Lowering the front end on a TC88

[chopper]

HAs anyone used the progressive suspension kit to lower the front end of their softail? have a lowering kit on the back already and would like to bring the front down to match. Progressive do a kit that drops the front end 1 to 2 inches with new progressive springs etc.

Anyone have any experience of this?

[girlyglide]

I've used the lowering kits on a variety of H-Ds from Sportsters to Ultraglides. They work well.

What in particular did you want to know about them?

[chopper]

Just wondered if
A: they were any good and
B: if they actually improved the ride a bit

The stock forks are not the best feature of the bike IMO

[SX 150]

I put progressive springs in my evo softail, lowering the front by 11/2", and putting a heavier weight oil in.
Before they would bottom out regally, since the new springs, even with the lowering they don't bottom out,- definitely better.
With a 230 tyre on the rear (also lowered) and a 150/16 on the front, lowered front and rear. Its never going to handle well is it?

[kiwidave]

lowered my FXEF about ten years ago with one of those kits.

Who cares about the handling, baby? It looked GREAT afterwards...when matched with the two-inches-shorter-than-stock shocks!

[chopper]

Ok so it sounds like i should go for it then, i changed the fork oil a few weeks ago as the old stuff was looking quite black and the front end was spongy, stuck silkolene 20w in, is that ok with these progressive springs? am i right in thinking 20w is the heaviest you can get

As for the ride, i must be turning into a tart, this time last year i was riding around on a hardtailed shovel with springers now i am complete comfort (and loving it)!

Thanks all

Neil

[dantheman]

ive done the same a couple of yrs ago on the ol fxr, naw a softail mind you, but works a ferkin treat ,2" at the front and two inch lowered shocks at the back

[Phil]

Will it improve handling...No. There is no free lunch with suspension.
Shorter travel means harder springs. Progressive works by adding one or two more return springs under the emulsion tube. The Harley kit works by installing a longer emulsion tube. The HD kit gives better compliance, but both give a harder ride.
Progressive makes a spring kit which keeps the stock length, I have it on my bike & it is excellent. A vast improvement over stock.
With Harley Showa forks, using oil a lot thicker than stock makes it harder for the fluid to flow through the holes in the emulsion tube. If the fluid cannot flow fast enough to keep up with fork movement, the ride will become.......Horrible.

[chopper]

Phil, Thanks for the info, think i will go with the progressive kit, the forks at the moment are very spongy so a harder ride will be a vast improvement!
What weight fork oil should i be using, what the service book says or something different

[BrunoKatz WW1FighterPilot]

Originally Posted by Phil

Will it improve handling...No. There is no free lunch with suspension.
Shorter travel means harder springs. Progressive works by adding one or two more return springs under the emulsion tube. The Harley kit works by installing a longer emulsion tube. The HD kit gives better compliance, but both give a harder ride.
Progressive makes a spring kit which keeps the stock length, I have it on my bike & it is excellent. A vast improvement over stock.
With Harley Showa forks, using oil a lot thicker than stock makes it harder for the fluid to flow through the holes in the emulsion tube. If the fluid cannot flow fast enough to keep up with fork movement, the ride will become.......Horrible.

I fitted a set of progressive springs on my Fatboy last year using S.E. heavy oil . Has really improved the handling but the ride is so harsh, sometimes if i hit a bump, the bars are jarred from my hands.
If i changed to Regular fork oil, would this give me a softer ride but still maintain the handling Phil?