I installed the Ryca fork "shortening" kit today. It doesn't really shorten the forks, just the amount of rebound travel by slipping a spacer onto the damper rod.



The fork is fully compressed in the shot below because I haven't installed the springs yet. I'm awaiting notes from Ryca about the proper length to cut the spacers. You don't cut the spacers if you're using stock springs, because the stock springs are kind if limp and could use all the preload they can get. I got the stiffer springs.



Oh yeah, and I temporarily installed the clip-ons.



The process isn't hard. I replaced the seals, retaining clips and wiper boots while I was at it.

I used the same clear coat remover. Good stuff.

You had to order it? Wow. It was on the shelf at my local AutoZone.

Cool. Thanks. I don't remember getting the update on this. Everything else usually shows up in my email.

Shortening springs usually makes them stiffer. That might be good or bad, depending on the spring rate you start with and what sort of rate you want to end up with. These are progressively wound springs, so there's a "soft" end and a "hard" end. You'd get different results from whichever end you cut.

Cutting the spacers isn't any harder than cutting springs. Fire up the angle grinder and cut away.

Should Ryca have included correct length spacers with the upgraded springs? It would have been nice, but considering how overwhelmed they are, I can cut my own.

The general rule of thumb is to slide the springs and spacer in, then cut off the amount of spacer that sticks above the end of the fork. Then the fork cap will compress things to the proper preload. I'll go see how much sticks out in this case. If it's 1-1.5", then I'm in the ballpark.

UPDATE: The spacer sticks out about 3/4"

Ryan pointed me to their YouTube page. Found it, cut an inch off the spacers, put it together except for oil. I'll put that in at final assembly of the whole bike.

Looking good and I'm looking forward to more photos of your build.  I got my fork parts yesterday and am just waiting for my build slot to come up.

Now that I think of it, a pipe cutter would work quite nicely.