Progressive monotubes
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 553
Likes: 21
From: Placer County, CA
Anybody? I'm getting ready to do this and could use the input. Thanks guys.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 11
From: The Whale's Vagina
I don't recall seeing that in the manual for just dropping the tubes, but I did have the fall away adjusted later on and didn't notice any difference in performance.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 553
Likes: 21
From: Placer County, CA
OK, the install was straight forward enough.
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 11
From: The Whale's Vagina
OK, the install was straight forward enough.
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
I added a slightly longer spacer (1" over what the supplied one), and that gave me enough preload to get rid of the sketchy feeling on the freeway, but now surface streets are harsh.
BTW, I'm only 160 lbs, so I don't think I "should" need all that preload.
This is the method I use for setting sag. It doesn't seem helpful with the monotubes though.
http://racetech.com/articles/SuspensionAndSprings.htm
Former Sponsor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 252
Likes: 5
From: OC, CA
Need a better understanding of what you mean by skittish. If you have not already, give us a call, we'll walk you through setting it up right.
877-690-7411
877-690-7411
OK, the install was straight forward enough.
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
Now is there any info on setting the preload? How many turns for a riders weight, etc?
If not what methods did you use to set up the suspension?
I set the preload adjuster in the middle halfway between soft and hard and went for a couple of rides.
I really liked how it felt around town, any speed up to about 50.
Once I hit the freeway I became less confident in this setup.
At speeds over 70 the front end felt skittish and bouncy.
Honestly my stock suspension was much better at high speed, even if it is rougher or harsher at low speed.
Thoughts????
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 196
Likes: 1
From: Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Pretty much how it is for me too, which is why I'm saving for a replacement.
I added a slightly longer spacer (1" over what the supplied one), and that gave me enough preload to get rid of the sketchy feeling on the freeway, but now surface streets are harsh.
BTW, I'm only 160 lbs, so I don't think I "should" need all that preload.
This is the method I use for setting sag. It doesn't seem helpful with the monotubes though.
http://racetech.com/articles/SuspensionAndSprings.htm
I added a slightly longer spacer (1" over what the supplied one), and that gave me enough preload to get rid of the sketchy feeling on the freeway, but now surface streets are harsh.
BTW, I'm only 160 lbs, so I don't think I "should" need all that preload.
This is the method I use for setting sag. It doesn't seem helpful with the monotubes though.
http://racetech.com/articles/SuspensionAndSprings.htm
I still like the handling with the monotubes and do not experience the issues you mentioned on the highway, but I do wish the brakedive would be as it was with the Intiminators with 10w oil, and no you shouldn't need al that preload. With my 8 turns I'm also nearly at max preload.
So I get why you are saving up for a replacement.
Here in Holland there's a company that sells complete Ohlins front forks for Dyna, but at a pricetag of $ 4000,00 and I'm not willing to spend that much on suspension. They are nice though...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 15
From: Bay area, CA
Can you order these with different rate springs or are they generic like the stock springs? Kind of hard to expect it to work right for all riders if there's only one spring to pick from.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,291
Likes: 11
From: The Whale's Vagina
When I called Progressive about my problems months ago, they told me there is only one size/weight spring available and couldn't help me with the harshness vs. skittishness problem I was having. Maybe they've learned something since I installed them, but having tried every possible pre-load setting in quarter-turn increments, I doubt there's much they can do since rebound and compression aren't adjustable and spring weight is only one flavor.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 553
Likes: 21
From: Placer County, CA
One of the problems right off the bat is supplying an adjuster but no documentation on how to adjust. I initially set mine halfway between "soft" and "hard" (10 turns or so).
I emailed and asked and they said for my weight to start at the full soft setting and work up in 1/4 turn increments.
Dutch Bob is at 8 full turns and he and I weigh the same.
I want so bad for this kit to work for me and I don't want to go through all of the work to piece together and set up a valve/emulator/spring setup.
If I can't get this dialed in pronto I will probably go back to stock since at this point I honestly don't feel a huge difference...
well the difference is with the stock internals my bike was rock solid on the freeway up to 100+ mph...around town a little harsh at times but I could live with it...especially after upgrading my rear shocks.
I emailed and asked and they said for my weight to start at the full soft setting and work up in 1/4 turn increments.
Dutch Bob is at 8 full turns and he and I weigh the same.
I want so bad for this kit to work for me and I don't want to go through all of the work to piece together and set up a valve/emulator/spring setup.
If I can't get this dialed in pronto I will probably go back to stock since at this point I honestly don't feel a huge difference...
well the difference is with the stock internals my bike was rock solid on the freeway up to 100+ mph...around town a little harsh at times but I could live with it...especially after upgrading my rear shocks.