RE-Doing the one thing I HATE on my FXR!!!

It's no secret that since we built this 1991 FXRS on this channel, that there has been one thing that hasn't quite worked right. On this Episode Scott tears back into the front end to try and firgure out what the issue is, and to come up with a solution. Any time you're building anything, car, bike, house, ect, there's a learning curve and perhaps something you thought was a good idea, turns out to not be so great (who remembers the alloy art motor mount?) Which is why all you can do is live and learn. That's why we want to bring you all along not only for the good, but the bad, and perhaps from our troubles, you could learn something that might help you save some money or steer in a different direction than you might have been heading. Either way, stay tuned to see if we come up with a solid solution, or if it's back to the drawing board.
As always, THANK YOU for following along!! Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE!!
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Justin @mymachinist
Scott @weeloskeelo

[@weldermike7017]

Can't go wrong with Harley tubes. Buy once cry once and no more headaches

[@backcountrybob]

I have a 2000 FXR with a stock front end and it clunks and dives and pretty much sucks. My plan is to run the Legend front suspension to match the 13 inch Legend Revo Arc shocks in the rear. The front of the bike is all chrome and I would like to keep it that way. I need to do more research and contact Legend to figure this out. It would be nice if I don't have to change tubes. I have an Alloy Art motor mount that I'm thinking about replacing with a stock part. It seemed like a good idea at the time. "Dampening" is the process of making something wet. "Damping" is the resistance to a springs motion. Apparently there are a lot of people out there with wet suspensions.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

lol. My southern way with words is always jacked up. 😂. I spell it damping but pronounce it differently. My wife gives me grief constantly on how I talk.lol. Legend offers stock and +2 front drop ins. The caps are black, but they are designed to work with stock tubes for sure

[@atlantanate849]

I run the track or die dampeners which is what till death used to be called and they actually give closer to 2.5" extension. Those paired with the gold valves and racetech springs are perfect imo.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I don’t see how. These dampers are only an inch longer. Maybe I’m missing something. I just need to research these some more I guess to see if it will be an option for the yellow bike

[@atlantanate849]

@@Me.MyMachinist.and.l i never did a side by side with mine but the spacer they include to make them ride at stock height is only about an inch thick but they do sit long and the combo is nice. I have never ridden legends or ohlins cartridges but i dont feel the need for anything better.

[@MrTheDays1]

I just got till death cycle damper waiting on my 2000+ lowers from polish

[@chrisberg2083]

I dig the Journey! And the Info!

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Awesome, thank you!

[@afidarkside]

It would be cool to go for a ride with ya’ll once you make it up to the northwest!

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

We will def be in Sturgis in Aug, not sure the exact route just yet but I’m sure I’ll post up where we will be so we can hopefully meet some of yall while out that way

[@brandonroberts5043]

Video’s a lot crisper I’d say better than the GoPro for sure 👍🏽

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I think so too!

[@paulsilson2148]

Very sweet looking ride. I am sure you find the issue.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I hope so too

[@vinnyvincent7100]

You take your chances with drag specialties parts, OEM parts if you can.

[@t.s.racing]

Sorry I have to disagree, at least with their made in U.S.A. products and that's at least half their line. Are there better products out there, of course. I own and run a privateer Dyna race shop.

[@chrisduncan4555]

Silly question but you do have the damper tube springs (that sit on the bottom side of the dampener/bushing(s) and are used when fork is fully extended) in there right? Just didn’t see or hear them mentioned. They would be touching that inside part of upper tubes you reached in and felt.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Yes, I have the factory spring that sits below the damper rod. I bought a brand new set directly from Harley, I mentioned in the first video but forgot to mention in this one, good catch. But yes, they are installed

[@backroadbozo]

I have the racetec springs and gold valves in my dyna and the settings they recommended was way too stiff. I adjusted the gold valves and ended up running 15w oil instead of the 20w that was recommended. Made a decent difference. And the tubes I got were on the cheaper side and I also have a clunk. I think you’re onto something with the bushings in the tubes. But I would say try the gold valves with the lighter oil and see if that helps you dial the feel in but i imagine you probably don’t want to take it all apart again already haha I’ll be following to see what you come up with!

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I agree, I’m also wanting to grab a set of lighter springs since I can buy them by separate without the valves, and do that with some lighter oil after I purchase some better tubes.

[@dustinguriel620]

@@Me.MyMachinist.and.lI’m having the exact same problems as you guys with my 49mm Dyna front end! Really stiff and really bad clunking! I’ve had a shop in and out of the front end 3 times, different oil weights etc with no improvement… 😔. It’s racetech springs, gold valve cartridge emulators, speed merchant adjusters, stock lower legs, stock damper rods, +4” tubes. I’m probably selling the complete front end and going with Ohlins or GP cartridges. It’s cost me more trying to dial it in and make all these adjustments than just doing the cartridges in the first place, totally over it!

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

What brand tubes are you running in your setup?

[@dustinguriel620]

@@Me.MyMachinist.and.l TC Bros tubes, damper rods are stock and drilled in exactly as racetech calls for. I’m going to try CCE if I do this over. It’s hard to find 4 over in the 49mm tubes with TiN or DLC coatings.

[@sickbird9865]

The clunk is because the emulators are not opening fast enough. Lighter springs on the gold valves solves that problem

[@xCoryNussbaumx]

Throw some patriot genesis springs in on stock setup. With the preload adjusters.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I almost bought those instead of the RT springs in the first place 😔😂

[@xCoryNussbaumx]

I just put some in my 99 fxdl and was worth it. Simple swap and more progressive then stock.

[@leftymike8730]

I ran those on my 92 FXR, definitely a great setup

[@shaneconwayyy]

I had those springs in my 09 dyna and to me they were superrrrr stiff. But that's also how i like my ride. I don't want any brake dive at all . I have racetech now on my 15 road king and its not stiff enough

[@sickbird9865]

Use the race tech oil it makes a huge difference. I tore my front end apart at least 6 times before I found the right settings on the emulators. Blue springs at 2 1/2 turns

[@sickbird9865]

Lighter bikes like the fxr and dyna use the blue springs. Had to order them myself but my buddies came with 2 sets yellow and blue

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Yeah I have the blue springs on the valves, currently set to only 1 turn of preload before I pulled the valves fully out. Might look into their oil when I order a set of lighter springs down the road. Thanks for the suggestion

[@eff_ex_argg]

I ran a race tech setup on my dyna and it was STUPID stiff. I had a lot of regret spending the money on something that felt terrible. On the FXR I just ran stock front end with progressive springs and 20wt oil....perfection. Comfortable, but handles the Twisties well. It felt like a downgrade because progressive springs are cheap...but it was a definite upgrade. Also, fxr-Ses have longer dampers than a sportster. So that's a thing.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

After ready this comment, I also noticed that sportster stock have the single top ring bushing on the dampers as well, so these til death is +2 for sportsters. I wish they would have mentioned that. 😢

[@user-bl8bn4kb8m]

How are the bitubos??

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Better now that the front is a bit softer. They aren’t as plush as a set of legends, but still better than stock.

[@0hi0hdmc]

I would just buy some OEM fxdx front forks from Harley you can still order them new. Fully adjustable Showa setup for 1400$

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

They was the original plan until Andy gifted me these legs. Should have stuck with the plan 😂

[@dnkkelly]

Where you going in Yellowstone after STURGIS? I’m planning a similar trip too. I was thinking Red Lodge, then Yellowstone.

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

No exact plan, prob going to camp to be honest since we will be camping in Sturgis. If it’s super hot then prob hit up a lodge

[@dnkkelly]

Good deal. I’m planning on riding Beartooth pass on my way over.

[@hybridEP3]

Check out gp suspension cartridges ?

[@toddaltan8306]

When’s the frame on the blue bike getting powder coated

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Big COMEDIAN guy. 😂😂😂😂

[@davidbroughton6979]

Put a set of Axeos from Legend Suspension .

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

I would, only prob is there +2" drop ins last time I checked only worked with stock length tubes and to create the +2 they had black spacers on the end. wasn't sure how i would feel about a 2' black spacer on a basically fully polished front end. I'll take another look to see if things have changed

[@Will8022000]

just found your show ! >>subscribed>n.w.Ga here>>riding '95 roadking

[@Me.MyMachinist.and.l]

Welcome!! Stoked to have ya! We got a lot of friends in Northern Georgia

[@Will8022000]

@@Me.MyMachinist.and.l greAt