Hi SurforChop great looking bike you have there, i have a 2002 FXD with the 28* neck is this a good candidate bike, i now have all the parts to do this fatboy front end, but unsure if the fender would be too close to the frame downtubes when hitting a bump and the forks compress. I have a softail front end on there now, could i reuse the fork tubes even though they are about 2 inches longer, i could install a 2 inch lowering kit or buy longer cow bells.

THX

 

Rob:

The Softail Heritage fender will risk bottoming on the frame ... my original fender got a crease across the '11 o'clock' position from hitting my engine guard/highway bar ... also the extreme lower edge of the fender skirt got pushed in a little from making contact with the voltage regulator ...

I was using the stock FLST_ (Fat Boy/Heritage/Deluxe) forks ... that was my motivation to upgrade the forks with the Race Tech Gold Valve cartridge emulators and specific-use (in my case 95kg) springs and some further fine tuning with fork oil level and gold valve spring adjustments ...

Since upgrading the front forks, I haven't had any issues with the stock-length forks or clearance of the fender ...

I think that having the 2" over length fork tubes would also work ... I know that there are over-length cow bells available ... I explored that as an option originally ...

I think with a Wide Glide as a starting platform (having a slightly greater rake) there is no issue ... but, when one adapts the FL front end to the rest of the Dyna line up, it is a valid concern ...

R/
'Chop

 

looks good..

 

THx for the reply Chop, great info, guess i will stick with the longer fork tubes and get longer cow bells, would be cheaper for me that way.

rob

 

Hey SURFOR Chop awesome job on your front end...love the fat tire look! I have been thinking off and on of going for a bigger tire for my Streetbob. Again awesome job!!