I lowered the rear on my 54 2 inches. Should I or do I have to lower the forks also? If so, any suggestions on using the brackets opposed to the straps?

 

yes if you lowered the rear lower the front also or it will look totally uneven and for the front just lower using your tripple trees when you use the strap it takes the rebound and the preloading out of you forks.it will be more like a stiff strut if you tie your forks down.

 

Lowering only the rear will also make the bike want to push in the corners. Of this I am certain. When I bought my bike a female had owned it and she had short legs so she installed a a lowering link dropping the rear 2". When I purchased it I let it alone because I kinda liked the way it sat, but the first time I hit my favorite twisty road I almost low-sided her several times. It makes the bike dangerous if you have an agressive riding style because it causes the bike to carry more weight in the rear litening the front somewhat. I could even see it in the way the tires wear. I had almost no chicken strips in the rear and about 1.25" chicken strip in the front. After I raised the rear back up it handles alot better and the strips evened out. Thats my experience, yours may vary but I doubt it.