Hi All
This is all pretty new to me so be patient. I would like to lower my 05 1200c. all stock except some chrome and SE stage 1 kit. What is the best route to take. And is it a good or bad idea in general. (seat,suspension so forth. its 26.5 inches at the seat now, and 5 inches from the ground at the center lowest part of the frame.) I fit pretty well on it now..just like the look of it a little lower.
Rob

 

I wouldn't lower a 1200c. That bike is as low as it should be. Don't you feel the shocks bottoming out when you hit a bump already?

 

Folks (including me - I have an '05 XL Custom also) have had good luck with using 11" Progressive shocks and the Progressive fork kit. You can find nice deals by googling. It'll drop your ride without messing things up (in fact, will enhance your handling with the lower center of gravity, and the shock/fork springs are MUCH MUCH better than stock). The only thing is maybe some peg scraping if you take the twisties really hard. Check out another forum for a bunch on this subject - www.xlforum.net

Good luck!

 

This is cuz the stock shocks kinda suck. If you keep 'em, you might want to crank up your pre-load a notch or two if you bottom out a lot...

Good luck!

 

Thanks..keep em coming.

Rob

 

I cranked up the preload more than a notch. All that did was make me feel every road imperfection. Although, it did improve handling. I hear a bunch of noise when hitting big bumps though.

 

by the looks of the pic you need to lengthen your legs, not lower the bike!...lol...jus kiddin brother, when are we going riding...

johnny[sm=badbadbad.gif]

 

Thanks! I've been thinking about lowering mine also...maybe even putting on a wider front tire. Any thoughts about that?

 

Good luck with a wider front tire on the 1200C. I have been searching for weeks and the only wider tires I have found were the Metzeler 880 90/90-21 and the Avon Venum in the same size. these are less then 1/2" wider. I was hoping for at least a 100/90-21, but evidently no one manufactures a wider tire for the stock rim.

I think next year I'm going to get a 19" Fat-Forty [twisted spoke] wheel from Landmark and try to squeeze a 110/90-19 into the forks. I believe the Metzeler "Tourance" would work and give better grip on the gravel roads I must traverse. Not sure if that would work with the stock Dunlap rear.

Good luck to you; if you or any other viewers know of a wider front for the 21" rim, please post!

RJS

 

i like em lowered! looks good!