How can I lower my bike?

The problem is the forward controls and the handle bars combined not just the bars.

The problem will never be fixed just by fitting bar risers that will take some pressure off your wrists , but realistically there wouldn't be much there anyway because of the seating position on the America.
Might be time to start looking at a different bike.

A lowering kit will lower the center of gravity & yes it will affect the handling, it improved the handling of my Softail.

The seat route is WAY less expensive... WAY LESS!!!

The ride height is determined by a couple of things, the suspension and the seat. If you can, try to find a different seat because lowering the bike effects the handling characteristics so much. Anytime you lower a bike, you reduce the "lean angle" which hampers you when you make turns. If you can't find a lower saddle, you can lower the bike. It depends on what year and model bike it you have. You didn't say. There are companies that make lowering kits for most bikes. Progressive is one of the more popular companies.

Good Luck
Steve

There is a complication to changing to the shorter shock. That is that when you hit a bump, the rear tire is going to rub the underside of your rear fender unless you set the dampening very stiff. If you can find a thinner seat, you can lower the bike by about an inch before you start running into problems. Also, the lower your go with the bike, the less "lean angle" you have available to you when riding the bike. In other words,once lowered, if you lean your bike over too far, you'll scrub the pipes or the kick stand.

Good Luck
Steve

there should be a BMW seat that will be lower than the original as an op extra , my mate has one for his 1200RT 2008. You can adjust the rear shock to lower your ride hight but get some hands on help,

set the twist-style spring preload adjuster to its lowest setting.adjust the front telescopic fork adjustment, Or change the tire aspect ratio(lower profile)on the rear.

you might want to get a smaller shock or maby a spring to, not completly sure

you can go with a thinner but also make sure the new seat is more narrow in the front of the seat this allows your legs to reach the ground eaisier.... also on that model on the left lower of the fairing you can push a button to adjust the rear suspension...also upon riding the gold wing handles much "lighter" once rolling...i have a 2001 and love the handling good luck

would I be better off shortening the rear shock or would the Emig link or something similar be better? Would you still have full amount of travel in the rear with the link? Looks like it would just change the swingarm location to me. Any clearance issues with the rear fender on full compression? Would it balance OK with the front if travel there is reduced to 10 or so?I have an '02 LC4 that I lowered the front forks by sliding them up into the triple clamp about 3/4. I had to put a washer under the handlebar mount to get the forks up as high as I could. Since I weigh 225 plus gear I set the rear sag about 1/4 inch over what it should be. I also bought racetech springs for the front and Adventurer springs for the rear. With my weight and the lowering method I used the seat height is about 1 1/4 lower than stock at static sag. With me on it it drops about 1 1/2 to 2 lower than stock. I can reach the ground easily. I don't really need to be lower since I am 6'1 but I like to ride tight trails and prefer to be able to put my foot down even when off camber downhill. I never botton since the racetech springs do there part, and I still have full travel length.,,,