Is it possible to get some aftermarket heavy duty shocks that lower the fatbob 1 inch or so and give it a smoother ride over bumps?

 

Heavy Duty shocks that lower it yes, that lower it and give you a smoother ride no.Maybe some 12" air shocks, it'll sit lower when you're on the bike.

 

The Progressive's that most of us use do lower that rear end but certainly don't make it more comfortable. At times they irritate me with the harshness but they look cool so I put up with it..for now.

 

I couldn't be happier with my HD Progressive 412's. I put 12"ers on to replace the stock 12.6"ers so it lowered the bike a bit and definitely improved both the ride and the handling.

 

I have the 11" progressive HD and they ride well to me...better than stock anyways...
thing is I am surprised how un heavy duty they are. I have the preload on three clicks and only weigh 195... wonder if the contents of my HD box were not HD
(I rode the stock shocks on the 3rd click of preload)

 

Just intalled works 12" on my Street Bob, love the ride preload is adjustable but they raised the bike up. Youw could always get 12s and a lowering kit. I was dragging the hell out of my stock exhaust with the wife and gear on the bike. These new shocks all but eliminated tha dragging problem. They also make 11.5s in the model shock I bought.

 

There is no difference in ride for the full stroke of the shock (in a quality shock only!). If you run out of stroke than your bike moves. Your stroke bottoms out at 9 1/4" eye to eye. If you own 12" shocks you have a 2 3/4" stroke. If you shorten your shock to say, 11" you now only have 1 3/4" of stroke. No difference in ride for the 1 3/4" but if you go over a 2" square bump (not a rolling bump) your bike will move upwards 1/4". As far as 412's goes they are Hydraulic shocks, the 2nd cheapest to produce. If you go to a gas (nitrogen shock) they are better no matter whose brand you buy than the proceeding. There is a great difference in shock technology from the Works/Progressive line to a real shock such as Ohlins & Penske. The pricing is $200/412's, $500 for a Works (much better than a Progressive 440, & start @ $1,000+ for Penske or Ohlins. Is there that much difference, you bet ya. For a person who wants to lower a bike like you wish to do, ride should not be a concern as hard parts hit sooner & at lower speeds.

 

I just put on a set of Ted Tine FXD-CR shocks. I was planning to go with the YSS shocks from Howard at Fast Harley, but I got these basically new (1 hour on them) for less than half price, so I took the plunge. I haven't had a chance to really wring them out good, but they seem like a huge improvement in handling based on a short bolt around town. They are 12.5" (stock length) but actually lower the rear stance a bit which is just right. I'll report back after I've had a chance to give the bike a good run and get the set-up nailed down (they're two-way adjustable).
http://www.tedtine.com/shocks.html#shocks