1800 lowering kit

bergy5 · 2009-08-01

imported post I just installed a lowering kit to my 07. It took around four hours. I reused the old needle bearings & seals. Is anyone else using the new bracket & how do you like it.:waving:

FitzAl

· #2 · Aug 2, 2009

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What type of lowering kit, was it a Traxxion?

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bergy5

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 2, 2009

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It was Lower Wing Products (lowerwingproducts.com I think). Its justa bracket change. I used the old bearings & seals to save $100.

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theROADRUNNER

· #4 · Aug 2, 2009

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I heard that the Wing will scrape if you get tight in the twisties. I sold my 2002 to a short legged guy who wanted to do that to his. Couple mechanic friends said that would be risky ... that is all I know. :?

Does yours scrape??

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BenMilner

· #5 · Aug 2, 2009

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The roadrunner makes a good point. I bought one for my own gl1800 (I am 5' 6" with 27" legs) and regretted it the moment I rode over the first speed bump at low speed. After a couple of weeks my mufflers were all scraped along the bottom from bottoming out. I'm not a hard rider and was riding solo, carrying a pillion would be real problem IMHO.

Fitting the bracket was easy, which was very useful to know when I took it off and refitted the original one.

mrgoldwing.com has a similar version for $385 advertised in gwrra, but I hear that bottoms out as well.

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grayglennsr

· #6 · Aug 2, 2009

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You know if you lower the bike, and its bottoming out when you go over speed bumps,

... then I have "A solution" to your problem.....

<wicked chuckle>

buy yourself a stump grinder to tow behind your bike.... and when you find one of those pesky speed bumps... just stop and grind it down. They make those things too dang high in my opinion anyways.

Personally I think the guy who invented them needs to be buried in one... and then run over by a steam roller.

But that's Just my suggestion

Your mileage may vary with your opinion.... mine does.

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Wingabego

· #7 · Aug 3, 2009

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I am going to put one on my bike that is .6 inch drop in order to run 180/70 tires, but keep the Wing at (approximately) its original height.

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snrlawyer

· #8 · Aug 4, 2009

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I considered having the lowerwingproducts.com fitted to my own GL1800 around April. To help me decide, I drove all the way over to Pullman to see a friend there who had this bracket on his Yellow 05.

The lowerwingproducts.com bracket drops the GL by just over an inch and that feels just right, in fact it felt really good. But the downside is that I just couldn't pull the Wing onto the main stand. I have no trouble pulling my own Wing on the stand, in fact I think it is really easy to do. But my friends 05 was a real back breaker and to make matters worse, he (at 6' 4" and 235lbs) also had problems with this.

Thingswent downhill from there, and looking closer at the exhausts I could see the mufflers all scraped along the bottom and the aftermarket exhaust tips destroyed. The bellypan was damaged as well, all since the bracket was fitted. To their credit, the manufacturers of the bracket do warn about this.

I sat back very dissapointedand weighed it all up and came to the conclusion that (for me personally) while the inch and a quarter lowering would be nice to have, this is more than offset by the risk of damage to mufflers and bottom of the engine and possibly my back as well when trying to use the main stand. That is just my 2 cents worth, you should all make up your own minds on this and not allow my personal opinion to sway you either way.

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theROADRUNNER

· #9 · Aug 4, 2009

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snrlawyer wrote:

I considered having the lowerwingproducts.com fitted to my own GL1800 around April. To help me decide, I drove all the way over to Pullman to see a friend there who had this bracket on his Yellow 05.

The lowerwingproducts.com bracket drops the GL by just over an inch and that feels just right, in fact it felt really good. But the downside is that I just couldn't pull the Wing onto the main stand. I have no trouble pulling my own Wing on the stand, in fact I think it is really easy to do. But my friends 05 was a real back breaker and to make matters worse, he (at 6' 4" and 235lbs) also had problems with this.

Things were going downhill from there, and looking closer at the exhausts I could see the mufflers all scraped along the bottom and the aftermarket exhaust tips destroyed. The bellypan was damaged as well, all since the bracket was fitted.

I sat back and weighed it all up and came to the conclusion that (for me personally) while the inch and a quarter lowering would be nice to have, this is more than offset by the risk of damage to mufflers and bottom of the engine and possibly my back as well when trying to use the main stand. That is just my 2 cents worth, you should all make up your own minds on this and not allow my personal opinion to sway you either way.

Thanks for the observation that you experienced. Everyone should be aware of any changes that could cause major problems with potential for injury ... it is only smart!

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Wingabego

· #10 · Aug 4, 2009

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snrlawyer wrote:

I considered having the lowerwingproducts.com fitted to my own GL1800 around April. To help me decide, I drove all the way over to Pullman to see a friend there who had this bracket on his Yellow 05.

The lowerwingproducts.com bracket drops the GL by just over an inch and that feels just right, in fact it felt really good. But the downside is that I just couldn't pull the Wing onto the main stand. I have no trouble pulling my own Wing on the stand, in fact I think it is really easy to do. But my friends 05 was a real back breaker and to make matters worse, he (at 6' 4" and 235lbs) also had problems with this.

Thingswent downhill from there, and looking closer at the exhausts I could see the mufflers all scraped along the bottom and the aftermarket exhaust tips destroyed. The bellypan was damaged as well, all since the bracket was fitted. To their credit, the manufacturers of the bracket do warn about this.

I sat back very dissapointedand weighed it all up and came to the conclusion that (for me personally) while the inch and a quarter lowering would be nice to have, this is more than offset by the risk of damage to mufflers and bottom of the engine and possibly my back as well when trying to use the main stand. That is just my 2 cents worth, you should all make up your own minds on this and not allow my personal opinion to sway you either way.

This outfit will be producing a lowering kits that are.6 and and .9 inches....not as pronounced as the original 1 1/4 inch.

The center stand challenge can be easily overcome with a 'roll-off' center stand

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bergy5

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 5, 2009

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I've put on around 1000 miles with the bracket now. I've bottomed a few times but not too bad yet. I'll be interested in how it handles on some deep twisties. Centerstand is a problem, even with my wife helping we can't get the bike on. I may have to carry a 2 X 4

Being short stinks!!!

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Wingabego

· #12 · Aug 5, 2009

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bergy5 wrote:

I've put on around 1000 miles with the bracket now. I've bottomed a few times but not too bad yet. I'll be interested in how it handles on some deep twisties. Centerstand is a problem, even with my wife helping we can't get the bike on. I may have to carry a 2 X 4 Being short stinks!!!

bergy,

What do you mean by "bottoming out"? ....your rear shock, or the tire hitting on the fender?

carrying a handy 1 inch board around will certainly help...however, if you are happy with the kit, a roll-off stand is the complete answer. I understand the roll-off stand is also narrower than the stock, so that should eliminate dragging the stand on speed bumps.

Have you dragged your mufflers, as some claim?

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bergy5

Discussion Starter · #13 · Aug 5, 2009

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It has bottomed onthe bellly pan or centerstand. Tire has not hit or rubbed even with two up. Mufflers are clean no marks. So far its a keeper. After reading your post I tried a small piece of 3/4 plywood under back tire. Bike went right up on centerstand.

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07Silver

· #14 · Aug 6, 2009

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Interesting thread. I could be buying that kit but I'm still undecided until I read more of these real life findings. Thanks all.

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david j perttula

· #15 · Mar 12, 2010

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where did you get the kit which you used---AVID

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Kit Carson

· #16 · Mar 12, 2010

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:waving::cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1::cheeky1: I love the stump grinder idea. Lord!! That is funny.

I hit one of those speed bumps one time, ya know daydreaming, not paying attention to the road, been through there a thousand times, one day I guess the planted that thing just for me.

I joined the airborne rangers there for a bit. Sure woke me up, right fast. . :clapper::clapper:

Kit

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scottmccaffrey

· #17 · Mar 12, 2010

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I met a midget outside of Gettysburg who really wanted a Wing, but said they were way too big for him. I suggested a sidecar so he would never need put his feet on the ground. He loved the idea and came up with the thought to mount a pair of 50 calibers in the sidecar so no one would dare make fun of him.

I liked that guy.

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Wingshorty

· #18 · Aug 16, 2010

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you need to turn up the preload.

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Geirr

· #19 · Aug 16, 2010

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I'm a short guy, only 5'7" and my legs are short compared to my torso. I can barely reach the ground, when standing

Still, I would not consider lowering the bike. The footpegs are scraping every time I'm riding and I keep the preload between 21 and 25 depending on if my wife is on the passenger seat.

I would definatly not reccommend you to lower the bike if you like to do some quick cornering.

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Wingshorty

· #20 · Aug 26, 2010

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I have the 1-1/4" on my 02 Wing. I will scrap on large speed-bumps if I am riding 2 up and DON'T use the pre-load as is stated in the directions. I make sure that when I have a passenger that the pre-load is at least 16 to 20 and have very good results. Much better that when I was on my tip-toes. My wife and I rode to Tennessee -Tail of the Dragon last week-end. I set the pre-load all the way up, with my wife. I was very satified with the results. I was faster than many large bikes and let a couple of crotch-rockets go by. My wife hollered when I started scraping the pegs but I was laying it over much more than I figured that I could. The side clearance is still quite good. The clearance underneath you have to use a little caution but it is the best thing that I have done to my 1800.

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