OK...so I bought this really sweet 2004 1200C and the previous owner had it lowered because he was pretty short. So the shorter rear shocks (11") were completely wrong, (earlier year Sportster series) and I have fixed that with 1" longer than stock Progressive 412s. But the front forks were lowered too with a Progressive lowering kit. As near as I can tell, I am going to have to disassemble the front end. No biggie but I need one bit of information I just cannot find anywhere online. Can anyone out there tell me the unloaded distance between the chrome fork seal cap and the lower triple tree? Mine is just shy of 4" and I'm pretty sure that's too short, since the specs I have seen say the travel is 5.4". Sagged with me on it, the distance is about 2.75". I'm pretty sure I have the 2 topout springs under each damper rod but knowing what the proper distance is will help me figure out how to attack this.

Thanks for any guidance on this.

Warren
fclass308

 

If you want to go back to stock, I would just order the Progressive Front spring kit # 11-1527 for about $95.00 and be done with it. Your going to have to make some pvc spacers to get the ride height back and I'm not sure how it would ride with the shorter lowering springs in there. I have an 09 custom and I'm pretty much doing what your doing, 1" longer 412 rear shocks and using the standard length progressive kit in the front. I have this same setup on the Sportster I built for my wife a couple of years ago and even thou it is lowered and set up for her (125 lbs) at 200 lbs I can ride it and it is comfortable, although it will bottom the rear shocks unless I adjust them..... Good luck on your project.

 

I'm going to try the springs I have first with spacers, but if it doesn't give the ride I want, it will get new full size springs. According to the Progressive lowering kit with single springs per side vs. 2 springs per side, there are likely one and maybe 2 additional topout springs on the damper rod making the ride height lower. I would love to NOT have to pull the fork apart and that is why I am looking for the distance between the fork seal cap and the lower triple tree on a stock Custom. The guy at Progressive told me that the Customs have a full size fork and is not shortened, so that is a plus. I may still have to yank it apart anyway.

Glad I'm not the only one not crazy about low bikes. I like to carve corners. The new +1" 412 shocks are orders of magnitude better than what was on it.

 

The only way you are going to increase ride height at the front is by dismantling your fork legs and putting right the lowering kit. Check Progressive's website for details, or call them for advice. Also get yourself a genuine FSM, so you can read about what needs to be done!

 

Yep. I'm almost positive that those little springs are the reason for the lowered ride height. Guess I'll just take it apart this weekend and be done with it.

 

Update on the munchkin sized sportster:

I pulled the forks down and sure enough there were 2 1" springs under stock top-out spring on the damper tube. Put it all back together to stock specs with 9.5 oz. of 10 wt oil and voila!!...it actually has some manners.
I put 3.5" spacers on top of the springs that were in it and the sag is perfect. I didn't get to ride it far but the difference is night and day.
No more head shaking when letting go of the bars, no more bottoming, no hunting in corners....I'm a happy camper. I'll take it out tomorrow for a 20 mile run on some known crappy roads and evaluate the springs.

Thanks to all for the advice.