Is it possible to install Progressive front springs with the forks still on the bike? Drop in method. I don't have any leaking from the forks at this time. It is a 07 RS Thanks

yes

Get the bike off the ground and secured on a lift etc.

Put an old bath towel or something like that on your gas tank to cover it.

Remove windshield if you have one installed.

Loosen the pinch bolts by the fork caps.

Being cautious of the fact the caps are under pressure and will go flying if you do not cup your hand over the top of them, unscrew the caps.

Remove your old springs. Install your new springs with the supplied PVC spacers cut to the length indicated by Progressive, large flat washer if your spring kit indicates to do so and then re assemble.

Torque the pinch bolts to the correct amount specified in the manual and you are done.

Those Progressive springs were installed in my last two cruisers and I just helped another bud install them in his Harley last weekend.

Thanks for the info. How about the oil level, will I need to adjust the level?

Yes but if your fork oil has never been changed now is the perfect time to do it

And if you don't change it you will almost certainly lose some when you remove the old springs so yes you will have to adjust the oil level.

Look in the "Tech Articles" tab to the upper left on this screen and you will see all kinds of helpful information.

To change the fork oil or properly check the height of it you will need to remove the front wheel, front fender, fork tubes etc. The tubes have to be stood up on a level surface and measured with the springs out and fully collapsed.

If you are just replacing the old springs with a Progressive kit, you can follow the procedure listed in my post above and not fiddle with fork oil. (although it is good to do for recommended routine maintenance)

Was going to just replace the springs at this time, just wanted to make sure that I was not going to cause any problems doing just the spring replacement. Still confused on how to get proper oil level without removing the forks? Just remove old springs and install new and let the fluid be? Wanted to wait till I need tires (next fall) and have my mechanic buddy change the fluid then.

Pull the stock springs out very slowly so the oil can run off them and into the forks. If they were stiff before, don't worry about adding more. If they were soft, add an ounce or so of 10 weight fork oil.

To properly check oil level you unfortunately have to remove the forks, although it's not hard if you're able to get the front wheel safely off the ground.

As for adding oil without a change, I've seen many sources that recommend not mixing different types of oil. Something about how sometimes one type can degrade the other or something. If you know exactly what's in there, then you could add more of that if needed, but if it's a mystery then I would just go ahead and change the oil anyway.

If you're changing the spring rate, then I assume you would want to change the damping as well, which would mean changing the fork oil weight.

Yeah, it's a lot of extra steps, but it's not difficult work and I think it's the proper way to go about it.

I've put those springs in mine and heavier oil as well. Made all the difference. Some even go to heavier rate Race-tech springs, although I'm comfortable with the compromise between every-day ride comfort and handling here.