| Even though American V-Twin and custom | | | | a swingarm motorcycle frame was to cut the coils |
| motorcycle frame manufacturers spend millions of | | | | from the springs of the stock shocks. This really isn't |
| dollars on engineering and research to set up their | | | | the best approach to getting your bike lowered |
| products for the best handling characteristics and rider | | | | because you're just asking for all kinds of problems |
| friendly positions, many owners still want their bikes to | | | | along with the high probability of a suspension failure. |
| sit a little lower. There are a lot of reasons for doing | | | | If you own a Softail chassis motorcycle, to lower the |
| this ranging from supposedly easier handling, to just | | | | bike the shocks need to be extended rather than |
| giving their bike the "slammed" look. And some folks, if | | | | compressed because the Softail rear suspension |
| they are short legged, do it to make it easier to have | | | | works by the shocks extending to pivot the swingarm. |
| their feet touch the ground. | | | | If you lengthen the stock shock, the swingarm will be in |
| Without question, the lowest bike that you can put on | | | | a slightly dropped position. Again, there are aftermarket |
| the road that requires no chassis modifications is the | | | | lowering kits and shocks for these style motorcycles, |
| rigid frame style. And because there is absolutely no | | | | with some of them being adjustable so you can set |
| suspension on this setup, you will have a low riding | | | | your suspension up for different types of riding |
| motorcycle, but riding comfort will be sacrificed foe | | | | situations. In fact, there are some "air-adjustable" |
| that low riding position. | | | | suspension products that seem to work very good for |
| The most common types of frame suspension setups | | | | riders who like to change riding heights on a regular |
| American V-Twin manufacturers use on their | | | | basis. |
| production line of motorcycles are the Swingarm and | | | | Once you have your bike lowered to where you feel |
| Softail type. | | | | comfortable with it, check all of the applicable |
| With the Swingarm style frame, the more preferred | | | | clearances carefully. Things like fender to swingarm |
| method of lowering the motorcycle is to replace the | | | | clearance, belt to inner primary, tire to fender and tire |
| OEM shocks with a set of aftermarket ones that | | | | sidewall to fender. Keep in mind that your bike is going |
| have a shorter center-to-center distance than the | | | | to have a whole new personality compared to the |
| stock setup. There are several aftermarket custom | | | | factory setup. |
| motorcycle parts companies that manufacturer and | | | | For example, the headlight is going to shine where it |
| sell these shorter style shocks for all the different | | | | shouldn't, so you'll need to make an adjustment on it. |
| models and usually when you buy a set they will come | | | | One of the most important things you need to check is |
| as a "kit" meaning that along with the new shocks, | | | | the rear belt adjustment. When you lower rear |
| new bushings, springs and mounting hardware are also | | | | swingarms to different angles, it will change how the |
| included. | | | | rear belt rides and depending on what model you own, |
| There are also a couple of other ways to lower the | | | | it could get too loose or too tight. |
| rear of a Swingarm frame motorcycle without having | | | | One other thing to watch out for after you lower your |
| to replace the stock suspension. A lowering kit can be | | | | motorcycle is the kickstand. When you put your bike |
| installed which will drop the bike by moving the bottom | | | | down on the kickstand after you've modified the |
| of the shock further to the back which in turn allows | | | | suspension, it may look like it's going to fall over so you |
| the swingarm to sit at a greater angle. If you decide to | | | | might want to think about replacing the stock kickstand |
| use a lowering kit, make sure it is designed for the | | | | with a new one that will take care of that problem! |
| year and model of motorcycle you're riding. Don't let | | | | Just remember, with your motorcycle sitting lower, you |
| anyone tell one size fits all because it doesn't. A good | | | | may have to change your riding style as well as the |
| rule of thumb to follow if you are considering lowering | | | | places where you ride and don't overlook the fact that |
| your motorcycle is try not to go any lower than 1" | | | | a new seat might do the trick for you instead of even |
| from your stock setup. | | | | messing around with the bikes suspension. |
| Another method that's been used in the past to lower | | | | |