So, I installed the Burnout Cycles Kit the other day and took it for a spin tonight. I made the mistake of not measuring where I was before I started so I have no idea how low I went. So, as I took off from my work area I slammed (hit frame) into the speed bump and figured well I guess I went too low! I went to do a u-turn and before I was even deep into it I scraped the he!! out of my kickstand on left hand side. When I drove back home I went over all of the speed bumps and as long I went over slow I didn't bottom out.

Am I too low or is my preload completely wrong? I have no idea what my preload is and don't have the spanner wrench to adjust it.

Thoughts? Should I try adjusting preload first or raise it first?

Also, can someone please give me a measurement to somewhere on their bike that is stock so I can measure mine to determine how much I lowered it? The burnout cycles kit is like 1/2" to 2-1/4", I tried to get the kit right in the middle, which would be approximatly 1-1/2", but I am not sure.

Please give me your thoughts.

 

diiulio, just try to adjust the height first. You may not need to adjust the preload. How much do you weigh and do you ride solo or two up?

 

I am 5'8", but a good 190-195lbs. Also, I have never ridden 2-up, but hopefully sooner or later my fiance will jump on.

I think the preload is completely adjusted one way, but I can't tell which way. How can you tell how it is adjusted?

 

Is this a new bike? Does it have the stock shocks? What model bike?

 

diiulio,
Even if the preload is low,you should still be fine if you adjust the height. Raise it up about 1/2". Make sure both shocks are adjusted the EXACT same turns. With your weight and solo you should be fine.

 

Oh yea, my bike is a 2000 fxsts (springer softail) that was completely stock, even has the oem dunlops on her. I bought her about a month ago. It rode completely fine before dropping her, but she just seemed like her a$$ was waving way too high in the air. I had a Road King before that was lowered in the rear and it rode a little stiffer, but not like this guy.

Anybody with measurements?

 

The factory position is 310mm from bottom of fender strut to center of wheel axle nut on TC frame (320mm on EVO frame). It can vary a couple of millimeters from bike to bike but the main thing is to make sure the swingarm above the rear footpeg is perfectly over the frame i.e. you cannot see the section of the frame behind the swingarm. Hope it makes sense, I've included a couple of photos (sorry about the quality, taken with cell phone).


310mm from bottom of strut to center of axle


in standard position the frame should be behind the swingarm

I have a White Brothers lowering kit fitted on mine but haven't lowered it as yet as I'm enjoying going around corners too much. My previous bike (Heritage) was lowered 2 1/4 inches and it looked **** hot but the handling around corners and bumps was compromised.


heritage lowered

I'll lower my standard '05 over the next couple of weeks and send in the pics but the way we ride I'll have to rise it again before going on a long run .

 

I rode the bike in to work today. Very rough ride, flush railroad tracks that I never noticed before made me hit my teeth together. Majority of turns I could drag the bike through.

Reino, based on your measurement for stock, I lowered mine 49.65mm or 1.95 inches. I measured my distance from center of axle to bottom of strut and came out with 10-1/4" = 260.35mm.

I think I will try raising it inch and see what that does. I will also need to determine where I am with preload.

 

Jason, I'm roughly about your height and weight and for the preload I had mine set up between one to 1 1/2 turns to the right (looking at the shock from the front on) was about the best I could get. Mind you this was in the mid '90s so I cannot remember exactly but just have to play around with it. A friend of mine has his lowered one inch and it looks good and rides well.