I have had one conversation with a fellow HOG member who said he installed progressive springs in the front of his touring bike. He told me the ride and handling was much better. Glad he shared this, but I have never heard or read anything about the progressive front springs. That being said, I have search the forum, and all I have found concerns the lowering springs. I don't want to lower the front, I am concerned with the ride and handling. Any inputs would be appreciated.

 

There is so much discussion on suspension around HDF that it isn't easy to follow a single subject, such as fork springs. It isn't helped by there being a company (and HDF sponsor!) called Progressive, which can be confused with progressive-rate springs, which are made by other brands.

Springs alone are not going to transform a bike IMHO. If they are a little stiffer than stock they will reduce fork dive when braking, but it is difficult to see them transforming the ride. The major problem with Harley suspension is that the entire design is antiquated and suffers from poor damping, both front and rear.

If you are interested in improving ride quality then I recommend you consider improving the damping as well as the springs. Progressive the company offer a cartridge kit, as do several other brands, my personal choice being Ohlins. I'm currently working on installing their FKC101 kit myself. They are available with springs matched to your weight, and have an entirely new damper design.

 

I'm in the process of ordering stuff for my BO forks too. I'm going with emulators made by Ricor which are less expensive than going the cartridge route IF, you aren't replacing springs too. The recommendations I'm getting with respect to going the emulator route is to NOT use progressive springs but rather the constant rate types, if you're replacing springs, which apparently does give best results.

Near as I can see, grbrown is 100% correct. This suspension business is a convoluted topic with few clear cut or perfect answers. The impression I'm getting though, is that unless you screw something up royally, pretty much any upgrade you make is going to beat the pants off the OEM HD suspension.

I weigh around 225 lb and during even marginally aggressive breaking my BO dips abruptly and my rear tire chirps on the pavement. I've got ABS. I'm expecting the Ricor /Race Tech upgrades I'm doing will improve this situation. Others who have gone the same rout are convincingly impressed with their results.

 

I have Emulators in my Sporty and must confess I'm not impressed with them. I also have Race Tech single-rate springs, which are fine, as they are available matched to your weight. Intiminators get good reports in the Touring section.

Just to clarify, Race Tech make Emulators (and single-rate springs), Ricor make Intiminators.

 

grbrown, let me know what you think of the Ohlins after you install and ride. I am an avid dirt bike rider and truly understand the benefits of the correct suspension set up and understand the Ohlin reputation. Would like to hear a review before I drop that kind of money.
Thanks brother

 

My bad. I took the term "Emulator" to be the generic term for a product which the "Intiminator" by Ricor does a remarkable job of emulating.

 

Very clever! Although they are both add-in devices, intended to improve damping, I understand they do their work in different ways, so they are similar but not the same.

 

Welcome to HDF. Wilco, although they are part of a bigger project, so it may be some time before the bike is roadworthy once more. There are a few owners over in the Touring section.

 

I installed the Progressive Touring Drop-in Cartridges up front and 944 on the back for my '13 RGU. I like them alot.

It took away the spongy and vague feeling up front, for the rear, the 944s took away the harshness of the stock shocks. It's important to set the preload on the rear semi-correctly (better to be slighter stiffer than softer) in order to maximize the performance and feel.

It was bit of a PIA to install on a RGU (entire front-end had to come off), I imagine it would be a bit easier on a SG or even easier on a RK.

While I would love to have sprung for Ohlins but honestly, on a 800lbs+ bagger...., your just looking to improve the feel and ride, not maximize your time around a circuit, so it's hard for me to justify the money for top-shelf suspenders.

I would do the Progressive's again without hesitation.