Editor’s note: Jon Yip reached out to us recently with another drop seat dresser example. He photographed and wrote his own feature, and did a helluva job.–Bandit
There seems to be no limits to what can be done to Baggers these days. From the high-end custom builders to the unlimited number of aftermarket parts available for the Touring models it’s damn difficult to find a different custom approach.
I have always admired the performance, handling and styling of the Dyna and FXR, but at 50 years old I need all day riding comfort and a place to store all my gear.
When Harley Davidson came out with the new frame design for the Touring models in 2009 it was a game changer for me. I bought this 2009 FLHX. The combination of the improvement in handling and the innovation of the bolt on “Drop Seat Kit” by FBI made me pull the trigger on a 2009 FLHX Street Glide.
The “Drop Seat Kit” places the rider 3 inches into the frame without compromising frame travel. To further enhance the rider stance and handling, I added the monotube kit in the front and the IAS shocks in the rear from Progressive Suspension.
Scotty Grow from WestCoast-TBars made me a one-off set of his MX-TBars in 14-inch version that would work with “Fly by wire.” The 31-inch spread and the hand position of the MX-TBars beats any bars I have tried on a Bat Wing bike for handling.
In order to make the bars work with the Bat Wing fairing I moved the gauges to the stock speaker holes and ditched the stock HK stereo unit, but I still wanted music, so I installed a set of speakers in the stock gauge holes that are driven off a Pyle amp which accepts either a SD Card or USB stick. I’ve got an 8 MG SD Card that has 800 of my favorite songs loaded on it. The controls for the amp are located in the hole where the stock air temp gauge was.
Due to a bad back the seat that came with the FBI “Drop Seat Kit” didn’t fit the bill for me in terms of all day riding comfort. I happen to live within an hour’s ride from Corbin in Hollister, CA so I took advantage of their “Ride in program.” Since they did not have anything on the shelve that would fit the FBI “Drop Seat Kit” they worked their magic and created a handmade custom seat fully equipped with a heated drivers pad, removable drivers backrest and the seat design matched the pinstripping on my rear fender.
In the area of Performance, I was looking for something that I could run hard all day long, with good passing power and reliable. Steve Gougeon at GMR Performance reworked the stock barrels, heads and crank to produce a 107-inch motor that makes the Bagger feel like a Dyna.
In keeping with the no nonsense styling characteristics of the Dynas and FXRs and having more time than money I “murdered out” most of the chrome in either gloss, flat or satin black powder coat. Any chrome that didn’t get powder coated received the $3.99 Red Scotch Pad treatment or removed all together.
The stock rear fender, rear wheel, brake pedal, shift lever, hand levers, saddlebag latches where “reworked” using hand tools, old parts and pieces of medal laying around the garage.
Sidebar: True high performance front suspension has finally made its way to the H-D Touring line. Progressive Suspension’s state of the art Monotube Fork Kit represents the pinnacle of bagger front end handling. High performance specialty components replace the sloppy open bath damping found in HD forks. The kit features a set of gas charged Monotube dampers and a set of custom tuned fork springs in stock and lowered versions.
Monotube style damping improves ride comfort, resistance to front brake dive as well as improving front end stability, cornering and bottoming control. The kit fits 1997 though 2010 HD Touring model forks, and replaces all of the internal parts. Converts dual Damper rod, AND Damper rod / Cartridge forks found on 02-2005 models, to true high performance Monotube damping! No mods are required and install is relatively simple. Check it out on their website, or contact your local Progressive Suspension dealer for more information.
jon_yip@yahoo.com
