First read XLXR's excellent 14 page suspension write up. I wish I had.
The Progressing Monotube fork kit for the sportster comes in 2 flavors. 3.5 inch and lowered (part 31-2515 and 31-2518 respecively). I bought the 3.5 inch kit (31-2515) for my intended use. If you shop around you'll find the kit isn't much more then the cost of the Ricor suspension mod to your stock suspension.
The Progressive kit requires you to remove your fork tubes and none of the internals will be reused. Spring preload via sjpacers is the only adjustment and progressive doesn't offer much instruction on how to make this adjustment. The instructions recommend 6 spacers. I viewed their video for installing the kit on some kind of Glide which they say use 2 spacers for the average 170 pound rider. So, I ASSUMED 6 spacers was intended for a 170 pound rider and I used 7 spacers. With 7 spacers installed and everything put back together I had about 3/4 inch drop with me planted on the bike. This was a little less then the stock setup. At the same time I installed Progressive 970's (13 inch) to the rear. This should have given me a somewhat downhill angle with the rear of the bike higher then the front but anyone I asked said it looked level. I did have more ground clearance but haven't measured it. I may need a longer kickstand before I'm done.
I've ridden about 4500 miles with this setup and a Mustang seat. The longest was 320 miles about 4 times and a lot of 200 mile rides. The suspension is stiffer . I bottom out only on the worst potholes. I've never had any death wobble. Some of my riding is on gravel and washboard roads seem to give the suspension almost a hydro-lock feeling and the front will bounce off the ground until I slow to a crawl.
Would I recommend the Monotube kit? No. I think I could have done just as good reading XLXR's suspension write up and saved 300+ dollars. I'm not saying the monotube isn't better then stock. It's way better, I'm just saying the stock suspension can be improved for nearly 0 dollars.
The Progressing Monotube fork kit for the sportster comes in 2 flavors. 3.5 inch and lowered (part 31-2515 and 31-2518 respecively). I bought the 3.5 inch kit (31-2515) for my intended use. If you shop around you'll find the kit isn't much more then the cost of the Ricor suspension mod to your stock suspension.
The Progressive kit requires you to remove your fork tubes and none of the internals will be reused. Spring preload via sjpacers is the only adjustment and progressive doesn't offer much instruction on how to make this adjustment. The instructions recommend 6 spacers. I viewed their video for installing the kit on some kind of Glide which they say use 2 spacers for the average 170 pound rider. So, I ASSUMED 6 spacers was intended for a 170 pound rider and I used 7 spacers. With 7 spacers installed and everything put back together I had about 3/4 inch drop with me planted on the bike. This was a little less then the stock setup. At the same time I installed Progressive 970's (13 inch) to the rear. This should have given me a somewhat downhill angle with the rear of the bike higher then the front but anyone I asked said it looked level. I did have more ground clearance but haven't measured it. I may need a longer kickstand before I'm done.
I've ridden about 4500 miles with this setup and a Mustang seat. The longest was 320 miles about 4 times and a lot of 200 mile rides. The suspension is stiffer . I bottom out only on the worst potholes. I've never had any death wobble. Some of my riding is on gravel and washboard roads seem to give the suspension almost a hydro-lock feeling and the front will bounce off the ground until I slow to a crawl.
Would I recommend the Monotube kit? No. I think I could have done just as good reading XLXR's suspension write up and saved 300+ dollars. I'm not saying the monotube isn't better then stock. It's way better, I'm just saying the stock suspension can be improved for nearly 0 dollars.