Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Contemplating Lowering

I just got a good deal on a Progressive fork lowering kit from member Sonny. So now I am trying to decide on lowering the front 1" or 2". I also figure I am going to lower the rear at the same time. What shocks do I need to get to do this? Progressive lists 412's, 418's and 440's. What length should I get these in? I'm thinking I need to get the heavy duty if I go this route as my svelt frame only carries 300lbs. Should I just go with Streetboogie's lowering blocks? How is lowering going to affect overall handling? Not that huge of a deal since I live in Illinois and if there is a curve in the road around here you had better call IDOT to repair that glitch. Everything in my suspension is stock right now. Any comments, suggestions, concerns and/or whimsical stories are welcome.

Personally I think going 2 inches would be too much and REALLY hurt handling, I mean you do have intersections, right? I am pretty sure the stock length for the rear shocks is 12.5, so just subtract from there when ordering.

Lowering your bike improves handling, gives you a lower center of gravity. My bike has been lowered 2" and handles great!!

What about lean angle tho?

So, if you're gonna lower the front, do you have to lower the rear also?

I would.

Yeah, I figure if I am gonna' lower one, the other has gotta' go wit' it. Hence the contemplation.

In my opinion, and I read it somewhere, that if you lower the front of any bike you should lowere the rear the same amount. However, the oposite is not true, you can lower the rear without lowering the front.
Good luck

Use this for the rear. Standard 11.5": 412-4254C from the Vault. Also lower 2" in the front. This will level the bike out. You will notice a huge difference in better handling and ride. Although you might have to shorten your kick. Jaymo54 helped me though mine with a step by step. No more front end dive.

I can lean far enough to scare myself if I want to. I can do the twisties as well as anyone, and can keep up with anyone, plus , to me it makes you feel like your more a part of your bike instead of just sitting on it.

The older triumphs would starve the top end of oil if you lowered the back to much without lowering the front, You should try to keep the motor level.

BikerT - sounds like you dropped 1" in back and 2". Sounds like it works well for you. I'm thinking it probably looks pretty nice also.

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Standard 11.5": 412-4254C

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So, being the lightweight that I am (300lbs.) should I get these in heavy duty. Do they make them? Also, it looks like your saying 1" lower in back w/ 2" lower in front. Am I getting that right? Any idear on how much more or less fork oil I need? Can I do the fork lowering by just removing the top caps or will I need to take the forks off?

Easy Grzegorz! I just briefly glanced at the manual and thought I was gonna' have to take the forks off. A man can have hope though, can't he? Any other advice you can offer would be appreciated. You just got done doing this, right? Any tricks to the process? Thanks.