Progressive Suspension Drop In Fork Lowering Kit

Easy. Lower your front end with Progressive Suspension Lowerig Kit. Explanation & installation by David Zemla. marketing director. Must be because he talks better than any technician in the company.

20 Responses to “Progressive Suspension Drop In Fork Lowering Kit”


  1. 1 a 1 cycles Jan 8th, 2009 at 9:42 am

    i just dont think this system is safe..when doing a wheelie or riding very bumpy terrain your forks still have the ability to extend to full length then immediately crush back to lowered height with very little spring force for a couple of inches of travel..looks cheesy. wont install one at my shop..as it shows its for the home mechanic to install that way there is no liability for the shop. i would prefer a positive stop and spacer below the dampening rod to control fork extension…just doesnt seem right. also there is no adjustment of fork oil level t offset less volume of tube length? just “drop it in”…if im wrong maybe the marketing director can explain the safety merits of his system..or i s he interested in only the ease of home installation?

  2. 2 David Zemla Jan 8th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    Progressive Suspension also offers traditional fork lowering kits that utilize additional top out springs that limit fork extension for those who prefer that style. However, the Drop In kit springs are designed to work together to not only lower the front of the bike, but to also provide appropriate spring force to control fork firmness and bottoming, even when the fork is being compressed from full extension. The key here is that the Drop In Kits springs develop combined spring forces surpassing the stock spring’s capabilities. As far as requiring an oil level change due to “less volume of tube length” The full volume of tube length is still in play with the Drop In kit, so no change is required. The unique design of the Compensation spring is such that it is designed to repeatedly go solid, in fact it, as with all springs from Progressive Suspension, these are covered by our lifetime warranty. Progressive has been around coming up on 30 years, safety and performance have always been a hallmark of our product. I recommend you ride a Drop In Kit before you denounce it.

    Ride More. Type less.

    DZ

  3. 3 a 1 cycles Jan 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    you danced around the point of extension control..i have used all of your products for years..excuse my lack of tack..but i didnt denounce your product i said i wouldnt install it…i use all of your other products all the time..i just dont see how you control the extension of the fork..please explain oh great one.

  4. 4 David Zemla Jan 8th, 2009 at 2:13 pm

    Rebound damping and top out springs remain in control of the fork extension, same as prior to the installation of the Drop In kit.

  5. 5 rebel Jan 12th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    Harley uses the same basic idea with their low profile FL softail lowering kits(’89-’06 #54596-94) except they just replace the spring with a shorter one which is “progressively” wound on one end. So your really just simulating a worn out spring with a little better ride. The drop-in at least has a spring to take up the slack. Definitely not my favorite method to lower a front end, but quick for the guys at home. Also the Harley kit recommends a little more fork oil than the service manual calls for.

  6. 6 keith w Jan 18th, 2009 at 3:01 pm

    David, I have a 41mm fork assembly that is a HD wide glide copy…I don’t know the manufacturer but it came on a 2006 Swift Lucky Strike Bobber…do you have any of the drop in lowering kits that would fit this fork? If not what other lowering kit would work? Thanks for all your help.
    -Keith

  7. 7 Rich P Jun 30th, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    This kit does NOT do what it states for FLSTF. You cannot drop in this kit 10-2003 for the FLSTF. The chrome piece on the tree interferes with the tube. So guess what? You have to disassemble the forks like a standard lowering kit. Nice advertising Progressive.

  8. 8 Jerry K Jul 28th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    Got my kit and installed it on my Night Train with no problems. Sure the fender, wheel and brake come off and you need to slide the forks out of the triple tree but come on guys it is still pretty easy and you can do it at your house your self with little experience. I installed it and put the stuff back on and put bike on ground and didnt like it so back apart and cut another 1/2 in out of the pvc. Over all the kit is easy to install ( just looks tough ) as for the ride ….I love it and I am giving progressive 2 thumbs up on this one…the video above is misleading if you own a night train, but never the less easy….

  9. 9 Mr P Oct 8th, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    David, is that your “Two up” article in the June “Motorcycle Cruiser”? That was a good read and right on point. Do you have any other articles out there? Mr P

  10. 10 jen Jan 28th, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    How much does it lower the front end? I have a Street Bob that I’d like to lower. I stupidly had Harley install their lowering kit. 1/4″ didn’t make a bit of difference.

    Thanks

  11. 11 Mel Apr 15th, 2010 at 10:32 pm

    From what I have read in other forums, I think many people are having trouble with the instructions. I ordered the kit for a 2009 hd dyna superglide. The instructions are clear on everything except the length of the pvc. My kit has two pieces of pvc. They are 3 3/8″ long. Reading the instructions, it is unclear whether you install them as they are for a 1″ only drop and cut them 1″ shorter for the 2″ drop. OR is it that without the spacer you get a 2″ drop and cut a 1″ spacer from the pvc and install it to only get a 1″ drop. A little confusing at best and sure to get them many tech support calls.

    Any clarification?

  12. 12 Scott Jul 16th, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    I have to say, I am not feeling real good about now. I purchased the 10-2003 kit for my 2009 Road Glide. Talked to Progressive before my purchase, told them I was doing chrome lowers so the labor doesn’t matter, which kit is better (drop in or regular). They told me the ride is the same!!! said the drop in is easier for adjusting the height later. As I am adding a 21″ front wheel at the same time, figured being able to adjust the ride height would be nice. Instructions say to add 0.0″ PVC spacer. I called and asked progressive what that meant?? 0.0 will drop my front end 2″? So add 1″ to drop it an inch??? Guy didn’t know, said to start with 1 inch PVC, put it back to gether and test is, change if it isn’t right. They have never done a kit in a 2009 Road Glide?? Guess it is up to me to figure out, kinda LAME!!!!!!!!

  13. 13 rose hogg Dec 17th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    I am trying to reach David Zemla whose son Drew is about 16.
    Help!
    Rose

  14. 14 Bill Jan 14th, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    I have a 2000 road glide and i want to use the drop in kit, and i want to drop it about 1.50 any help. Bill

  15. 15 David Zemla Mar 2nd, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Rose, drop me an email.

    Bill, just saw this post. Appologize for the delay. Have you already gotten sorted out?

  16. 16 Florida Custom Cycle Apr 23rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    We Have A 10-2003 Drop In Lowering Kit From Progressive-We Want To Lower Front 1″/Not 2″—-Instructions ????????.Have You Done A 2010 FLHX 1″ Lower——-Removed Original Spring,Put In 1 Long & 1 Short/Washer & PVC Piece We Cut A 1″ Piece//// Did We Get 1″ Lower Or Back Where We Started From——-CONFUSED Rick F.C.C.-904-724-7480

  17. 17 custom bike May 23rd, 2011 at 9:47 am

    i have a ultima front end i need to drop at least 2 in. to make things work will it work for there 41mm wide glide forks it looks like the same as harley

  18. 18 custom bike May 23rd, 2011 at 9:49 am

    will thiz work with ultima wide glide forks

  19. 19 Z Sep 8th, 2011 at 10:32 pm

    Seems to be the un-answered questions of this thread…how much (if any) will the drop in kit lower my (FXST) front end. Per the instructions it says to use the chart provided to determine pvc length. Will the length indicated lower my front end? Or will it match it up to stock/factory length and then if I want to lower I cut the pvc? Seems to be a simple question that never really got a simple answer.

  20. 20 Z Sep 29th, 2011 at 8:27 pm

    In case anyone is interested. I asked a message to Progressive for my 2004 FXST and this was the reply. The 10-2003 drop in lowering kit pvc spacer length chart is to lower the front 2″. To clarify, the recommended spacer length for my FXST was 4.50″. At that length the front would drop approximately 2″. If I only wanted to drop the front 1″ then I would cut the spacer to 5.50″.

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Cyril Huze