Let me start by saying that I am in no way an authority on the subject, but I did lower my 2011 last year and have had a few teachable moments to share. First off before you lower, ask yourself why you are lowering, and do you need to do it. I did it to get a better grip on the pavement when stopped. But soon learned that with just 1.5 inch drop I was bottoming out in gas station parking lots and over almost every speed bump. Even scrapped bottom getting into the garage. Lowering the bike looks great and if you are going to the drag strip it can help keep the nose down but there are easier and simpler ways than the triple clamp. Brock's makes a lowering strap that works great, and you can very easily lift the bike back up with little or no effort. So you can drop it when needed. Another thought is this. With the tree clamp you can only lower the bike down to where the forks start to tapper out. With the strap you should be able to go as low was the plastics will let you. Like I said I did the tree clamp and bones on my 2011 last year. I have a new 2012 this year and I am going straight for the Brock's kit. I hope I have given you accurate info here. Insure if I didn't, someone will be along to set me straight. Good luck, and post some before and afters...