What should I do?

[Mastiff Rider64]

I recently had a a 23 inch front wheel put on my 2006 Mastiff. Once I got it home I noticed my bike is riding higher then I remember. I was told by the shop they installed the correct fork tubes for the wheel change which from my understanding was -2 inches, but I'm having my doubts. because when I talked to the shop they are now saying in reality the bike is only riding 3/4 of an inch higher than normal and they tried leveling the frame as much as possible. I would go back to the shop but its 10 hours away from me and I figured I just may install the tubes, the correct tubes I need. I talked to Derrick and Donna and they said I need stock Harley length tubes but not for which year or model bike. If any anyone knows what fork tubes I need please do tell. Thanks in advance.

 

[TapioK]

Well I think Mastiff has +2” fork tubes originally. If they did replace them with 2” shorter you now have standard HD length. I have no idea what standard HD length actually is though....
You should get shorter if you want lower the front. I have no idea if shorter tubes are available, Id imagine there is no problem. Shop with lathe can shorten them and make new threads...
How much that gonna fuck up steering geometry and handling I have no idea, but I suppose that is not your main concern , after all bigger radius wheel does it anyways.
In a picture the front doesn’t look much higher.

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

Well I think Mastiff has +2” fork tubes originally. If they did replace them with 2” shorter you now have standard HD length. I have no idea what standard HD length actually is though....
You should get shorter if you want lower the front. I have no idea if shorter tubes are available, Id imagine there is no problem. Shop with lathe can shorten them and make new threads...
How much that gonna fuck up steering geometry and handling I have no idea, but I suppose that is not your main concern , after all bigger radius wheel does it anyways.
In a picture the front doesn’t look much higher.

I had talked to Donna earlier she said Derrick had said I needed stock Harley tubes but didnt meantion what year or model to try and find. I'm just trying to get the bike to ride at stock height again. The wheel hasnt changed how the bike handles that much from what I could tell on my 80 mile ride. Just when I stopped and went to put my feet down I wasnt sitting the same way on the seat as before. But I appreciate the info I didnt know the Mastiffs was +2 inches. I'll try and find some chromed fork tubes and have them changed out.

 

[pknowles]

I'm pretty sure if you have the stock harley softail forks, you can get a lowering kit for them that will get you the 3/4 inch you are looking for.

 

[FrankBDPS]

You're original question was quote what should I do? Personally if you want you're bike to handle and perform the way is was engineered and built to you should put the stock parts back on unless of course they were damaged in an accident or something.

Next time you have you're wheels off get some stainless steel brake rotors and install them. It will look much better.

Good luck what ever you decide.

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

You're original question was quote what should I do? Personally if you want you're bike to handle and perform the way is was engineered and built to you should put the stock parts back on unless of course they were damaged in an accident or something.

Next time you have you're wheels off get some stainless steel brake rotors and install them. It will look much better.

Good luck what ever you decide.

The bike rides and handles fine, it's the height I'm having a problem with when I come to a stop. Use to when I came to a stop I could sit comfortably with both feet flat on the ground. Now when I come to a stop I almost have to stand up to touch the ground. My debate is do I put stock length Harley down tubes on which measure 24.5 inches or do I keep the ones the repair shop say they installed on and just lower the rear of the bike. Not to mention when i put the bike on the kickstand its leaning more than usual too. So what should I do bite the bullet and buy replacement fork tubes that I've been told have been replaced with lower ones already or just keep the bike the same as the shop gave it back to me and just deal with the uncomfortable feeling when I come to a stop by having to stand up to stabilize my bike?

 

[Mastiff Rider64]

I'm pretty sure if you have the stock harley softail forks, you can get a lowering kit for them that will get you the 3/4 inch you are looking for.

The problem is I dont know which fork tubes I have. The stock mastiff tubes are +2 inches which measure at 26.5 inches. Stock Harley tubes are 24.5 for the 41 mm fxst which is what I'm told o need with the 23 inch wheel. The shop that did the work says that they put the correct tubes for that wheel on but if so why did the mechanic tell me my bike would only be riding 3/4 to an inch higher than it was??

 

[Mr. Wright]

Their easy to take apart, put it on a jack and pull a lower off and measure it.

 

[RBennet]

Cut 1” off the springs

 

[mleach72]

I'm no expert, but something doesn't make sense. Moving from a 21" to a 23" rim should only raise the front of the bike 1", because the distance from the axle to the ground has only increased 1". This is assuming that the profile of the tire is the same. Even if it is different, it shouldn't be much. Just my .02

 

[Mr. Wright]

Let's see a profile picture of the bike

 

[liferider]

You are aware your front forks use springs that compress and extend again. If they are to tall, disassemble your tubes and snip about 1 1/2” off your springs and reassemble them. That should put you back where you were to being level

 

[TapioK]

Dont remember whether HD lowering works on Big Dog. Most likely BD has some ”clever” just for Dogs system there too

 

[Mickeetwo]

 

[Badpit]

Put the stock wheel back on it looks better

 

[mleach72]

Can't really tell anything unless you have a full profile picture with the bike sitting upright, but from that angle, it looks good to me. I don't notice that it sits high in front.

 

[bdm7250]

Put the stock wheel back on it looks better

Stock wheel looks much better..

 

[mleach72]

This thread got me curious, so for shits and giggles, I put a 1" block under my front tire. I have to say it was barely noticeable in look or feel.

 

[TapioK]

This thread got me curious, so for shits and giggles, I put a 1" block under my front tire. I have to say it was barely noticeable in look or feel.

When I was young a friend with lathe made 2” extensions to forks for all of us. I never noticed any difference really, but it did give bikes a bit more “proud pose”. Nice specially in Bonneville Maybe I should ask him now to make a pair for Choppa just to see how it looks and feels

 

[mleach72]

When I was young a friend with lathe made 2” extensions to forks for all of us. I never noticed any difference really, but it did give bikes a bit more “proud pose”. Nice specially in Bonneville

Yeah, that's what I thought too! I kinda liked it!