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Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
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Old 10-23-2009, 10:19 PM
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Exclamation Switch Shocks to Ridgid Struts on occasion?????

Man, I love the lower old school look of Ridgid Struts on the back and would do mine in a heart beat BUTTTTTTTT I got a female that likes to ride every now and then! So, anybody know If you could change out the suspension easily back and forth every several days or so???? I mean will it hurt anything or be too big of a pain in the a$$? I'm thinkin jack, the torx's and about 10 minutes uh?
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Old 10-23-2009, 10:22 PM
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sure and why not?
just be sure you belt tension is correct and you have enough tire to fender clearance when you slam that sled.
roll on
-L
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Old 10-23-2009, 10:25 PM
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Yeah I dont wanna slam it cause I'm a bigger guy but I do wanna get that thang sittin pretty sexy type lol And I was thinkin the old lady wants to ride, Get the jack, give me 10 minutes and BAMNNNN the shock are back on!!
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Old 10-23-2009, 11:50 PM
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I have been doing this same thing on my 2007 XL883 for almost two years now. I normally run the struts, but I throw on the original shocks when I have to for a passenger that asks for them. You always want to please the little ladys you know! Bolt on those struts and ride safe!
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Old 10-24-2009, 03:34 AM
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Hell yeah! And your sig pic, the one on the left is one tall drink of water!!! Lol legs are a mile long
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Old 10-24-2009, 03:44 AM
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Yeah, She was very good looking but she was one cold assed Ice Princess, if you know what I mean. The girl in the middle was playing footsy with me all through the photo shoot. Even asked me for a ride after the shoot was over. Now, what’s a guy to do? On that XLCR, she had to just about lay all over my back just to stay on the thing. Fun day for me for sure!
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Old 10-24-2009, 04:37 AM
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Belt Tension??? I thought that the Struts could be just put On without thinking about Belt Tension Why is this???
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Old 10-24-2009, 06:04 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 3737pisces View Post
Belt Tension??? I thought that the Struts could be just put On without thinking about Belt Tension Why is this???
Struts themselves aren't why the belt loosens when installed.

It's because they (usually) lower the bike quite a bit and since the swing arm is a lever, the distance between the rear belt pulley and front belt pulley lessens causing a loose belt.

Lifting or raising the bike's suspension will cause the opposite possibly requiring you to loosen the belt.
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Old 10-25-2009, 09:21 PM
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you're absolutely right, mreed - thanks for that.
another benefit to the struts is that you'll eliminate the unsprung weight factor so that the thrust of your bike will be shifted to the road a lot quicker. in other words, the bike won't "squat" before the power trasfers from the wheel to the road. what a blast! (just watch out for pot holes and speed bumps).
roll on
-L
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Old 10-25-2009, 10:53 PM
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I have a buell xb12r that has a tensioner pulley...is it similar on the nightster?

Also, somewhat along the lines of this thread (and I already asked this in another but have heard nothing back), are there any improvements other than looks and style (and the aforementioned elimination of unsprung weight) when going to struts? Is the ride quality all that different on a bike that has struts and a springer seat from a bike with stock shocks and stock seat? Seems like a lot of people complain about the stock setup in the first place, how much worse could it get?
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change, harley, motorcycle, nightster, pictures, rear, shock, shocks, slim, sportster, sportsters, struts, suspension


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