use the spring kit as mentioned above, or simply get shorter fork tubes. I would leave the front alone, though. Get a set of shorter shocks from Progressive Suspension and see what you think. Search their website using your specific year/model... any of the lengths that come up should work fine. I doubt you will still feel the need to lower the front... the back makes MUCH more of a difference than the front does when lowering.

- Paul

P.S. - I have the 11" Progressive shocks on my '86 FXR (the shortest ones they make) and there are no clearance problems at all.

[pwmorris]

I have lowered my FXR's-Progressive Suspension works for the front and Works Performance shocks in the rear. Definitely gives the bike a lower stance but I would talk to your brother and make sure his riding style is not big on canyon carving or lots of hard cornering because it WILL scrape.
If you contact Works Perf, ask for Tom-he has FXR's and know the exact height, dimensions and dampening needs for your brothers bike.

[Unca Mike]

I second PW's advice. Lowered FXR's look cool but drag stuff w-a-a-y too easily. I speak from experience here. Not just canyon carving either. My FXR4 drags its $700 pipes if I just go around a city street right hander at a decent clip without babying it. That's no fun. This winter I'm going to modify my pipes's bends and front controls to get some more clearance. I'm going to try to avoid going to longer shocks if possible. My stock length FXR4 shocks are 12". I should have bought 13"ers which are stock on FXRP's and some others. If you can't go tearing around corners on your FXR You might as well get a Whatever Glide.

[hardluk1]

I bought a bike that had 11.5" shocks on the rear and just plane worn out front springs. Changed to stock works in the front and 12.5"hd shocks in the rear. There is not a lot of frontend travel with good stock springs. The bike ateast rides good now but i would not buy the heavy duty rears again and i am a 260lb rider. I do npt rub at this height and is still short. The front springs did make a big difference in ride control. Low looks cool but can also get you hurt.

[RattFXR]

As everyone said, lower the back first. You can lower the front without spending a dime, to see if it's what your looking for. Just loosen the trees and slide the tubes up an equal amount, till you get the desired look. Then lock the front brake and push on the front end to ensure you don't hit the sliders with the lower tree. You can ride the bike like this, but it will look a bit funny with the tube sticking out. You also might run into the handle bars, but not likely. I lowered mine and inch this way today, just to see it. But I carve lots of corners and ride it like a dirt bike, so I can use all the clearance I can get.

[Fartnokker]

Another caution about lowering... I have a 1988 FXRP that was slammed to the ground front & rear. The really expensive JayBrake forward controls are getting ground away on the right side every time I lean decently into a righthand turn. I love the low ride height, but I'm thinking of bringing the front end back up a bit for clearance in turns. I'm no canyon-carver anymore, but I do like to lean into a turn without fear of digging into the pavement and wiping out.

JMHO...

[plugeye]

if you must lower it, go the minimum, an inch or so.
my fxlr was stock height & i ground the pegs anyway.
i think the tall fxrs are best for riding, less scraping.
like everyone else said, either get 1" under shocks or a lowering kit for the back. the front should be left as is unless its the long forks.
might need to heat & bend the kickstand too.