Glide-Pro Stabilizing System - Hot Bike Baggers Magazine

Glide Pro Stabilizing System Stabilizing System

So our pal Rob's '95 Road King has seen better days. It could be the bike's age. Or it could be his 65-mile 80mph asphalt assault getting to and from work. In any case, he was complaining to us about how the bike felt wobbly even with the recent rear shock upgrade.

Under closer inspection, we saw that the rear swingarm pivot bushings looked like they had been through the ringer and needed an overhaul.

Glide Pro Stabilizing System Stock Axle Plate Removal

1 We started by removing the stock axle plates and checking them for wear.

After searching out some choices, Rob settled on Glide-Pro's products due to its reputation in fixing wobbly baggers. Rob chose to go with Glide-Pro's Stabilizing System, which includes a swingarm kit and front motor mount for '87-08 baggers.

Glide-Pro has formulated a proprietary compound for its urethane swingarm and motor mount isolators. By using urethane over the OE rubber it noticeably improves the stability of the FL frame.

While we started off just wanting to swap out the swingarm bushings, it made sense to replace the lower motor mount at the same time so they could work in conjunction with one another to improve the performance of Rob's bike.

We hustled the bike over to Devin and Kazoo at Freedom Cycles in Orange, CA, and they had the new kit, including the engine mount installed on Rob's Road King in about an hour and a half. Once the bike was off the stand and on the road the upgrade was immediately noticeable once we hit freeway speeds. The bike felt much tighter and responded positively even in off-camber corners such as the sweeping "cloverleaf" onramps that are the bane of a stock bagger's existence.

If you feel that your pre-'09 bagger is feeling like it's doing the hula, you may well enjoy the Glide-Pro Stabilizing System just as Rob did.

Parts List
Stabilizing System
$398
PN GP 2301-5/8

2 The stock swingarm pivot shaft was removed from frame. It will not be used again.
2 The stock swingarm pivot shaft was removed from frame. It will not be used again.
3 The stock unit (top) was a bit worn and the Glide-Pro offering (bottom) has a more beefed up design.
3 The stock unit (top) was a bit worn and the Glide-Pro offering (bottom) has a more beef
4 The new Stainless pivot shaft was lightly coated with anti-seize and inserted into the frame and swingarm.
4 The new Stainless pivot shaft was lightly coated with anti-seize and inserted into the

5 The new urethane isolator bushings were then installed.
6 Glide-Pro provides all the necessary hardware such as these stainless washers and nuts, which cinch the axle and isolators down.
6 Glide-Pro provides all the necessary hardware such as these stainless washers and nuts,
7 Once the pivot shaft was tightened to 40 lb-ft we reinstalled the axle caps and this part of the job was done.
7 Once the pivot shaft was tightened to 40 lb-ft we reinstalled the axle caps and this pa

8 Next was the front motor mount (arrow). It resides between the frame rails under the voltage regulator.
8 Next was the front motor mount (arrow). It resides between the frame rails under the vo
9 To gain access to the front motor mount we had to first remove the voltage regulator.
9 To gain access to the front motor mount we had to first remove the voltage regulator.
10 We then removed the various fasteners that held both the bushing and engine plate in place.
10 We then removed the various fasteners that held both the bushing and engine plate in p

11 With all of the hardware loose and out of the way, we could remove the old motor mount.
11 With all of the hardware loose and out of the way, we could remove the old motor mount
12 The Glide-Pro motor mount (left) has a steel shaft through the unit to aid in controlling the movement of the bushing, whereas the stock one (right) does not.
12 The Glide-Pro motor mount (left) has a steel shaft through the unit to aid in controll
13 The new motor mount was installed and checked for fitment.

14 The various fasteners that hold the motor mounts in place were all tightened back to factory specs.
14 The various fasteners that hold the motor mounts in place were all tightened back to f
15 The main motor mount bolt was then torqued to 20 lb-ft.
16 The voltage regulator was put back into place and the tightening up of the Road King's engine and suspension was complete.
16 The voltage regulator was put back into place and the tightening up of the Road King's

SOURCES
Freedom Cycles 1520 W. Katella Ave. Orange CA 714-628-0049 www.freedomcyclesoc.com	Glide-Pro 9625 Mission Gorge Road #B2-305 Santee CA 92071 619-449-6251 http://www.glide-pro.com/