Gunner to pilot – copy. Tail Gunner here:
This month let’s talk about lowering blocks. Man I’ve tried them all, Pingel, Burly, and L.A. Chopper. They all do what they are designed to do, lower your bike. Most of them lower your bike one inch or more. To achieve this, almost all the manufactures move the shock mount back and down to get the desired height.
The problem is when moving the shock back it creates a greater “leverage ratio” angle on the shock. Lever ratio is angle of degrees your shock sits at between the swing arm and frame.
The angle of the shock affects the performance and handling of the bike. The L.A. Choppers lowering kit creates zero lever ratio change because the shock drops straight down instead of back. You can read volumes on-line about this subject, so I’ll leave it at that.
For this article I’m using the L.A. Choppers part number LA-7590-00B for 2009 -2011 FLH models. I acquired a set and installed them on my 2009 Ultra. The L.A. Choppers designed the blocks so the leverage ratio stays the same. They virtually drop the shock straight down in exactly the same position as stock, just 1” shorter.
To achieve this, the kit has spacers and longer shock mount bolts.
The instructions are easy to follow. Jack the bike up in the rear, so that the rear tire lifts off the ground. If you have air shocks, bleed off the pressurized air before you start. Remove the saddle bags and install the new hardware per instructions supplied. When installing the new blocks, add a little Locktite to the threads on the counter sunk bolt that attaches the block to the frame. Next, you just basically swap out all the hardware. The kit comes with longer shock bolts and spacers. Make sure the steel spacer is installed on the bottom shock mount and the aluminum on the top per instructions.
Man I know this is going to work, how could it not! The kit also comes with ½-inch spacers and longer bolts to move your saddle bag brackets out to clear the now spaced out shocks. The front one works fine, however, the rear for 2009- 2011 FLH’s does not move, it’s welded directly to the sub frame. On earlier models the kit works fine, because the rear mount bracket can be removed and the spacer installed.
I thought of just about everything to rectify the problem and the only half-ass solution I could come up with is longer quick disconnect pins for the rear bag mount.
By accident I found that the Victory Cross Country bags have just the right size pin (1/2-inch longer, part #7518983, $12.50 ea).
So I ordered a pair. Drill out two of the 1/4-inch spacers provided for the saddle bag bracket relocation, to 5/16-inch (to fit the new pin diameter), presto, it worked. Now install the forward spacer as instructed and the new drilled out spacer in the rear between the bag and the rear mounting bracket. (See diagram-A)
This set up works fine except you have to hold the rear spacer between the bag and the bracket while inserting the pin through. Now the bag is exactly ½-inch spaced out from the shock for clearance. Now torque the shock bolts down to the correct torque value (34 ft. lbs.), reinstall the bags, pump up the shocks to your desired pressure, and your done.
On my scale of five, I give the L.A. Choppers lowering kit a 3 for function and install, and a 5 for overall product quality. L.A. Choppers website has installation video for your enjoyment. (see video)
Shortcut to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtW7iSMUDB8
The video is great; however, it says nothing about the spacers for the saddle bags. I did talk to Chucky at L.A. Choppers, he said that the bags on the ’08-‘11 FL should not have to be spaced. I found that they did indeed rub after the blocks were installed. So I opted to install them as I previously mentioned. Between Chucky and I, we came to the conclusion that not every factory bike is exactly the same. You may have to use the spacers for the bags, or you may not, you’ll know when you get there.
Till next time, ride hard, ride smart, Tail Gunner out!
Product Suppliers ref:
LA Choppers www.lachoppers.com LA-7590-00B,’02-’11 FL, $104.95
www.bikerschoice.com 40-4022, ’02-’11 FL, $104.95
www.customchrome.com 631407, ’02-’11 FL, $94.99
www.jpcycles.com 700-485, ’02-’11 FL, $96.99
