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Remember that the angle of the shock means that you don't get a one for one increase in "lift" for length. I went from 12.5" stock FXD shocks to 13.5" (roughly) and it only raised my bike's frame by about .7". I'm going to dial in another half inch of length and see what I get in the way of ground clearance....but I'll do this after I get new tires on it tomorrow.
Even the relatively small amount of lift made a noticeable difference in cornering clearance and nimbleness. I also lowered the fork units by about a half inch in the yokes. I'll likely bring them up to flush again with the longer shocks.
If you run a short shock, it will have very little travel. To keep from bottoming the shock, these use very high spring rates. There is no way around physics. Short shocks will be harsher than longer shocks. You will get incremental improvements with fully adjustable shocks, but I don't think you'll feel you got your money's worth.
I can't see the bike when I'm sitting on it and honking through corners, so I don't give a rip about "looks" when it comes to something so fundamental to my comfort, safety, and enjoyment as handling and suspension.
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