Slider tube Special- 45953-52

[jOe]

What’s the length difference between the slider tube- (1”+ road clearance) #45953-52 and the #45953-55 tube?

[EKHKHK56]

Hi Joe! 1” shorter tubes, Sept 1954 Enthusiast “The front fork has been changed for one inch more trail…to compensate ( for neck change) springs, damper control rods and main tubes have been shortened by 1”. Size matters! Erik

[jOe]

Ok- but - the parts book I have says 1” additional ground clearance. So looking at the manual, the neck is shown as having a 30° rake. If the tubes were 1” longer that wouldn’t translate into a ground clearance number. Should have stayed awake in geometry class.

[Ferrous_Head]

Hi Joe! 1” shorter tubes, Sept 1954 Enthusiast “The front fork has been changed for one inch more trail…to compensate ( for neck change) springs, damper control rods and main tubes have been shortened by 1”. Size matters! Erik

Forgive my ignorance, I am a Sportster guy.

Were there changes to the neck castings as well as to the triple clamps ?

I', a little confused here. Reducing the trail would actually lift the frame slightly.

Sportsters could be had with both 18 and 19 inch wheels. And "low road" or "high road" specification. I had thought the high road option was done for the CH's, meant to be off road race bikes, so more clearance desirable.

So, I was thinking the "high road" option might have been introduced along with the triple tree change to help the KR.

If you combine the 19" wheels with the =52 triple tree and the "high road" suspension it would change the ground clearance and handling characteristics of the bikes a noticeable amount.

But adain, sorry, I have no real knowledge about K Models. (And not much about Sportsters either)

[jOe]

Yeah- - I remember seeing some mention of neck casting changes, but what they were I don’t know. -56 or -56a?
I’m thinking that getting 1” more ( or less ) clearance only with the tubes would involve maybe a 1.5”-2” difference.
And - - where would that clearance be measured? It would be more towards the front of the frame and lessen towards the rear of the frame.
I’m thinking that all of this might be associated with the XLCH “mules” of the late ‘50s.