There seems to be plenty of choice in shocks to raise the back of the bike, but what about lowering it?
I'm wanting to drop the back end of my 96 Savage by about 2 inches, so I think I want a pair of shocks about an inch lower, and somewhat stiffer to avoid bottoming out.  

I see that one user on here has had stiffer springs custom made, but has anybody come across shocks or springs off the shelf that will lower/stiffen the back of the bike?  I'm happy for a little stiffer but don't want to go hard tail.

Just as a point of reference: The stock shocks on my 99 have been lowered almost an inch (approx 3/4"). The bike can be loaded to about 300 pounds with the pre-load set on the hardest setting; and the shocks won't bottom out until hitting a really hard bump. I'd guesstimate that the shocks have less than 2" of potential travel. Anything less, and you might as well go to a hard tail. But personally I wouldn't give up that 1-1/2" (or so) of stiff suspension for anything, knowing what a hard tail would do to my back.

For handling purposes I find the shocks adequate, but for comfort I wouldn't mind having another inch or more of spring under my seat!  

Rockin_John wrote on 03/02/08 at 18:08:00:
Did you lower it or did the bike come that way?  
Yours sounds like just about the rear end I'm looking for, but I don't want to spend silly money on having a pair of springs custom made.  If I can find an off-the-shelf supplier of lowered shocks or shorter springs, it'll make my day.

  You can take the shock apart,Its not easy, cut off the rod and re thread,It will be hard but put the spring back in or cut the spring or get shorter spring.

bill67 wrote on 03/08/08 at 14:48:58:
I must admit I’ve considered that option, but I'll probably end up cutting down the rod and re-threading, but it would really need a new shorter, stiffer spring.
Using the standard spring with a shorter rod would mean no sag, and the ride height under load would probably be the same as it is standard (I weigh about 235 without clothes so I’d compress it a fair bit anyway).  I’m not sure about cruisers, but my experience of off-road bikes and sport bikes is that they are nightmares to ride if the sag is wrong.

Cutting the spring without a properly finished flat base will undoubtedly make it sit off-centre round the rod - I could turn and dremel a specially-formed seat from ally bar to locate the cut-off coils but still be left with too little tension to make up for the reduced travel, so I guess I may have no option but to pay for a pair of springs to be made!

skrapiron -FSO wrote on 03/10/08 at 05:57:13:
And they need to be shorter as well as stiffer, or the shock will be at full extension most of the time.

  Mine are 412-4233c came with two sets of bushing one of them worked. I don't know what the c means .