Need some advice about flatfooting

[Haole Girl]

Standing at 5' 1" (yeah, I'm short) my feet are not completely flat, on the ground, when I stop on my Sportster. I'm so close to being flatfooted, it's not funny... maybe 1/2 an inch. Yes, my bike is a low (XL). I already tried ordering a different seat - to get 1/2" closer to the ground - and that didn't work. Had to return the seat. Then I thought I might get a lowering kit, but several Harley service reps told me it would put a strain on the shocks to do that.

So now I'm faced with a dilemma. I'm getting comfortable with my bike as it is. Plus, I am so close to being flat footed anyway, when I stop, park, back it up, etc. it hasn't really been a problem (with the exception of the one time I tried to put my left foot down, at a stop - on a slope - and the bike leaned too much to one side... btw, I won't do that again)!

I've done some reading on the subject. This is one quote, from my on-line research, that I especially liked: "Just accept that your heels will never, ever touch the ground and will never be part of your riding. Then learn to live with it from there."

So what do you think? Should I get the lowering kit (to lower it one more inch) even though it might change the ride and put stress on the shocks, or just overcome this obstacle (which seems to be more of a mental obstacle than anything else)?

Bottom line: How important is being flatfooted?

Any advice on this subject?

Thank you. :hi:

[ThomWV]

1. The dealer is full of shit

Go to E-Bay and pick up a front end lowering kit made by Progressive suspension, it will be a new progressively wound main spring and a pair of additional damper springs for the front. Then take a look at the rear shocks Progressive makes that fit our bike and find the one you like that is about 3/4" shorter than stock and put them on. That will lower the bike for you up to 2". You can do all the work yourself, it isn't a bit hard. The new rear shocks will be expensive as hell, the front end lowering kit will set you back about $80. Will take you about 2 hours to install it all.

[Haole Girl]

3. Thank you!

It's good to know this is an option! :hi:

[ThomWV]

5. It's what I did with mine

29" inseam for me so I understand the problem. My bike's a Deuce, which was pretty low to start with, probably about the same seat height as an 883L. I wanted it lower because I want both feet planted flat on the ground when I stop.

With the front end lowering kits by Progressive you can lower it 1" or 2", You have to pull the front tubes out of the bike, which isn't at all hard, and then replace the stock springs with the new ones. You unscrew the top, take a screw out of the bottom, turn it upside down and let the springs and damper and its springs fall out. You put the stock damper spring back over it and add one of the news ones if you want to lower it 1 inch and both of the new ones if you want to lower it 2" and drop it back down the hole. You take the new spring and put it on top of the damper. You replace the screw in the bottom to hold the damper in place. Then you put new fork oil in it, screw the top back on, and put it back on the bike. Job completed. Its really that easy and the rear is even easier.

In the rear you take a bolt out of the bottom and a nut off the top, pull off the old shock, put in the shorter one, put the bolt back in and the nut back on. Move to the other side and repeat step 1. That's it. In both cases you get a higher quality set of springs than you had in the bargain. The bike will handel better. Down side is you will drag stuff easier. I've been lucky on my bike (down 2" front and rear*) its the side-stand that drags first on the left side and the exhaust megaphone on the right side. You can't see it in either place but I've ground off abut $100 worth of chrome at dealership prices. Ride it like you stole it.

* On a softail lowering the rear is somewhat more complicated and I can tell folks how it is done but for most they will remove it and take it to a machine shop to do the very inexpensive work needed to install the parts needed. You need a press, ou can do it with a car jack but that's not for everyone. If anyone's interested in how to do it just ask. Costs about $25 to get the parts.

[Robb]

2. Heels?!?

Well, I know it's a different ride, but on my KTM Adventure, when stopped, with a full tank of gas, I can barely touch my tip-toes on a level surface. And I'm 6' tall. With my side bags on, it's all I can do to get a leg over when it's over on the side stand. :D

In the dirt and tight trails, it's made me a much better rider -- in that I'll do anything else before I put a foot down to stabilize myself. Which is a great way to break an ankle at speed, by the way.

"Anything else" means riding better, including using the throttle when I otherwise wouldn't have. Between having a 350 pound bike to pick back up if I drop it, and not being able to stab a foot down, you'd be amazed how much better I started riding, and how quickly.

To lowering links: on the street, you're not going to be using all of your suspension all the time, so you probably won't notice a difference in the ride at all -- it's not a good option on the dirt, because you're giving up one of the things that makes the bike more rideable than the next guy's. But your suspension, your travel, will be critical for you at an important time: in an emergency stop or other maneuver. So, if you lower your suspension, you're giving up that last little bit of control that might make a difference at an important time.

My advice, especially considering you have both balls of your feet on the ground: suck it up. Do like I do: plan ahead, all the time. Which is a great philosophy for riding in general. :thumbsup:

[Haole Girl]

4. I see your point... thank you!

What I might do is try lowering it & if I feel it doesn't handle well just change it back! :hi: