How To: Lower sportster forks

did you shortin the length of the fork tubes at all ?

Originally Posted by ironhed

did you shortin the length of the fork tubes at all ?

No, I used stock tubes, the lowers get sucked up when you do this procedure, which shortens everything in a way.

To date, this is the most useful tech item I have seen on this site. Good job.

Bob - I'm really enjoying your new avatar photo.

Great tech dood.Luv the avatar. What front tire you runnin...Like it!

Originally Posted by bobhopper

No, I used stock tubes, the lowers get sucked up when you do this procedure, which shortens everything in a way.

i need to lower mine bout 3 1/2 inches would this be to much without machineing tubes ?

Originally Posted by ironhed

i need to lower mine bout 3 1/2 inches would this be to much without machineing tubes ?

the best thing to do is slide your forks up through the trees 3.5 inches and see how much travel you have between the bottom trees and fork lowers. that'll be the determining factor when lowering your front end

Originally Posted by brooklynbomber

Bob - I'm really enjoying your new avatar photo.

thanks bk,

ive got 2 inches of travel so i reckon that will be fine i might put a little extra preload on springs
i made spacers out of alloy is there any issues with that ?

Originally Posted by ironhed

ive got 2 inches of travel so i reckon that will be fine i might put a little extra preload on springs
i made spacers out of alloy is there any issues with that ?

I dont see any,

what size PVC are guys using?? and would it be better/worse to use a PVC coupler?? i think theyre thicker (which i dont know if that would be better or worse) i just figured theyre already short and cut straight.

I just rebuilt my 04' sportster 39mm front end with progressive lowering kit #10-1560. On that kit you add an additional damper spring(s), instead of the pvc spacer, to the damper rod. The pvc spacer on mine goes at the top of the fork tube under the fork cap instead of on the damper rod. What kit/model number are you installing here?

Great write up by the way.

does preload=stiffness?? meaning more pre-load on the frontend means a harder/stiffer frontend?

Same concept for softail wide glide forks?