Hey guys. As some may know, Im riding a 2015 RGS. I recently contimplated scooping up a set of lowers for my bike. They are something I nevvvvver thought in a million years I would want, but they are starting to grow on me. I recently install a new amp and speakers in the fairing, and I picked up a set of saddle bag lids. Now I'm debating on ditching the bag lids and running the lowers
Does anyone have pics of there Rushmore with lowers installed?
How do you like them?
Probably a stupid question, Are there a lot of different styles, or typically all the same style?
Is it worth ordering up color matched?
If someone could school me on lowers, it would be greatly appreciated
I just put a set on. There are a ton of options out there. If you have a vivid black bike the color matching is much easier and affordable. But if you have a color other than black that narrows things down considerably. Here is a link to get you started and one to show the company that I got them from. These are the "newer" or "Rushmore" style lowers. There are plenty of options for the older lower style as well. Lemme know what you're looking for and I will help ya navigate the companies I researched (OEM, Fairing Factory, Matazu, Hogworks etc).
Forgot to answer your questions specifically... lol
How do you like them?
I'm really liking them, I'm sure even more when I get the speakers and pods installed. The wind management is really nice and noticeable and I think it helps fill out the profile of the bike.
Probably a stupid question, Are there a lot of different styles, or typically all the same style?
There are basically two styles, three if you count unvented ones. But there is a 2013 and earlier, and 2014 and later currently and widely on the market. The 2014+ really gets narrowed down though when you consider some things like paint match and or the little lever that operates the vent.
Is it worth ordering up color matched?
I'd definitely get them color matched. OEM will probably be your best option there if you want the new style lower in colors other than black. Hogworks paints to match but only has older version.
Thanks a lot rock103. All of information there, I appreciate you taking time out of your day to submit all that to help a fellow RG'er
I checked out your links, very helpful. I been back and forth on the lowers for a couple weeks now. Most the time you see them on full blown dressers, tour packs, and 2 up seats and so on. I'm definitely not saying there's anything wrong with that, it's just isn't my style (yet ;-) I live in upstate NY, we got hammered with snow most years, which gives us a solid 4 months to stare at our lonely Harleys in the garage. Last week I got all 52 parts back from powder coat (all black), and all in the same day UPS delivered my new Bassani roadrage exhaust, power vision, cams, soundstream amp, speakers, ect.... and I'm starting to understand what guys mean when they say that the lowers really help fill out the bike. I think it's a go! Time for lowers!
Now, the eBay lowers... I looked at quite a few of them and they say they are "black" in color. Has anyone had the opportunity to compare there black, to the HD black? I'd imagine it's gotta be pritty close right?
Also I see that a lot of them say "doesn't include hardware" Is there much hardware for these? Has anyone else been down this road? Was hoping maybe someone could pass on there hardware store shopping list
I purchased a set of lowers from Matazu off EBay, and they were already black denim which matched my bike at the time, the finish was good, not perfect, but did color match well, the fit was same as Harley, and I installed Harley speaker pods in them and they fit spot on. The hardware that came with them was garbage, for a few dollars you can go to your local hardware store and get decent hardware, or go to your local dealer and get the factory hardware for a little more. I always said that I would never have lowers, but now I do not think I would own a touring bike without them.
The lowers I bought, link provided above, has hardware included and paint was pretty good and as far as I can tell a perfect match. They cam pre assembled with perfectly fine hardware and I am very pleased.
Take a look at the vent differences between the '14-up lowers and the '09-'13 lowers. The vents are larger on the '09-'13 lowers, which may matter depending on your climate. I have a set of lowers off an '09 FLHT on my '15 RG, they work well and only took a little trimming to fit past the fairing supports.
True, I have been wondering about that as the heat of summer approaches. Thinking that since this style is offered on the non wet head bikes from the MoCo, they shouldn't be a problem with overheating. But we'll see...
The lowers direct from Fairing Factory have metal flake in the black paint like the newer paint scheme. I didn't want that contrast, even if it was small and not too noticeable. So I went with this newer offering off ebay that matches perfect. The Fairing Factory ones don't have the little lever system for the vent like OEM either.
It may be that I am new to the forum, but I cannot see the ebay seller you went with. Would you mind sharing? I have vivid black, which seems to be called out from a few. Would be nice to know there is a happy customer out there somewhere before I move forward.
Me and a riding buddy just did a test last week to see if we felt any air difference between the 14' up style lowers and the older style. We both came to the conclusion after many miles of riding and switching bikes multiple times, that we could not perceive any difference in airflow. Don't know if any wind tunnel results are out there but we could not tell that there was any more or less between the 2. The thing that gets most of us is that visually the new style vent door is smaller but the air is not restricted to just being force through the vent door. The air will go around the lowers as well and the thin part that frames the outside of the vent door, closest to the frame, does nothing to block any air. Now if you are one that likes to remove the vent doors on the older style lowers in the summer, that would make some difference. I personally like that new style lowers as the glove box doors are better and opening and closing the vents are easier. If you are adding speaker pods then the glove box door difference wouldn't matter. I've been meaning to start another thread on this topic but I've been riding too much to do it. Daytona is right done the road....:grin: I saw this thread and just thought I'd offer my 2 pennies just in case you were on the fence about which style you wanted. Good luck!
I found just the opposite. The older style lowers with the vents have almost twice as much air coming thru with the vent open over the new style lowers. If I had it to over again, I would buy the old style and have them paint matched.
I just ordered some color matched lowers from HD in Laguna Orange $700.
Then added the speaker pods color matched $300. Total with tax is over $1,000 and then you have to add a decent set of speakers. What is the best sounding speaker (driven by an amp) that will fit in the fairing lowers?
I put on a set of Advan Black new style lowers purchased on ebay. Color matched to Superior Blue. Paint match and fit is right on and look the same as the MOCO ones at less than half the price IMO. Have over 5K miles on them so far and no problems. Like the look of them on a Roadglide and they do cut down on a lot of wind. running an 11" LRS windshield.
Same here; I got a set of new-style ('14+) lowers on eBay a few weeks ago & only paid $143 - delivered. They are color matched (Vivid Black), with the glove boxes, and all mounting hardware. I wasn't expecting much to be honest - I just wanted to give them a try to see if I wanted to get a set of "real" ones.
Actually, I was shocked; They look and fit great. Not flimsy at all. they are a heavy ABS plastic - similar to the OEMs I've seen. The paint is an exact match - even the boxes are painted like the inside of the fairing on my Special. Maybe not quite as thick as the MOCO lowers, but they don't flex, rattle, or squeak at any speed - they mounted up rock solid.
The only thing I did was spray a little flat black paint on some of the mounting hardware and the inside of the two pieces of backing plastic on the inside of the lowers (normally not visible unless you remove the vent panels - they were raw plastic and not painted).
They are a little hot riding in the Florida heat, even with the vents open, so I bought a set of the Kuryaken grills for the Twin-Cooled lowers, painted them Vivid Black to match, and replaced the solid pieces - perfect. When it gets colder, I just pop them out and pop the original solid pieces in, and use the adjustable vents to keep my legs at a comfortable temp. HUGE difference in air management as well; It has eliminated ALL of the buffeting behind my 12 inch Freedom shield.
I don't think I'll bother with the MOCO lowers...these fit the bill perfectly. Great bang for the buck. :grin:
Happy to help. here's the guy I bought mine from, and his current stock of lowers. He only has the Matt Black 14+ in stock right now, but he has a bunch of the older style in various configurations.He usually has more of the newer 14+ types, just check back in a day or two, or send him a message to find out what he's got. Either will work, just depends on what "look" you like better. Good guy to deal with. :
My pleasure. I was really impressed with how well they color matched the Superior Blue and the quality of the paint. Newer style doesn't require any trimming.
Pictures of included hardware (top), and the HD hardware (bottom). Not only is the HD hardware higher quality, the installation approach is more clever, and would be way easier to quickly remove if you wanted.
BTW..remember - there are two different quick release kits - you can run either the older, or newer style lowers on any of the touring bikes, but the quick release kits are slightly different for each. The "Newer' style lowers have a "C" shaped clamp for the upper mount....like Sixfootmexican's photos three posts back.
your questions have already been answered as far as different styles etc... That said I just thought I would share with you my experience. I got lucky and received a free set of harley lowers from a friend. I just had to have them painted vivid black to match my bike, which IMO you have to have them painted to match for the best look. I was like you, never thought I would put a set of lowers on my bike but the look grew on me and I absolutely love them.
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