Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods lower forks

so i put lower shocks on.....now do I lower the forks? how? it doesn't seem as easy a task as the Sportster was......

I did lower shocks and shorter front fork springs.
Have look: http://www.greatbaymotorcycles.com/catalog/catalog2.asp?id=BAM&search=&curpage=3

Part #: 1564BAM
America and Speedmaster Fork Lowering Kit Price: $99.95

Description:
Front fork lowering kit for the Bonneville America and Speedmaster. Lowers the front of the bike for that "slammed" look. Use with the rear lowering shocks for the ultimate lowered look.

Actually all you have to do to lower the front is remove the top caps, Pull out the metal spacers and either shorten them by about 1/2 inch or....buy a short length of PVC pipe if the same outside diameter and cut this shorter than the stock spacers. Before removing the caps you want to be sure to raise the front wheel off the ground. There is a lot of spring pressure under there and this will relieve it.
Cutting spacers down 1 inch does not equate to 1 inch lowering though. Start at 1/2 inch off stock and see where that gets you. Should be about 1 and 1/2 inch lower.

If you use PVC pipe be sure to clean it up and get all the burrs off of it.
When I had mine apart I installed a set of Progressive front springs. This mod really helps the ride.
Have fun....

I'm in the same boat U R
The lowering kit is less $$$ here:
http://www.mawonline.com/progress.htm

Once U do the rear the front will sit higher...if u ask me it needs to come down an inch or two. Sit the bike up straight & lay on the ground to look at the exhaust clearance. This will do all the talking. An old trick is to lower the front end an inch more than the front to make a bike look lower & fatter. Some bike builders still practice this trick or illusion.
It will give the bike the appearance of moving while sitting still esp.with a fat rear tire.

I have both front & rear sitting here because I'm waiting for my swing arm to come back from chrome & I plan on lowering the rear 1” as well as the front 2”

Note: it's not a tough job, but u do have to take the front end apart to install kit.
It comes w/all parts & install instructions.
The only catch to the front end removal, is catching the fork fluid so u can re use it
and, removing the lower legs from the tube(s)
U will need to remove some seals & a snap ring but that’s nothing.
An hour to take apart & an hour to put together!

Trick: everything will go great until u get to the lower leg removal but its easy...
A. lift bike remove front tire & fender, loosen all shrouds & hex screws then remove tubes from bike.
B. Remove tube caps & tip tubes upside down into clean bucket to catch fluid
C. Keep tube upside down & insert a broomstick handle into tube
D. Pull down on lower leg & tube while removing hex screw (located in axel hole on ea. leg)
E. Pull apart! DONE!
Caution: make sure to put pressure on the tubes & leg as it will burn up your dampener plunger seals in your tubes.

Sincerely,
Member
Gary James

Will using a shorter spacer make the rebound softer than it already is with the stock springs??

Gusser, actually if you use shorter spacers with the stock springs it will hamper the damping effect of the stock springs. I used the lowering springs for the front from Progressive. The springs are wound a little tighter to compensate for the shorter spacers. I think you can just buy the lowering springs without having to buy the whole kit. Just use PVC for spacers but I would recommend using lowering springs at least instead of the stock springs.


Fryguy

The 1”-2” front end fork Lowering Kit from Progressive PN# 10-1564 comes with more than just 2 springs. I highly recommend it if you want to do it the right way!
They (the kit) come with 4 small lowering springs that go below the dampener (in the lower leg), 2 large main springs, 2 PVC spacers, 2 metal flat washers, the all important instructions and 2 Progressive stickers.

Note: YOU WILL have to disassemble the front forks. As mentioned previously in this post...it's not that big of a deal.
I took my forks apart to have the lower legs chromed & it was sloppy but quick & easy.

Member
Gary James