Progressive 440 Shocks Vs. Mystery Shocks
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Harley shocks are $15 a set shocks. The BEST Progressive shocks are worth about $100 compared to Fox, Ohlin's, Works, WP, or Penske. Air shocks are a joke also. Good suspension and brakes are the most important things you can set up on your bike. Adding Chrome is the last thing you should even think about. Most will not understand but the ones that do will find their money better spent and ride their bikes more and further.
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 351
Likes: 2
From:
[The story takes an interesting twist. Howard Messner, always interested in educating us in the vagaries of Harley Davidson suspension issues, called me and said he was sending me a set of shocks to test. No charge. He wouldnt accept anything except the cost of postage.]
So who the hell is Howard Messner and how did he know you blew the shock in the first place?
So who the hell is Howard Messner and how did he know you blew the shock in the first place?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 11
From: Palm Harbor fl.
Rounder, the shocks are 12"- stock for the '06 Streetbob. Howard helped me with instructions about set up. I didn't buy them, so I don't have any information about warranty or customer support- I don't think the purpose of this experiment was to boost interest in one particular brand or shock but to get folks to look at the issues, the difference in qualities, etc. As far as set up for the Progressive 440's, all I can say is that they were installed by a dealer, they served me well for 10,000 miles, and I had no idea that other shocks of comparable cost would be so identifiably superior in ride quality. That for me was what this project was all about, really.
Thanks for your questions- good ones. Ride safe, and if you're ever in Chicago let me know. I work on the west side and will buy you lunch. Jay
Thanks for your questions- good ones. Ride safe, and if you're ever in Chicago let me know. I work on the west side and will buy you lunch. Jay
Matter of fact, if you were riding the progressives with them adjusted incorrectly this comparison is null and void. Can't really compare an ill adjusted shock with a correctly adjusted one .
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 805
Likes: 6
From: Burb of Chicago
Respects,
Ed
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From:
one thing for sure, if you never adjusted the 440's from their initial settings, I can see why they would have blown out on you.
Matter of fact, if you were riding the progressives with them adjusted incorrectly this comparison is null and void. Can't really compare an ill adjusted shock with a correctly adjusted one .
Matter of fact, if you were riding the progressives with them adjusted incorrectly this comparison is null and void. Can't really compare an ill adjusted shock with a correctly adjusted one .
Hope this helps explain where I'm comin from. Ride safe. Jay
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Reading More Posting Less
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,658
Likes: 3
From: NorNev
[The story takes an interesting twist. Howard Messner, always interested in educating us in the vagaries of Harley Davidson suspension issues, called me and said he was sending me a set of shocks to test. No charge. He wouldnt accept anything except the cost of postage.]
So who the hell is Howard Messner and how did he know you blew the shock in the first place?
So who the hell is Howard Messner and how did he know you blew the shock in the first place?
Howard Messner is the one that originally developed the dual brake system that JayRisk is using on his bike. He owns Motorcycle Metal, is a site sponsor, and works on and upgrades Harley suspensions for a living.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From: Monroe, LA
Very interesting posts. The Progressive HD440s on my bike have been a great improvement over the original shocks as everyone here have said; so good that I installed Progressive springs on the front. Even though the 440s have a lifetime warranty it only replaces the shocks, which wouldn't help much if you'd have lost it and gotten hurt when your shocks failed.