Got these extra long to raise the rear of my FXD to allow more clearance and quicker steering response. Installed them and they worked pretty much as expected. The bike sits pretty tall when parked and leans over quite a bit on the stock jiffy stand but I got used to it.
One thing that bothered me shortly after installing these long shocks was the amount of sag when I get on. It seemed to be more then expected considering the length. Overall the bike still sits taller then stock when I'm riding but tonight I took my wife for a short ride. The tall shocks squatted down with the extra weight to the point that the rear of the bike was actually lower then it was with the stock shocks.

My wife is not a heffer, she's around 125lbs. I'm 210 so together we should not be overloading these progressive 412 shocks or so I thought. Rode over railroad crossing and she bottomed out hard. I'm very disappointed in the lack of strength of the coils in these things. Is there a way to get stronger coils for 412's?

 

Did you adjust the preload on them before riding 2up?

 

Progressive will build shocks to suit your requirements, so may be worth a call for their recommendations. Static sag should be around a third of total travel. Do these things have adjusters to increase spring pre-load? They should enable you to compensate for your petite wife (mine is as heavy as me, bless her!).

Shocks get frequent mentions on here and there are better brands available. I have yet to decide what to go with but I will buy from a supplier who builds to suit my requirements, rather than buying off the shelf.

I started a thread called Suspension THUMP. Riding a Harley two up is a very different business than riding solo. Reading HDF and elsewhere it seems to me that very few rear suspension units are actually suitable for comfortable 2-up riding. While the rider is in front of them the rear passenger is right over the wheel/shocks and gets all the rear end bangs and thumps.

Harley themselves don't fit truly top quality shocks for 2-up riding and my impression is that most after-market shocks are little if any better. I want to improve comfort for my wife, but am actually reluctant to put my money down just yet, as the path ahead is not clear!

Best of luck sorting yours out, but don't be surprised if you find yourself changing brand again.

 

Wow 14.25"'s I've never heard of anyone getting shocks that long on a dyna,but more to the point I agree with the others,You may need to adjust the preload for yourself, and then whenever you are 2-up. Progressive reccomends the heavy duty springs anything over 240 lbs. I spoke to them last week,but don't quote me I was talking about 440 series at the time.

 

Yes the 412's have the spring load adjustment. I have mine always cranked at the highest setting. It makes a difference when there is no load on the bike. On the highest setting it sits about 1/2 to 1" taller then the lowest setting. With the bike loaded it makes no difference what so ever.

I know the problem. It's the small diameter spring wire. The spring rate is far too low for my needs. I think these shocks can be taken apart to have the spring replaced. I'll contact Progressive to find out.

Pic of current setup
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo...eat=directlink

 

Kinda looks like a dirtbike with a trunk on it...Long shocks...

 

Boo! I can't see the pics here at work.. anyone care to post them on the thread?

 

Yes a dirt bike with a trunk. Part of my goal was to up the clearance to go offroad. No air time obviously but to at least be able to get over ruts and large holes. I may add some knobbies next year and go muddin. Hahahaha.

yeah sorry I can't add the pic directly to the post due to being too new here.




Ok I dont know what I'm doing cause this aint working. Here's a direct link to my albums...
http://picasaweb.google.com/yorgomiami/

 

There ya go bud.


That exhaust is bad ***...wish they made it for my year..Wonder what the difference is?

 

Holy ****!! That's a seriously HUGE suspension! Wow.. I bet I would even be able to touch the floor with those shocks! hahaa dang.. thats a wild ride man. I didn't even know progressive made shocks that big.