Ricor, Works, Ohlins... Whos at the top?
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 76
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From: Tucson
Ricor, Works, Ohlins... Whos at the top?
Researching new suspension for my 2011 Street Bob. These three keep popping up, so I'm trying to get a general consensus of who prefers what, and why? I ride solo 99% of the time, and I'm finally starting to get more comfortable with riding spiritedly, so suspension seems like a good place to start.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 893
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From: Knob Noster, MO
I run stock height HD Progressive drop in springs in the front and stock height HD Progressive 412's in the rear and love them. I ride 2up majority of the time and Progressive has a good line up to better setups.
I don't think it's a matter of who is at the top. It is a matter of your budget and what level of suspension you want to purchase to make your bike handle the way you want. Any aftermarket setup is going to be better than stock, so you can only improve.
I don't think it's a matter of who is at the top. It is a matter of your budget and what level of suspension you want to purchase to make your bike handle the way you want. Any aftermarket setup is going to be better than stock, so you can only improve.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 368
Likes: 2
From: Oceanside
Yep its all about how much you want to spend. Ohlins makes amazing products but they are soooo expensive. Hell I never even considered an ohlins upgrade for my CBR it was just outta my league. Look at racetech springs and heavy oil up front and works in the rear. They both have great customer service and will set you up with something that suits you and your riding style
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 368
Likes: 2
From: Oceanside
Can't go wrong with the works dual rate rear shocks at 630, the race tech springs are 130 and their gold valve emulators are about the same. This is the route I'm going in the next couple months. Plus a true Trac.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels, Texas
both the ricor shocks and intimidators are on sale. You can do the front and the back for about 850 total. I just put the ricor 12 1/2" sport tune shocks on my dyna and I love them. I never realized that a quality shock makes a huge difference in the cross wind.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 737
Likes: 8
From: Near Atlanta, GA
Ohlins...
I've had them on my sport bikes but decided to follow the conventional wisdom on the various HD forums when I bought the Wide Glide and picked up a set of Progressive 440HDs in back and the Progressive springs up front. The 440's were better than the OEM shocks, but still didn't do what "shocks" are supposed to do... suspend the bike. They also couldn't be adjusted beyond preload. I guess some folks like the semi-hardtail feel of the OEM and Progressive shocks, but just not my cup of tea.
I started looking at other options as was thrilled when I discovered there was an Ohlins dealer in Fla (Howard at Motorcycle Metal) who was reworking Ohlins for use on Harley's. It was money well spent: it transformed the bike's comfort and handling.
Yes, you loose the "low rider" look when the bike is sitting on the jiffy stand: that's because you gain quite a bit of positive and negative stroke over the typical cruiser shocks and the shock won't be at the proper ride height until you have the specified rider weight for your springs sitting on the bike. Sag with the OEM & Progressive shocks was maybe 7.5mm - 10mm at best. It's more like 32mm with the Ohlins.
Still need to bite the bullet and have the front springs replaced with some Ohlin's cartridges. Again, the Progressive springs improved the front-end feel, but it's still well off the mark for how a proper set of forks should work in this day and age.
If anyone wants a set of 12" Progressive 440HD's, they're just sitting in storage. Make me a reasonable offer and they're yours. Info & Photos.
I've had them on my sport bikes but decided to follow the conventional wisdom on the various HD forums when I bought the Wide Glide and picked up a set of Progressive 440HDs in back and the Progressive springs up front. The 440's were better than the OEM shocks, but still didn't do what "shocks" are supposed to do... suspend the bike. They also couldn't be adjusted beyond preload. I guess some folks like the semi-hardtail feel of the OEM and Progressive shocks, but just not my cup of tea.
I started looking at other options as was thrilled when I discovered there was an Ohlins dealer in Fla (Howard at Motorcycle Metal) who was reworking Ohlins for use on Harley's. It was money well spent: it transformed the bike's comfort and handling.
Yes, you loose the "low rider" look when the bike is sitting on the jiffy stand: that's because you gain quite a bit of positive and negative stroke over the typical cruiser shocks and the shock won't be at the proper ride height until you have the specified rider weight for your springs sitting on the bike. Sag with the OEM & Progressive shocks was maybe 7.5mm - 10mm at best. It's more like 32mm with the Ohlins.
Still need to bite the bullet and have the front springs replaced with some Ohlin's cartridges. Again, the Progressive springs improved the front-end feel, but it's still well off the mark for how a proper set of forks should work in this day and age.
If anyone wants a set of 12" Progressive 440HD's, they're just sitting in storage. Make me a reasonable offer and they're yours. Info & Photos.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,535
Likes: 42
From: Bossier City, LA
Ohlins is the best but if you never ride a bike with em you won't know what you're missing. Works makes good stuff, that's what I'm running. Ricor makes good shocks too but I'm not a fan of how they look. Single rate fork springs and ricor intimidators are amazing, probably the best performing set up for the money, and cost less that $300. Not as good as cartridges but it goes back to the you don't know what you're missing deal. Throw in a true track or sputhe stabilizer and a fork brace and you'll have yourself a pretty nice set up or around $1200.
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Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Tucson
Thanks all for the input. I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on Ricor shocks, intimidators, a sputhe, and a fork brace. Is the progressive fork spring a good compliment to this set up? Or is there another brand I should be looking at?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 804
Likes: 1
From: 415
IMO - Stick with the stock fork springs at first.
Also, don't buy the fork brace yet either. Wait and see. The 49mm fork tubes are damn stiff.
Ricor rear, Initiminators (plus new fluid), Sputhe. Try that.
Edit: and maybe some Metzelers.
Also, don't buy the fork brace yet either. Wait and see. The 49mm fork tubes are damn stiff.
Ricor rear, Initiminators (plus new fluid), Sputhe. Try that.
Edit: and maybe some Metzelers.
Last edited by macnab_sf; Aug 23, 2012 at 11:40 PM.