Which swingarm kit?

[Mountainkowboy]

OK, I need some input guys....been trying to bring back an 87 bagger that was totaled. Got her running and riding but the cleve blocks in the swingarm are toast and the ass is all over the road. I'm going to use the factory swingarm due to costs for now and am going to upgrade the cleve block system. I'm looking at the Sta-Bo I kit and the V-twin rebuild kit that uses bearings.

Has anyone used either kit?

Any input would be great

[Dinero]

I had the Sta-Bo on my '07 Ultra until we added the sidecar. Then I had to go back to the original HD swing arm due to fitment issues for the sidecar.

[Backroad Mike]

I tried 3 versions of the Sta-Bo bushings. I was never very happy with the longevity of any of them. That was 8-10 years ago on the 05, so maybe things have changed?

[Mountainkowboy]

Originally Posted by Backroad Mike

I tried 3 versions of the Sta-Bo bushings. I was never very happy with the longevity of any of them. That was 8-10 years ago on the 05, so maybe things have changed?

How long did they last?

[Backroad Mike]

Originally Posted by Mountainkowboy

How long did they last?

If I recall correctly, likely not more than 10-15k. One batch was much less and I eventually replace it all with stock parts.

I got tired of constantly having to check it. The material compound just wasn't holding up and coming apart.

[Fe Butte]

I used "Glide Pro" on my '06 FLHTRi, seemed to really help with stability.


https://glide-pro.com/


But who uses bearings?

[Mountainkowboy]

Originally Posted by Backroad Mike

If I recall correctly, likely not more than 10-15k. One batch was much less and I eventually replace it all with stock parts.

I got tired of constantly having to check it. The material compound just wasn't holding up and coming apart.

That would probably work for long enough to "gather" the late model stuff and a CCE kit.

[MrSurly]

It is important to note that there are different types of Sta-Bo bushings. There replacement swing arm bushings; bushings that go inside the swing arm to fully replace the original cleve blocks.
There is a separate product sold as a stabilizer kit by Sta-Bo; these bushings (actually spacers) are used OUTside the swing arm, between the swing arm and the frame pivot covers. These are to reduce the vagueness of the tracking of the bike in turns and I found that they did help.

I used the Sta-Bo swing arm bushings in the '01 Road King and I liked them much better than the cleve blocks. they are still in there 35K later and still in great shape, the last time I peaked at them.

I ALSO used the Sta-Bo stabilizer kit and I was pleased with them. They added a little vibe to the boards at first, but I had no issue with them.
Note here that I had a semi-famous wobble in that bike... after many miles and various 'fixes' I eventually determined a true method of aligning the bike and the wobble went away. Sometime after this I removed the Sta-Bo stabilizers and notice no change with or without them. The swing arm bushings are still awesome.

[Backroad Mike]

Originally Posted by MrSurly

Note here that I had a semi-famous wobble in that bike...

Glad you got that fixed. The one I witnessed while closing at a high rate had my sphincter tightening too.

[Mountainkowboy]

Thanks for the info, getting ready to start taking it apart.