My "Custom" Vulcan 2000 lowering kit

[trikebubble]

Ever since I purchased my Vulcan 2000 I’ve thought that she would look so much better if the rear end were just lowered a bit, maybe an inch or so.
For the past couple months I searched around to see what options were available to me. Now, a Barons air kit would be great, but at a grand that just offends my sense of “frugalness”. Progressive Suspension makes a 1” lower replacement shock, but again it costs a “dear penny” as my mother in law would say. So I poked around some more, and found that Britt Motorsports makes a 2” lowering kit for the Vulcan 2000. At a price of appx. $120US it seemed a little more reasonable………………that is until I saw pictures of it. That coupled with the fact that I didn’t want to lower my rear end that much led me to where I am today.

After a whole bunch of fabricating and experimenting with mock linkage set-up’s I have come up with my very own 1” lowering linkage for my bike. It is no different in theory than all of the other lowering linkage kits available out there………….it just cost me about $20.00 to fabricate.

My linkage plates are made from ½” thick steel, and I used 12mm heavy grade bolts. The bolts are the same diameter as the stock shock mounting bolt, just longer. I jacked up my bike, removed the stock shock bolt, and installed the linkage plates with the longer 12mm bolts and spacers/washers where required. I had to trim a small section off the end of the battery box where the linkage would have grazed, and cut the top plastic cover portion over the shock away also. The linkage plates do not come close to hitting the under pan of my seat.

I’ve logged appx. 800 miles on my bike since I lowered it, and all is good. The bike obviously will drag the floorboards earlier now, though not by much at all. The handling actually seems better. An inch may not seem like much, but I do feel even more “part of the bike”. The ride isn’t quite as plush, but again, is completely acceptable to me and within 80-90% of stock “plushness”.
And the best part is that my bike no longer looks like you could stow a small child between the rear tire and the fender.

I will post some pictures as well. I am very satisfied with the end results. I feel as if I have “over engineered” this to the best of my abilities, using the thickest metal plate and strongest bolts available. And I saved a bunch of money as well, which is always a good thing………………because there is no way I could figure out how to make my own PCIII (so I had to buy one).

[trikebubble]

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...1inchlower.jpg

[trikebubble]

FYI. If you notice that the pictures of the linkage are taken prior to the final angle cuts taken from them .

[BigDaddy]

Hey Carlo,
Be glad you don't live closer to me...
I would probably be spending lots of time
hitting you up for help on the VN2000!
heheh

That looks awesome!!!

BD

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by BigDaddy

Hey Carlo,
Be glad you don't live closer to me...
I would probably be spending lots of time
hitting you up for help on the VN2000!
heheh

That looks awesome!!!

BD

Thanks. And isn't what this forum is about, to some extent. Giving and getting help from forum members anywhere in this world?

If it wasn't for some of the members here I would likely have hung myself with my Apehanger internal wiring project.

[Spok]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Thanks. And isn't what this forum is about, to some extent. Giving and getting help from forum members anywhere in this world?

If it wasn't for some of the members here I would likely have hung myself with my Apehanger internal wiring project.

its for me and the rest of the boys from the company to keep an eye on all you trouble makers

[anamosity]

sweet deal Carlo, looks like a future mod for me.

[tely]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Ever since I purchased my Vulcan 2000 I’ve thought that she would look so much better if the rear end were just lowered a bit, maybe an inch or so.
For the past couple months I searched around to see what options were available to me. Now, a Barons air kit would be great, but at a grand that just offends my sense of “frugalness”. Progressive Suspension makes a 1” lower replacement shock, but again it costs a “dear penny” as my mother in law would say. So I poked around some more, and found that Britt Motorsports makes a 2” lowering kit for the Vulcan 2000. At a price of appx. $120US it seemed a little more reasonable………………that is until I saw pictures of it. That coupled with the fact that I didn’t want to lower my rear end that much led me to where I am today.

After a whole bunch of fabricating and experimenting with mock linkage set-up’s I have come up with my very own 1” lowering linkage for my bike. It is no different in theory than all of the other lowering linkage kits available out there………….it just cost me about $20.00 to fabricate.

My linkage plates are made from ½” thick steel, and I used 12mm heavy grade bolts. The bolts are the same diameter as the stock shock mounting bolt, just longer. I jacked up my bike, removed the stock shock bolt, and installed the linkage plates with the longer 12mm bolts and spacers/washers where required. I had to trim a small section off the end of the battery box where the linkage would have grazed, and cut the top plastic cover portion over the shock away also. The linkage plates do not come close to hitting the under pan of my seat.

I’ve logged appx. 800 miles on my bike since I lowered it, and all is good. The bike obviously will drag the floorboards earlier now, though not by much at all. The handling actually seems better. An inch may not seem like much, but I do feel even more “part of the bike”. The ride isn’t quite as plush, but again, is completely acceptable to me and within 80-90% of stock “plushness”.
And the best part is that my bike no longer looks like you could stow a small child between the rear tire and the fender.

I will post some pictures as well. I am very satisfied with the end results. I feel as if I have “over engineered” this to the best of my abilities, using the thickest metal plate and strongest bolts available. And I saved a bunch of money as well, which is always a good thing………………because there is no way I could figure out how to make my own PCIII (so I had to buy one).

i was wondering...i have a 900 custom and love your idea for lowering it just an inch....it looks great!......i just have 2 other questions, your rear tire..how wide is it?......is it the custom one? and about the solo seat, i was going to put a solo seat on my bike, but when i took off the oringal seat..the fender has two dents where the seat settles.....does yours have that?..and if it did..what did you do about it?

[tely]

Originally Posted by trikebubble

Ever since I purchased my Vulcan 2000 I’ve thought that she would look so much better if the rear end were just lowered a bit, maybe an inch or so.
For the past couple months I searched around to see what options were available to me. Now, a Barons air kit would be great, but at a grand that just offends my sense of “frugalness”. Progressive Suspension makes a 1” lower replacement shock, but again it costs a “dear penny” as my mother in law would say. So I poked around some more, and found that Britt Motorsports makes a 2” lowering kit for the Vulcan 2000. At a price of appx. $120US it seemed a little more reasonable………………that is until I saw pictures of it. That coupled with the fact that I didn’t want to lower my rear end that much led me to where I am today.

After a whole bunch of fabricating and experimenting with mock linkage set-up’s I have come up with my very own 1” lowering linkage for my bike. It is no different in theory than all of the other lowering linkage kits available out there………….it just cost me about $20.00 to fabricate.

My linkage plates are made from ½” thick steel, and I used 12mm heavy grade bolts. The bolts are the same diameter as the stock shock mounting bolt, just longer. I jacked up my bike, removed the stock shock bolt, and installed the linkage plates with the longer 12mm bolts and spacers/washers where required. I had to trim a small section off the end of the battery box where the linkage would have grazed, and cut the top plastic cover portion over the shock away also. The linkage plates do not come close to hitting the under pan of my seat.

I’ve logged appx. 800 miles on my bike since I lowered it, and all is good. The bike obviously will drag the floorboards earlier now, though not by much at all. The handling actually seems better. An inch may not seem like much, but I do feel even more “part of the bike”. The ride isn’t quite as plush, but again, is completely acceptable to me and within 80-90% of stock “plushness”.
And the best part is that my bike no longer looks like you could stow a small child between the rear tire and the fender.

I will post some pictures as well. I am very satisfied with the end results. I feel as if I have “over engineered” this to the best of my abilities, using the thickest metal plate and strongest bolts available. And I saved a bunch of money as well, which is always a good thing………………because there is no way I could figure out how to make my own PCIII (so I had to buy one).

i was wondering...i have a 900 custom and love your idea for lowering it just an inch....it looks great!......i just have 2 other questions, your rear tire..how wide is it?......is it the custom one? and about the solo seat, i was going to put a solo seat on my bike, but when i took off the oringal seat..the fender has two dents where the seat settles.....does yours have that?..and if it did..what did you do about it?

[blackiedog]

Carlos..see..scrachting ones head with some patience turns out to be a good thing. Very nice job. Well done. Bike looks awesome..You should be proud of your mods and it shows in your ride...Sweet scoot....John

[ervins]

Right on bro that is good stuff. I was tired of finding these half sizes for lowering kits and finally have a customer who can make them for me...Now I can do any drop I want. Congrats and good job!

[paintchunk]

Hey I tried this mod on my 2007 classic LT. BE CAREFUL FOR CLEARANCE ISSUES. I have a Saddlemen seat and while driving around town I hit a bump and the shock caught the bottom plate on the seat. Forced it backwards and ripped the bolts out of the seat mounts. Anyway I put the stock seat back on it and the clearance is fine. Have to run the stock seat until I can try and fix the saddlemen seat. Dam a $500 seat and I can't even use it for now.

[ImpactG]

I got the Britt lowering kit that drops the bike 2". Riding it, imperfections in the road were beating the snot out of me. I pulled the seat and saw that the shock was rubbing the pan. I had to cut a 4" x 4" section out of the seat for clearance. They actually did say in the instructions that this might be neccessary. Much better! The suspension is definately stiffer with the drop however and, for the most part, I prefer it. Slow speed bumps can be a little teeth clicking however. The weird thing, though, is that I seem to have more clearance on turns. I haven't dragged a board yet and I feel like I ride it more aggressively than I used to. Doesn't make sense, but...

[moparman]

Nice brain/handi-work Carlo! Now all you need to finish filling the rear fender up is a car tire....

[vn2kbob]

Originally Posted by moparman

Nice brain/handi-work Carlo! Now all you need to finish filling the rear fender up is a car tire....

Heh, heh.....was waiting for that to come up!! Wanted to say it myself too! LOL

[Rider658]

I like the mod you've done and the price even more. Any chance of getting some measurements for those of us who might like to try your idea? Or have you considered do these for other folks?

Also, I am thinking about trying to put together a "how to" page with information on all kinds of maintenance information and modification ideas for the V2K. Would you be interested in putting together a step by step description of your mod (with full credit of course) for a page/site?

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by paintchunk

Hey I tried this mod on my 2007 classic LT. BE CAREFUL FOR CLEARANCE ISSUES. I have a Saddlemen seat and while driving around town I hit a bump and the shock caught the bottom plate on the seat. Forced it backwards and ripped the bolts out of the seat mounts. Anyway I put the stock seat back on it and the clearance is fine. Have to run the stock seat until I can try and fix the saddlemen seat. Dam a $500 seat and I can't even use it for now.

Ouch! I have the Mustang seat, and their are no clearance issues whatsoever.

[trikebubble]

Originally Posted by moparman

Nice brain/handi-work Carlo! Now all you need to finish filling the rear fender up is a car tire....

A car tire on a motorbike?..............gimme a break...........