Beautiful bike! Congrats!

If you have the funds, take a look at the iRide adjustable suspension.

 

I know you said modding the seat may be a dead issue. I sent my seat from my '13 Street Glide to Mean City Cycle and they removed and replaced foam and narrowed the front of the seat. That helped imensely to let me flat foot. I'm 5'7" with 30" inseam. Might check with them and see what they have to suggest.

 

Mean City is sending the seat from my Shovel back to me as I type, I like there work.

 

pretty bike.

i'm short too. 5'4'' on a good day, with 28'' inseam, so know exactly how you feel. however, rather than going all crazy with lowering blocks, etc. that have a negative impact on your bike (and yes, they do....) i just practice good situational awareness. never park with the nose of your bike pointing downhill unless there is a way you can ride out of it.

my set up:
13'' legend shocks. with the sag set, they sit at the same height as the stock 12'' hd premium hand adjustables. and they ride much better
legends axeo cartridges in the front forks. lowers the front by 3/4''. didn't buy them for the lowering, but for the improved ride/handling. lowering was a bonus.
c&c wide solo seat (only a little wider than their standard solo but i wanted it for long distance touring, not bar hopping)

can i flatfoot? no, of course not. have i ever dropped it because of that? not in 20 years.

 

Instead of lowering blocks check out the HD Low Profile Solo Touring Seat.
It will drop you down an inch and is very comfortable.
You can purchase a pillion if you bring along a passenger.

 

You and I are more or less the same, 5'9" and 30" inseam and reaching the ground is a concern. I swapped out my 12" shocks with 13" Legends and once you set the sag and sit on the bike, you're put at more or less stock height but still have an extra inch of travel. I've heard too many negatives on lowering blocks and wouldn't trust them at all.

 

Congrats on the new ride!

I'm pretty much same size as you. I went the shocks route to lower my '13 King 1" front and rear. Then did the seat mod to get me closer to the ground. I know you mentioned seats already but plenty of good seat guys near you. LePera is in No. Hollywood and C&C is in Paramount if interested in them.

If you do lower the bike, I suggest a shorter jiffy stand as well. Otherwise the bike doesn't lean as it should. Those Santa Ana winds might tip the bike over...if you know what I mean.

Another option on seats is look in the classifieds here for a second seat, as seats come up often. You can get that mod, say from Mean City Cycles. That's what I did.

 

As to the seat/height issue, you may be able to get a local upholstery shop to narrow your existing seat. That has helped a few friends of mine in the past.

Those lowering blocks would scare me.

 

Congratulations "Grandpa"

 

2009 and up should all fit.