Aint that the truth. Gotta love the looks of that American Susp front end though. So what if it is a hazard, you want saftey stay off a motorcycle.There is a reason why I say that. The "it should just bolt on" statement from a part manufacture is just amusing to me now.
I think the American Suspension looks the best, too.....but I can't see knowingly increasing equipment safety risk by that much just for looks.Gotta love the looks of that American Susp front end though. So what if it is a hazard, you want saftey stay off a motorcycle.
Moe, sent you a pm but I will explain again. The stay bracket you have will be fine. The one they were experimenting with at the time I bought mine was a poor design and was aimed strictly as a cosmetic change. The design I had was a solid bar with 2 thin bronze sleeves pressed in the ends where the bolt goes. The sleeves as I said were bronze and the bolts were chrome button heads. As the front end exercises up and down the brass sleeves started wearing out and eventually walked on top the bolt and snapped the head off.Now when it came to replacing it I told the insurance company that I felt the whole front end was compromised and wanted a total replacement and they agreed. So when I called american suspension(now called american builder) and got the shaft I decided that I would no longer deal with this company plain and simple. Here's a pic of the bad design stay bracket."I think the American Suspension looks the best, too.....but I can't see knowingly increasing equipment safety risk by that much just for looks."
What exactly happened to Al's front end? If just the bolt failed, that could happen to anyone and doesn't indicate a design flaw. I looked at the front brake mount on my Dragon Springer tonight, and it looks like pretty much any other springer mount out there, an adjustable brace with HEIM bearings holding the caliper in place. Am I missing something or did Al's have a different design? I do know that American treated Al like a dick and I do not agree with that, but unfortunately this hobby is full of artists with little or no people skills or business sense.

My old Pauchco springer didn't have the shock absorbers and it road like a truck. Not good for the long run but fine around town.do springers need shock absorbers? Some have them some do not. Does that change the ride?

Hum, never heard of Spartan. Will have to look them up.I'm surprised we didn't have Spartan on here. They are by my standards top of the market in frames and front ends.
Moe, the Dragon has internal shocks units inside the springs though doesn't it?I've got 6k on my Dragon Springer and all is well. It rides better than my old Ultima Inverted, and I don't think it's as soft as the stock BD front end. I have no complaints though, and I've done a few long trips and lots of barhopping.

