IVE GOT AN 80 XLS,I NEED TO DROP THIS THING THE RIGHT WAY.....BUT WHAT IS THE RIGHT WAY????IVE TRIED THE 11 INCH REAR SHOCKS AND IT RIDES STIFF(ALMOST LIKE A HARD TAIL)ID LIKE TO BRING THE FRONT DOWN AT LEAST AN INCH.IM ORDERING PROGRESSIVE 11 INCH SHOCKS FOR THE REAR,BUT ID STILL LIKE TO GO ANOTHER INCH OR TWO.IVE THOUGHT ABOUT CUTTING THE STOCK SHOCK MOUNTS OFF THE SWING ARM AND MAKING NEW ONES ABOUT TWO INCHES FURTHER BACK BUT NOT SURE WHAT TO DO????

 

Fog Hollow has some kits listed that bolt to the swingarm and move the mounting location for the shock back but I dont see anytning listed for ironheads but check it out you might be able to mod it to fit you needs. They also have lowering kits for the front end.

T-Ron

 

Dont forget that most of the shocks have adjustment on them, did you try and adjust the smaller ones?
Moving the swingarm shock mounts will change the geometry, and create more side force on the shocks. Your ride will not be as smooth. You would have to move the mounts further back, and there is not a lot of room to do that anyways.

 

I KNOW I HAPPEN TO HAVE ONE OF THE YEARS THAT AFTERMARKET PLACES FORGOT ABOUT,I BOUGHT A WHITE BROTHERS KIT THAT WOULD NOT FIT BUT WAS LISTED FOR IT.AS FAR AS THE 11 INCH SHOCKS I HAVE TRIED EVERY SETTING MORE THAN ONCE,THE SPRINGS ARE JUST SO STIFF NOTHING HELPS.....THEY ARE THE SAME AS A STRUT ROD...NO GIVE,BUT THEY LOOK GOOD(LOL) I NEED TO LOWER THIS THING BAD,THE STOCK GOOD RIDING SHOCKS ARE JUST TOO HIGH(LOOKS LIKE A ENDURO)......THANX FOR THE INPUT.. PLEASE HELP??????

 

v twin agin they have kits for droping it but its gona ride hard... sorry but theres always a trade.im useing a 10 3/4in rear and a 2 in drop fro wide glide and its like rideing a rock... use caution an ironhead that sits at an incline will starve the back cyl of oil and will do damage sooner or latter the bottom of the frame must b level.
when u drop a bike your giveing up the gap from the tire to the fender, it dosnt have the room to move softly and it sits closer to the bumpstop.hence the hard ride

 

The front forks on an XLS are 2" longer than the regular Sportster so you could look into a lowering kit for those, and I think Progressive can cut your stock springs down for the rear & that might give you a smoother ride.