[Lone_Rider]

I'm considering putting a Paughco (or other brand) springer front end on my 97 FXSTC this winter. Just about the only thing giving me second thoughts is that I've been told that Springers make for a rougher ride.

My question is for anyone that's owned a springer, how much rougher is the ride? As a lot of members know I've been through more than a few abdominal surgeries and I'm kinda concerned about spending all this money, then not be able to handle the ridde.

Also how difficult is the installation?

Paughco Wide Springer | 230-538 | J&P Cycles!

 

[09 Softail C]

My 2009 Springer FXSTSSE3 (as far as the front end) rides better than a lot of the other bikes I have owned.

 

[Pittsburgh77]

I've owned two, 05' FXSTSI and now my 06 FLSTSCI.

I personally think that the ride of a springer feels the same as any other bike. To me, ride quality depends on the road conditions ( smooth, road debris, pot-holes, etc) and not based on the type of front end your bike has. You may notice a slightly heavier "feel" to the front end while making turns from stops at first but after the first week you'll forget about it. My Heritage Springer is pretty comfortable and I dont have any issues with long hauls.

Springer front ends add a certain look to a bike that simply can't be replicated or beat!

 

[Lone_Rider]

I agree on the looks of a Springer front end.

 

[THE ROAD]

Ask Super Dave63 . He has stated on this forum that a springer front end does not ride as smooth as regular front forks due to the damping effect of the front forks absorbing rough roads as the sliders work up & down . The spring should have some damping effect but not as efficiently as fork sliders . And as far as looks go , I agree that the springer looks sexier / more old school ! But I also agree with Super Dave63 as to which provides a smoother ride !

 

[Thunder~Struck]

Thought it was also said springers have only 3" of travel as opposed to 4".

On the right bike nothing looks better. Ride quality trade off? :dunno

 

[Lone_Rider]

TS, what do you think of them on a Softail? I also read that the front fender mounts on a Springer are no t as close to the wheel as they are on the stock set up.

I mostly ride highways, and state routes, which aren't too bad around my section of Ohio.

 

[Thunder~Struck]

TS, what do you think of them on a Softail? I also read that the front fender mounts on a Springer are no t as close to the wheel as they are on the stock set up.

I mostly ride highways, and state routes, which aren't too bad around my section of Ohio.

I think a springer on a softail frame is a classic retro look.

Thinking about it now, I think your right. The front fender sets higher. The tire is off set from the center line of forks and moves somewhat independent of the fender.

 

[07SC]

I've owned two, 05' FXSTSI and now my 06 FLSTSCI.

I personally think that the ride of a springer feels the same as any other bike. To me, ride quality depends on the road conditions ( smooth, road debris, pot-holes, etc) and not based on the type of front end your bike has. You may notice a slightly heavier "feel" to the front end while making turns from stops at first but after the first week you'll forget about it. My Heritage Springer is pretty comfortable and I dont have any issues with long hauls.



Springer front ends add a certain look to a bike that simply can't be replicated or beat!

I owned a 2001 Heritage Springer and now own a 2007 Springer Classic with 20K on it, and recently rode my friends 2006 RKC with less than 6K on it, and was very surprised how much they felt the same over rougher roads (I actually thought my Springer was nicer) but that could be because I'm use to the ride. I would have to agree with your comment about the Springers, and also on the highway it is beautiful! Keep in mind, in 2012 I changed my neck/rocker bearings as normal maintenance.

I think a springer on a softail frame is a classic retro look.

Thinking about it now, I think your right. The front fender sets higher. The tire is off set from the center line of forks and moves somewhat independent of the fender.

The front fender on my '07 SC is a called a "free floating fender" which is mounted though the wheel axle and 1 bolt mounted to the left side of the rigid fork, but does sit high enough to see the full wide white walls.

 

[07SC]

I'm considering putting a Paughco (or other brand) springer front end on my 97 FXSTC this winter. Just about the only thing giving me second thoughts is that I've been told that Springers make for a rougher ride.

My question is for anyone that's owned a springer, how much rougher is the ride? As a lot of members know I've been through more than a few abdominal surgeries and I'm kinda concerned about spending all this money, then not be able to handle the ridde.

Also how difficult is the installation?

Paughco Wide Springer | 230-538 | J&P Cycles!

I don't believe you will have any issues with a Springer front end as far discomfort…but keep in mind H-D is the only Springer front end with a shock absorber, after market Springer front ends do not have a shock absorber (I believe it is an H-D patent) That being said, I have ridden my SC without the shock and it wasn't as stable/controlled on rougher roads, but believe it or not, is wasn't a dramatic difference, only over serious bumps/holes was were I noticed it the most. Swapping the front end should not be a difficult task.

 

[07SC]

The other day I decided to remove my re-bound springs so I could anti-sieze the the spring rods/check the bushings and discovered that the measurement from the top of the spring bridge restraints (neither were even also) to the top thread of the spring rods where only set at 13mm +/-. They should be set between 16-19mm…and this was from the factory! I set my measurement at 18mm and now I have nice re-bound action and a much smoother ride now that it is set correctly…and I can now see the re-bound spring moving up and down as they should while I ride. Can someone please do me a favor (who has never touched this adjustment) and check there measurement set from the factory?
Thank you.

 

[duckman]

I owned a 97 Heritage Springer (my avatar) and thought the front end
was perfect for the type of riding I do. I tend to ride fast, and
will push a bike through the curves, and turns. The damping felt good
and overall the springer handled well. It was not be disrupted by
bumps or surface irregularities.

Overall it was nice and firm but not too firm. Just right. I even sent a
letter to the engineers at HD telling them how much I liked the design.

I've also ridden a Fat Boy and owned a Deuce. Their forks felt
soft and mushy to me. I prefer a firm front fork and the springer
seemed perfect to me.

 

[07SC]

Nice bike!!!
I also owned a 2001 Heritage Springer, I love the Springer ride/front end.
I found my rebound was too hard because there was no travel (the rebound springs were too extended) being they weren't adjusted correctly from the factory. It is still firm as far as handling, but with a smoother ride over the bumps now that the rebound springs are adjusted/working correctly. The only time I would see the rebound spring move prior to me adjusting them is when I hit a big bump/hole because there wasn't enough travel at that adjustment to work correctly otherwise. Now they are constantly moving up/down according to the road conditions due to me compressing them which is the way it should be. Otherwise the ride was way too stiff…there was no travel in the rebound springs because they weren't compressed enough.

 

[gtrman66]

You guys are killing me. I want a springer so bad. Actually, I would LOVE to find a springer front end for my Super Glide (I check Craigslist every day). That would look so good. I priced it out at Strokers and it would be an easy $3k. That just hurts.

My brother's neighbor traded his for an FLH front end even up. How I wish I had been there for that.

 

[07SC]

You guys are killing me. I want a springer so bad. Actually, I would LOVE to find a springer front end for my Super Glide (I check Craigslist every day). That would look so good. I priced it out at Strokers and it would be an easy $3k. That just hurts.

My brother's neighbor traded his for an FLH front end even up. How I wish I had been there for that.

Was the $3K quote for a H-D Springer front end?

 

[07SC]

Hello,

Been a while since my last post, and I see theres not much going on about the springer front ends…so here we go!

A couple of weeks ago for the first time ever, I slightly compressed my SC front end down into my Condor wheel chock of my trailer and took it up state N.Y. for a few days. When I arrived at my destination and released the front end it didn't spring up, it stayed compressed! I then pulled the front end up from the bars uncompressing the compression springs, went over the front end, and took a ride, and everything was fine. Has anyone ever experienced this before after compressing their front end slightly? I'm thinking I need to adjust my rockers…I just changed the front shock/neck/spherical bearings a couple of seasons ago and haven't put many miles on the bike since. I also have BNIB OEM compression springs/rebound springs/bushings which I bought over this past winter and intended to change them after this season just to keep the front end maintained/riding nicely…but I may be doing it sooner if either of these are the cause? The thing is, the front end is riding fine, so I'm a bit stumped and believe it must be either the rocker adjustment/compression springs are weak, but again, the front end rides fine, and I alway keep the rockers/ spring rods lubed. Any suggestions/experiences with this issue would be greatly appreciated, thanks…ride safe.

 

[Matty]

If your buying an aftermarket springer front end, tell them the bike or your rake because the rake is important, if your buying a oem front end, you'll end up modding the neck to correct for the difference of a non-springer. Try jeri's springers or spritfire for an aftermarket.

 

[07SC]

Anyone?
Thanks.