Installed 1

[Bill G]

I believe Kevin at DK is working on a 1" bracket similar to this.

As I have mentioned in other posting I never liked the clearance issue with my 2017 Tri Glide (more common than folks think) with the swing arm and the exhaust ( large oversized weld on the 2017 models because of cat be moved back in header). I had to grind the weld down just to get the minimal clearances needed with the trike wheels on the ground with the 1.25" lift brackets installed, see pic.

Also see pic with more clearance same spot wheels on the ground with the 1" lift brackets more clearance for sure. To some this clearance may not be no big deal but remember shocks work in both directions and at full extension I did not feel there was enough clearances with the 1.25" lift brackets.

More of a chance of the swing arm hitting the exhaust in a more full extension situation with the trikes suspension. Also the 1" lift brackets are a lot easier to install you don't have to pry down against the exhaust to get them on like with the 1.25" brackets on the 2017 model Tri Glides.

The trike still looks and drives nice and still has the better steering feel. The muffler tips with stock mufflers and Pro Action rear shocks are still at around 7" of clearance at the tips a few 1/8' less than what I had with the 1.25" lift brackets. I also used the second hole in the 1" lift bracket to place the shocks a more of an angle for the better ride provided when rear shocks are at the more angled back position.

Ride Safe All,

Bill G

 

[Trampas]

Thank you, your posts on what you do with pics is outstanding, I know other people do the same thing and I'm sure everyone on here appreciates this.

Now your first 2 pics I'm not sure what I'm looking at, a little fuzzy for me and I can't see what you mean, the next 2 pics are very clear and I can see it real good.

Now I'm thinking off the top of my head, is the new shock bracket the same width as the stock one or thicker, just curious, if thicker I would see a difference in clearance issues, have seen pics of the new one and it looks to be pretty thick, but I'm not sure what thickness the stock are.

All for now Trampas

 

[DK Custom Products]

I believe Kevin at DK is working on a 1" bracket similar to this.

Bill G

The bracket we are making is fundamentally different than the one you pictured.

As you mentioned, some folks don't like how the 1.25" fits on the '17's. It does fit, and it will work, but on some, where HD got sloppy with too large of a weld bead, it can be a tight fit.

Just yesterday I was on the phone with an HD Dealership that was installing one of our Comfort Lift™ kits on a '17. The weld bead was much larger than normal. They took a dremel to it and got it down to the "right" size, and all went together fine.

However, because of the weld bead, and also because of some aftermarket exhaust that make even the pre-17's a tight fit, we have been testing several different design variations.

The one that performed best is in production, and should be available in 3-4 weeks.

It will allow for a full 1.25" lift on the Trikes that are made to spec, and on the '17's that have an over-sized weld bead (and on pre-17's that have a clearance issue) the same Lift Kit will make the installation easier with a 1" lift.

To be clear, the current Standard Lift & Comfort Lift™ will fit all HD Trikes, including the '17's. The new Lift Kit will just make the install easier for some of them.

Trampas,

All the brackets we make are the same thickness as the factory bracket.

Kevin

 

[Bill G]

Thank you, your posts on what you do with pics is outstanding, I know other people do the same thing and I'm sure everyone on here appreciates this.

Now your first 2 pics I'm not sure what I'm looking at, a little fuzzy for me and I can't see what you mean, the next 2 pics are very clear and I can see it real good.

Now I'm thinking off the top of my head, is the new shock bracket the same width as the stock one or thicker, just curious, if thicker I would see a difference in clearance issues, have seen pics of the new one and it looks to be pretty thick, but I'm not sure what thickness the stock are.

All for now Trampas

Trampas, thank you for the kind words I always try to help other trike riders out when I can.

The 1" Brackets are the exact same thickness. They are just labor cut to give a 1" lift instead of the 1.25" lift allowing for more clearance at the oversiezed weld common on the header connection on the newer designed exhaust systems on the 2017 Trikes.

As mentioned with my 1.25" lift brackets installed the weld had to be buffed or ground down for the lift brackets to fit without rubbing the swing arm with the wheels on the ground. Even with the weld ground down the 1.25" lift brackets are very close to the swing arm, they fit but are still a bear to install had to pry against the exhaust pretty good to get them on.

With that said in summary for me even after grinding the weld I still did not care for the tight and minimal clearance between the weld and the header pipe at the swing arm with the 1.25" lift brackets installed. Did not still give enough clearance in my humble opinion for shock extension during normal suspension travel when riding.

For me personally I just feel more comfortable with more clearance at the swing arm and header with wheels on the ground. The 1" lift brackets in the pic's have a two hole design giving the choice to the installer of rear shock back angle or standard stock shock angle still giving only a 1" lift.

Trampus, to answer your question about the previous pic's,

In the pic's your are seeing the clearance differences at the weld (over seized) on the 2017 header with the wheels on the ground with the 1" lift compared to the 1.25" lift. The pic's are directly under the swing arm on faceing the right side just behind the chrome heat shield where it ends directly under the swing arm where the Z pipe starts to turn down to the muffler.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[Bill G]

Trampas, thank you for the kind words I always try to help other trike riders out when I can.

The 1" Brackets are the exact same thickness. They are just labor cut to give a 1" lift instead of the 1.25" lift allowing for more clearance at the oversiezed weld common on the header connection on the newer designed exhaust systems on the 2017 Trikes. As mentioned with my 1.25" lift brackets installed the weld had to be buffed or ground down for the lift brackets to fit without rubbing the swing arm with the wheels on the ground. Even with the weld ground down the 1.25" lift brackets are very close to the swing arm, they fit but are still a bear to install had to pry against the exhaust pretty good to get them on. With that said in summary for me even after grinding the weld I still did not care for the tight and minimal clearance between the weld and the header pipe at the swing arm with the 1.25" lift brackets installed. Did not still give enough clearance in my humble opinion for shock extension during normal suspension travel when riding. For me personally I just feel more comfortable with more clearance at the swing arm and header with wheels on the ground. The 1" lift brackets in the pic's have a two hole design giving the choice to the installer of rear shock back angle or standard stock shock angle still giving only a 1" lift.

Trampus, to answer your question about the previous pic's,

In the pic's your are seeing the clearance differences at the weld (over seized) on the 2017 header with the wheels on the ground with the 1" lift compared to the 1.25" lift. The pic's are directly under the swing arm on faceing the right side just behind the chrome heat shield where it ends directly under the swing arm where the Z pipe starts to turn down to the muffler.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

Lazor or CNC cut not labor cut.... Lol spelling has never been my thing.. I mess up a lot. :blush:

Bill G

 

[Bill G]

In the pic below with the weld ground down on my 2017 I would say it is now at spec or even under spec. I have been checking all the 2017 I can and they do vary a little. I still think in my personal opinion the swing arm is to close with the 1.25" Lift installed.

I still feel a 1" lift as stated is a better choice on the 2017 model Trikes whether the weld is spec or has to be ground down. Again not to be argumentive here at all it's just my humble opinion on the subject with my personal exsperiance concerning our 2017 trike as well as others I have looked at and inspected in the past few months.

Pic on the ground at swing arm and exhaust with 1.25" lift and weld ground down. Pic of a 1" lift at the same spot the same way.

Ride Safe All,

Bill G

 

[Trampas]

Ok Bill, now I'm getting a better picture of things now, not sure why I didn't earlier, must have read it wrong or just didn't quite understand I guess.

Basically Kevin answered my question from the top of my head, brackets are same thickness as stock one's, at least his are and I'm sure the one you got is the same also, they are, sorry didn't see your answer being the same thickness

Keep up the good work and have a nice day

All for now Trampas

 

[Bill G]

Ok Bill, now I'm getting a better picture of things now, not sure why I didn't earlier, must have read it wrong or just didn't quite understand I guess.

Basically Kevin answered my question from the top of my head, brackets are same thickness as stock one's, at least his are and I'm sure the one you got is the same also, they are, sorry didn't see your answer being the same thickness

Keep up the good work and have a nice day

All for now Trampas

No problem Brother, glad I could help with usable information.

keep in mind at the end of the day these trike lifts are not rocket science. There a simple measurement and a piece of steel that's powder coated. As long as there factory thickness and bolt pattern and the added lift angles are right all is good. Also these brackets can easily be made with modern CNC machines and be made to diffrent heights such as 3/4", 1", 1.25". I saw 1.5" lifts available in the early days when these these lift brackets started becoming available for Trikes. (The key is which height and shock angle design works best on your Trikes set up).

The shock angle thing is cool and generally make shock function more efficient. Again not rocket science, manufactures of motorcycle suspension and frame design started doing this on Moto Cross and dirt bike designs as well as street bike designs many years back. This also goes for race car, dune buggies and off road suspension design.

With that said in the Big picture our Trikes are pretty simple..

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[Casper]

I've had the comfort lifts in the past, on the new 17 I'm thinking of going with the supershox, replace the factory air shocks and they say no lift kit need because the shocks raise the rear 1". And provide a better ride.

 

[Bill G]

I've had the comfort lifts in the past, on the new 17 I'm thinking of going with the supershox, replace the factory air shocks and they say no lift kit need because the shocks raise the rear 1". And provide a better ride.

That sounds like a nice set up and the 1' increase should not give you any clearance issues, take it from me on that one.Lol..:laugh:. Let us know how you like that set up on your 2017 and pic's please.

Ride Safe,

Bill G

 

[Bill G]

Long ride today and the 1" lift brackets work great on the 2017 Tri Glide. Great steering, no clearance issues, good muffler tip clearance still, great ride in combination with my Pro Action rear shocks. I give the 1" lift brackets on the angled back second hole shock installation position an A+

Ride Safe All,

Bill G

 

[Trampas]

I went to the web site for the supershox and from what I can see triglides shocks won't be available until mid April, couldn't find any prices anywhere so time will tell

All for now Trampas