MANY TIMES IN THE PAST I HAVE BEEN ASKED WHAT CAN YOU GET TO LOWER MY SPORSTER DOWN. WELL TODAY YOU MUST USE A LOWERING KIT IN THE FRONT FORKS SUCH AS SUPPLIED BY WHITE BROTHERS. COST IS ABOUT $150.00 HERE. TO LOWER THE REAR OF THE BIKE, UNLESS YOU HAVE AN 1986 AND NEWER SPORSTER, YOU CAN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING EXCEPT MAYBE A NEW SET OF SHORTER SHOCKS. THATS AT LEAST A $3OO.00 VENTURE FOR MOST GUYS AND MANY CAN'T AFFORD THAT. WHITE BROTHERS AND OTHERS MAKE A BOLT ON KIT FOR ABOUT $150.00 BUT FOR THE EARLIER FOLKS THAT ARE NOT "EVOISED" I HOPE TO SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT YOUR SELF. WE STARTED HERE WITH A PIECE OF 1/4" THICK BY 3" WIDE PIECE OF FLAT STEEL STOCK. MARK OUT THE SHAPES YOU WANT ON IT AND THEN CUT THEM OUT.

NEXT WE DRILLED THE HOLES WHILE HOLDING THE TWO CLAMPED TOGETHER IN A VICE SO THAT THE HOLES ARE IDENTICAL. DRILL THEM OUT TO 1/2" DIAMETER. THEN CLAMP THEM IN A VICE AND TAKE YOU HAND GRINDER AND SMOOTH OFF ALL THE EDGES. IF YOU KEEP THEM TOGETHER WITH A 1/2" BOLT THEY WILL BE UNIFORM WHEN YOU ARE DONE. OK SO FAR??? 

REMOVE ONE OF YOU SHOCKS AT THE BOTTOM AND SWING IT UP OUT OF THE WAY. NOW BOLT ONE BOLT THROUGH THE ORIGINAL SHOCK MOUNT HOLE. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE IF IT IS FITTING RIGHT AND LAYING SQUARE AT THE REAR. TRIM IT DOWN WITH A FILE OR YOUR HAND GRINDER UNTIL IT FITS IN PLACE WITH THE BOLT TIGHTENED UP. LOOKING AT IT FROM THE REAR YOU WILL SEE THAT YOU STILL NEED SOMETHING FOR THE AXLE ADJUSTER. CUT YOURSELF A PIECE OF THE SAME STEEL 1 1/2" X 3/4" THAT SHOULD JUST COVER THE OPEN AREA PERFECTLY. YOU CAN MEASURE THE OPENING TO REASSURE YOURSELF.

ONCE YOU HAVE THE PIECE TAKE EVERYTHING OFF AND WELD IT ON THE INSIDE BEING CAREFUL TO GET GOOD PENETRATION IN THE WELDED AREA AS YOU WILL BE GRINDING THIS AREA SMOOTH WHEN YOU ARE DONE. TURN IT OVER (NOT WITH YOU FINGERS...IT IS HOT..HA HA )