After a test ride on Viobs bike, i must say i might consider doing the conversion to my bike (im happy where mine is at the moment) Oil level i set to 148mm as progressive recommends no higher than 140mm. But this is all a starting point and im sure after the springs have "settled" Viobs bike will need a little more preload in it.

Doing the XR caliper is something i now consider a must do if funds are available.

Thanks Viob for trusting your bike in my hands. I hope you enjoy the bike more now.

Kind Regards Andrew - T1

Gday guys ,Im looking to do the oldman conversion as well as the xr brakes on my 48
I would really appreciate it if someone could provide me with the part numbers of dampers if handy .
cheers
Jase

How do the low bars feel mate its another set im thinking of trying on my build

G'day all, I've just done the Oldman front suspension conversion. What can I say: Bloody Hell that guy and all the others that have done the conversion are on to a real good thing.

I don't come from a Harley background, I mostly ride Triumphs as well as my 2010 Nightster. After bottoming out the front end on every driveway and speed hump that I ever rode over, I decided something had to be done. A friend and Google put me onto HDForums, and the search facility did the rest. Being as sceptical as I am and knowing a lot of whats written on the interweb is total shite, I remained not totally convinced. But and its a big but, the stories from all over started to ring true.

So off to the local dealer I went to talk to the parts guys, ( Hello Capital Harley Orange, and Dave and Glenn ) a discussion with them and a referral to the thread on here for the part numbers gave a cautious ok from the guys. Last Thursday I went back to Capital to have the front end done. From the Blue Mountains along the Great Western Highway through Bathurst and the Mitchell Highway, I lost count of the times I bottomed out including the driveway into Capital. A little wait and after the 16,000k service as well, I saw my bike being ridden out of the workshop by the service tech ( Hi Dave ). When he got back Dave came to see me and said, well you wont be scraping the hero blobs on the foot pegs much anymore! I thought oh yeah.

The only proof would be in the riding, out the driveway I went, didn't bottom out there or anywhere else for that matter. Went to see a mate for coffee on the way home, his driveway is a rutted goat track dirt and grass! Hello motocross Nightster! Didn't bottom out at all on the way in or out. Speechless is the word when I got home.

I now ride a totally different bike!! In the last couple days I've hit every bump I can find and a couple speed humps as well, not slowly, and haven't bottomed out once! All I can say is if anyone who's thinking of doing the conversion, DO IT, cheap at twice the price. Its fantastic.

I might sound a bit sceptical as to the results ( no, surely not ) but, Oldman whoever you are you deserve a medal for sharing your knowledge. I for one owe you as many beers as I can afford if we ever meet. Thank you very much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blumtnman, oldman, scouser, terror et al,

Am finalising the parts required for the Oldman conversion for my 48, totally hyped up for the change.

Just wanted to check that the Progressive springs number part for the conversion is 11-1523; the supplier recommended a different springs part for the 48.

Really keen on doing this but not so much at taking the forks apart, if anyone in the Perth area is willing to lend a hand and a lot of knowledge I would be most appreciative And I'll bring the beer!

Hi blumtnman,

Parts finally arrived with Deus Camperdown, booked in 7th April. Look forward to giving you all a run down once the Old-Man conversion is sorted.

Scouscer gave 2 hours job-time estimate for the front forks and calipers. Do you mind giving me a rough estimaet for how long was the workshop time for your bike?

Ta.

 

As far as I can remember it was about 2 hours for mine as well. Although I did get a 16k service at the same time.

You wont believe the difference in your forks once they get done, problem is then you have to do the shocks as well.

I went Ikons front and rear, stock length at the back. Since I've had the forks done I haven't bottomed out once. Brilliant.

Oldman deserves a medal.

The oldman conversion is a good thing for sure, but it can be improved upon.... I've come up with a few added extras....

T1

have you got a standard(ish) price on doing the conversion terror? parts included?

 

Looking to get this finally done in the about a months time.

Price all depends on many things Sida, such as which bike ( some require longer fork boots ) and also your budget. If you want the premium package it runs upto $1060 depending on what the AUD is doing as some parts come from the US. The premium package consists of :
Disassembly, cleaning, polishing/cleaning any pitting in upper tubes.
Reassembly using new :
Ikon springs
Damper rods
Bushes
Seals
Oil
Cooper washers
Ricor Intiminators
Longer fork boots

Correctly setting spring preload and oil height to the mm.
Clean and road test. And any minor adjustments that may be required after service.

If you have any questions or any further pricing enquires please feel free to call/txt or email me.

My background is building drag cars and having one of the fastest 13b rotarys in Australia is a testate to my work ethic. Its either done right or not at all in my book. There are no short cuts, more so being on only 2 wheels.

Regards Andrew - T1

Hi All
Gonna do this tomorrow, just two questions, the springs I bought (11-1523) did not come with spacers did you guys just use the original spacers and I picked up fork oil today and just got the standard fork oil, should I wait to get the Heavy duty oil? how much of a difference does it make? OK I guess that's three questions

Really considering this now

did a 600km ride last weekend on my 48 with standard front suspension and licks 10 inch rear shocks and nearly ended up in a wheelchair I was that sore the next day.

PM Terroristone. He will set u straight.

OK this is ridiculous! Did the conversion yesterday and went out for a quick ride, by the time I was home I had convinced myself that it was not as good as it felt and I was fooling myself into thinking the change was as massive. This morning I got her out on the freeway and hit every bridge join, track in the road and pot hole I could find and I have to admit that the change really is that big! Such a smooth ride, the bike didn't track into a crack in the bitumen even once and the usual bumps felt invisible.
This is so good that I can't even imagine that the Ricor intimators could possibly make this any better (I'd love to hear if I'm wrong in thinking this).
Oldman you are a genius and if we ever meet, beers are on me, same to you terroristone, without who's advice those would not have happened!

If anyone is in two minds about doing this choose the mind that says it's a great idea!

The ricors do make a much more of a difference, but getting the correct oil height is where its at.

T1

Hi,

I am going to do this conversion to my 2012 883 superlow along with the rear suspension, and just wanted to make sure I have the right part numbers before ordering. So the damper tubes are part# 45925-94 and I was looking at the Ikon fork springs,            part# 500-066, is this correct? My other question is, will this all fit straight into the superlow, or will I have to get different (longer) lower fork sliders?

Cheers.