Has anyone lowered the front on a touring bike? If so how, did it change the ride/handling? Also how much, plus labor, did it cost?
I have already lowered the rear and bought a Reach seat. I was able to get my feet flat on the ground no problem, but my wife HATES the comfort of the rear portion of the Reach seat, and wants the stock seat back on. It is Mothers day, so I put the old seat back on, but now I have to figure out how to keep my feet planted when we stop.

 

I am 5'6" and ride a 04 FLHTCI - Stock height in the rear and stock in the front - Difference is I had a custom Corbin made at the Hollister Factory - OK, I know that is too far for you - however, there are several seat makers out there that may be able to assist you in getting the seat to fit you better - your stock seat is too wide and your legs have to go out first then go down.
Better boots with a higher heel may help - I ride with Red Wing Boots and the heel works great for me.

I also lowered the stock rear shocks and the wife HATED the ride, very rough and I tried everything to fix it - I also lowered the front - Big Job - front forks need to come off and lowering kit installed - LABOR, if YOU can not do the job and my guess is that you will not like the ride.

In MY opinion - lowering the bike looks cool but when riding two up - not too good on the passangers butt...

 

if you lower the front and rear equally it will handle good , I lowered the front and rear 1" on my Classic and the ride and handling was good, I had no major issues other than bottomed it loading on a trailer if I wasn't careful

 

from you pic - you ride solo??? When I lowered mine, I was fine - its the person on the back who can take a beating

 

How much did it cost to get the front dropped?

 

I have the progressive monotube up front, I can't tell you what the labor is, I did it myself. I went 2" under and it handles much better than stock even with a fork oil change. I can't see more than 4 hrs labor, it took me about 6 1/2 because I don't have a vice, so I had to make a trip to and from the job, plus I'm a novice, I don't do it for a living.

 

I did the work myself, lowered the front with Progressive monotubes

 

no not all the time, I have a solo seat , passenger seat , quick release back rest and a touring seat and tour pak on quick release , my wife never complained about the ride but I lowered the rear with Progressive 940 shocks , I'm sure how you lower it can make a difference

 

I just got the price from two dealers in town one said it will be $440.00 labor and the other said it would be $380.00 plus $140.00 for the parts this is on a 2011 Street Glide. They told me 4hrs labor. I think i will do it myself and buy my exhaust with that labor money. Go to you tube and watch how its done then make up your mind from there.

 

I lowered the front of my 99 eglide 2" with a progressive kit and have not noticed a loss of ride quality. Using the shop manual and progressive instructions the job was a piece of cake, it just takes some time if you've never done it before, which I had not. I did do a quick assembly without the main spring and compressed the forks to make sure there was enough clearance.