I am considering a 21 inch front wheel for my streetglide and was wondering if I needed to lower the front after the install. I hear people talking about a lowering kit, 1 to 1 1/2 inch, for the front forks. I thought that the streetglide was already lowered from the factory and if so is it still possible / neededto lower even farther?

 

I can't even fathom lowering the front end on my SG any lower than stock.

I've already dinged the hell outta my fender when I stupidly mounted a ride bell under the bottom triple tree.

I guess the bell worked though. Musta caught a road gremlin as he was making his way up the bike, caught him, and threw him back down. Hence the ding in the fender. =)

 

The rear end is the only part of an flhx that is lowered the front isnt.I suggest that you do lower the front end. The reason is the bike becomes top heavy and harder to manuver at slow speeds. By lowering it it seems to correct that problem. with the 21in tire and the bike lowered i feel that my bike handles as good or better than new. part could be due to the metzler tires. I dont feel that i lost any comfort.

[IMG]local://upfiles/21463/3ED587BBE66D44E8AA285B907767AB20.jpg[/IMG]

 

No need to lower the front end. 21 does make the bike a little top heavy but you will get use to it after a week of riding.

 

The dia. increase from the 16 to the 21 with rubber is 1.500" your bike will sit .750" higher in the front with the 21. Ilowered my front end 2" but that is only the equivilant of 1.250". Hope this helps.

Greg

 

I went down 1 3/4" on my EG. Handles great, plus the bikes looks level. If you were to measure it at the bottom of the frame, we're talking 1/8" higher in front......can'ttell. I did use a heavier viscosity fork oil as well so I don't get the dive when the brakes are applied hard. Was told it may ride a little rougher, but if it does, it's minimal.

 

What kind of kit did you use to lower 1 3/4"?

 

When I bought the bike, the front end had already been lowered 1 inch. When I dissambled the forks to get them chromed, theyhad a 1 inch spacer, as well as 2, 1/8"thick washers inside the tubes on top of the shortersprings. I left the washers out, and fabricated a new spacer which in turn dropped it another 3/4".

 

I fully understand that the 21" wheel makes the bike look a bit more custom and that, but other than the asthetics does changing the front wheel to a 21" do anything positive for the handeling? I know on the highway I like the 16" front on my SG much better than the 21" on my Deuce. I dont know why....but the 21" feels like it wants to follow the lines and cracks way more than the 16", and the 16" just feels way more stable at high speed??? Both are balanced and I get no vibration or anything....its just I dont like the way the 21" tracks at speeds over 85 MPH.

 

The reason your 16 tracks better than your 21 has nothing to do with diameter. Has eveything to do with the width though. More tire patch on the rode with a wider tire. Your 21 is probably much skinnier than you 16 rite? When I went to a 21 on my RK I went with a 3.25" wheel. Only .25" less than the stock 16.