G'day,

I'm in the process of looking for some dog bone risers for my 93 fxsts if I can stop riding her long enough to put em on.

My questions are; Has any one had any experience with these?, are there any problems to look out for, saftey,fitting ect? I'm guessing I get one with top tree attached?

Also I'll get new bars. I know i need bars WITHOUT the knurls, Why? and probably will have to put a locator in to stop bars slipping like my current bars have.

Any suggestions on the coolest dog bones and style of bars also would be handy.I'm gunna change(all tin) fat bob tanks to maybe a king sporty, change back guard repray new tin and generally give it a weight loss program n get her slim if ya know what i mean. Ive got a photo up on my intro to site way back if ya interested.

thanks,

Johnny.

 

Very nice 93 you have there Johnny ... in the process of getting my 99 Fxsts Bobbed / Chopped ... not sure if it is something you want to do but I am getting the top Springer plate changed so you can use any normal set of bars and risers you want to choose ... gives you a lot more range .

Tim .

thanks TJU, I reckon Ill buy one with the top tree all in one

Still leaves a few Question I was hoping to get some answers to from someone in the know. Ive searched the previous threads related to dogbones but didnt have the more finer details if you know what i mean, so dont be shy fellas, any input (constructive) helps

Johnny.

From experience, it seems there's not much collective expertise or knowledge when it comes to a springer front end. Maybe there's just not enough of us to make much of a collective....

I recently fitted 6" Accutronix risers so my drag bars cleared the tank on full lock. Looked at the dog-bone option, lots of styles, but not my style. Also looked at changing the top plate. I liked the idea of having a much bigger range of bars to choose from, but I didn't like the narrowly spaced risers so much, or the way they were positioned on the top plate.

Actually, nearly went for the springer Chubbies, but was concerned they would bring the bars back too much....

Each to his own, eh!!

Thanks for the post Colstah,

Looks like I'm the guru out of 9,000 plus members on springers here then (jokes).

 But.. if any one needs someone to bounce some questions off reguarding springer fronts , don't be shy.

Just about to pull it off and give it a service, thought I might as well change the top tree and whack on a cool riser on at the same time.

I'm a bit of a short ass, so an inch  pull back n some mini ol' apes will let me lean back on me swag when i put on sissy bar n king/queen seat . should be sweet,

Curently running western bars on 4"riser sitting on  LePera Bare Bones or Siloette 2 up.with no sissy bar/back rest and the missus feels like she'll slip off( haahaa).

Told her to get her own bike but cheaper this way and she can't ride for shit eh. she says she likes to be chauffeured around.

Johnny

 

Good luck with the front end. Did mine recently, replaced the steering head bearings and adjusted the rockers, felt much better after that.

So here's a question then, http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&view=topic&postid=462687&forumid=5 .

I've asked it before, had a few responses with plenty of good ideas, but no definitive answer in my mind, so check it out if your inclined and let me in on the secret....if you know it....

Oh, and the missus thing. I prefer to ride solo...but you gotta treat 'em every now and again, eh!!

Roger that Colstah on the solo seat, when I put mine on it I reckon it makes the statement for the missus that "I can get you off, but you can never get on" lol

Now that offset thing,

You'll be thinking Doh, makes sense. Well this is what i reckon anyway from some experience in physics and engineering.

I'ts all about motorcycle dynamics. Torque,balance,steering, braking and acceleration.eg-steering torque(like counter steering),gyroscopic force(like when you'd spin a rim on an axis or "REV IT UP AT THE LIGHTS eh",relates to centre of gravity),Roll torque(leaning to steer), trail and rake.All this results in the way you track when cornering.The offset helps reduce steering torque and enables the brother from another mother to lean to turn at speed with reduced countersteering, hence the highside when your ass drifts across the line(still with me!). Offsets differ because of suspension types,wheel base ect.(imo standard springers are slighter better due to less rake but maintain trail through rocker arms and don't load up under heavy braking like telescopic fronts that want to push out the front from under you, and before you ask why aren't they used in superbikes, well they are fkn heavy), so  different raked bikes, brake rotor positions, drive train and power all will have differing offsets ranging from generally 8mm to 15mm in relation to rear wheel but all resulting in wanting to keep the bike upright when steering into a corner while trying to keep a concentric track(equal radius between rear and front)and up to us to keep centre of gravity over wheels.Hope this helps ya.

But like Will67 said, I'm just a NOOB. what do I know.

Just said it.

Johnny

 

Hey Johnny ... sounds like you are the man to ask ... as stated above , along with my 2008 TC , I also have a 1999 Fxsts in the process of being Bobbed / Chopped ... I don`t profess to being all that knowledgeable about all things Harley and am leaving a lot of the Fabrication work to Speed Demon , a bike shop up here in South East Queensland .

Shane , the owner told me how FL springer front ends had a slightly different rake to FX springers due to different size wheels and some other factors and I was wondering if you knew of any other reasons the Mother Co. decided to change rake angles ...

This question has been asked before by me and most likely others but am curious ... nothing more .

I am going to run a 19" front rim with a 120 tyre with a 17" rear rim and 180 tyre .

Tim .

Cheers Tim, Keen to see the springer progress photo's eh.

Well about the difference in rake between the FL and the FX, from what I gather, and It's only really a history thing that I've accumulated reading on the shitta. The FL and FX frames WERE the same but for the floor board tab on the FL,(the front ends were different of course and FXWG's had 3deg positive rake TREES)) and had THE SAME RAKE

Now this is where I think I think shit happened ("69-"81 AMF yrs) post

1984 came the EVO "Blockhead "FX" and "86 FXR Sporty but debute"57?, K-series frame, quote"HD spent most $ that was left from buying out AMF on  this model making it the lightest and stiffest frame of any other Big V Twin". thicker tubing, gessets at steering head ect.(ect.fkn startn to go on) RIGHT..88ci Twin cam B series-2000 ok..   2007 96ci ok bikes are getting more heavier and have more power/torque. In 2009 the new FL/tourers had longer wheel base and diferent seat pan(lower)than the Dyna,or softail (1982 designed the hidden shocks and swing arm to look like a hardtail, willie G style and SPRINGER in 1988 with the Heritage(fatboy 2000?)

So.. FX has 28 degrees rake and 4.1" trail and wheel base is 63.1"

FL has 26 degees rake 6.2" trail and wheel base 63.5"

The tourer is best for touring

FYI - More trail=shit hot at speed in straight line but not so shit hot at low speed corners, so Less trail=the opposite and will SPEED WoBBLE

A change from stock diameter wheels, eg drop the ass, willincrease the steering head angle, increasing the rake and trail.

quote"A change in the 16" stock FL to 18" will increase rake n trail". Sort of losb the question after an hour back n frothies, hope I got there in the end. should probably post these in another section u reckon?

Johnny.

Chief pistachio nut eater

 

Mate , Lol ... Bloody brilliant , very informative and will definitely post some progress pics soon ... have about 4 or 5 on the old phone , just have to pull the old finger out and down load them to this computer thingy and then up load them here ... Ah lovely technology , Lol .

With me changing from 21" front to 19" and going with a 17" rear this will of course change rake and trail from stock and will be courious to see how it all ends up but that's what it`s all about for me with this project ... trying to find a balance between Form and Function ... want it to look good but also want it to perform well in different situations .

Hopefully by Late December mid January I will have my answer ... pics to appear soon .

Tim .

Noundiesundy ... going to post a few progress pics in Softail section under 99 Springer Project ... not a lot so far but check them out if you want .

Tim .

Cheers Tim , I'm still chasing bits myself so my springer still looks the same but heres a pic anyway. pretty happy with this one lol.

Still chasing some dogbone risers with NO RUBBERS and no luck with a 21 inch spoked wheel for the front to suit a springer cheep enough. Looking at maybe lacing up a new one which will give me the option of putting a colour on the rim, so if anyone can point me in the righ direction, don't be shy.

Johnny , Love the look .

I might have a 21" stock front wheel if you are thinking of putting one in ... as mentioned up above earlier I am not overly experienced in all things Harley , especially Springer Harleys but I have quite a few stock parts left over from this Bobber / Chopper project I am into .

As you most likely would have seen it is a 99 Fxsts ... so if the years and parts are interchangeable let me know ... can't guarantee I will be able to jump at your offer , Lol ... but make me one and lets see what happens .

Haven`t actually sat down and catalogued every thing I will have but just off the top of my head I have Front and Rear Wheels and Rotors { Stock } ... Complete Diamond Ice Original Set of Tins ... Speedo and Dash ... Swing arm and Belt and tail light ... indicators ... Handle bars ... Seat , the one with the chrome buttons around the edges ... and other bits and pieces .

I`ll be honest I will be trying to recoup some money from this project as it has gotten a little out of control , Lol ... but like the old saying goes ... you never know unless you ask .

Cheers Tim .