Progressive shocks
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,936
Likes: 20
From: Driftless Area
, and can always get shoulder bolts to fit your shocks, the desired smooth ride at normal cruising and stiff enough for added weight and sporty riding would be ideal. Not sure you can get the best of both worlds, but damn, would be nice to get close to that. For the most part a lot of riders do freeway cruising but also enjoy the twistys. Baggers please disregard.
Last edited by 1skrewsloose; Jan 26, 2023 at 09:12 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 9,899
From: Florida's gorgeous East coast
Here's another one who tried Progressives once......ONCE.
When I had a problem with my Progressives I called their Tech people. THEIR OWN employee told me that I should have bought better shocks.
I went to Bikeweek "on a mission" to find good quality shocks for my '85 FXR. The Pro-Action folks spent a good bit of time educating me on shocks, then offered to put a set of theirs on my bike, let me take it for a ride and see if I liked'em. Sure...why not. I rode away from "Destination Daytona"...some interstate, some 2-lane county roads. 70-75 miles...Great ride, immediate improvement. The Progressives were a little over a year old. NEVER AGAIN.
When I had a problem with my Progressives I called their Tech people. THEIR OWN employee told me that I should have bought better shocks.
I went to Bikeweek "on a mission" to find good quality shocks for my '85 FXR. The Pro-Action folks spent a good bit of time educating me on shocks, then offered to put a set of theirs on my bike, let me take it for a ride and see if I liked'em. Sure...why not. I rode away from "Destination Daytona"...some interstate, some 2-lane county roads. 70-75 miles...Great ride, immediate improvement. The Progressives were a little over a year old. NEVER AGAIN.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,650
Likes: 9,112
From: Snow Hill, NC
I think Progressive has good intentions but fall short in some of their products. I was getting ready about6 years ago to buy some then started to read up on others. Ended up with base Ohlins. WOW! I do like my progressive cartridges in the front of my 07.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,276
Likes: 7,756
From: West Central FL
Yes. Have been in touch with them several times during ownership and have done everything they've said.
I have adjusted mine numerous times with little to no avail. I agree on the over priced POS thing.
Yup, every bump. I have them set for maximum ride height and get very little travel. Almost like riding a rigid.
Only thing they did was give me two sets of rubber bushings because they split and squeezed out.
When I found out that the shop that originally got and installed them for me ordered heavy duty ones by mistake I contacted Progressive and all they would do was sell me standard duty ones at 10% off. But in all fairness, the spring thing wasn't their fault.
So as the band plays on, the song remains the same. I made some more really careful adjustments yesterday and seemed to get a little more suspension. I'm at three barrel rotations now and may drop it down to two and see what happens. Maybe the lighter springs are setting up a bit.
Thanks for the input.
I don't care for Progressives either, maybe its the spring rate, but always seemed like I felt every bump in the road. And on hard cornering my pipes would drag.
90 Fxrs-sp. Been looking at Ricor IAS, there are other makers, but too spendy for me, guess I'll just suffer.
^^^btw, thanks for the link.
90 Fxrs-sp. Been looking at Ricor IAS, there are other makers, but too spendy for me, guess I'll just suffer.
^^^btw, thanks for the link.
I have a set of Progressive (412’s I think) on my ‘97 Road King.
The coil springs themselves come in standard & Heavy duty.
When I purchased the shocks, they (wrongly) came with Heavy duty springs… I couldn’t get them dialed in. A call to Progressive got me a set of standard springs.
Big bubbles, no troubles… I have 55k on them now and they perform well for me.
The coil springs themselves come in standard & Heavy duty.
When I purchased the shocks, they (wrongly) came with Heavy duty springs… I couldn’t get them dialed in. A call to Progressive got me a set of standard springs.
Big bubbles, no troubles… I have 55k on them now and they perform well for me.
So as the band plays on, the song remains the same. I made some more really careful adjustments yesterday and seemed to get a little more suspension. I'm at three barrel rotations now and may drop it down to two and see what happens. Maybe the lighter springs are setting up a bit.
Thanks for the input.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 820
From: Moneta, Virginia
Originally Posted by Hey Man;[url=tel:21043409
21043409[/url]]Yes. Have been in touch with them several times during ownership and have done everything they've said.
I have adjusted mine numerous times with little to no avail. I agree on the over priced POS thing.
Yup, every bump. I have them set for maximum ride height and get very little travel. Almost like riding a rigid.
Only thing they did was give me two sets of rubber bushings because they split and squeezed out.
When I found out that the shop that originally got and installed them for me ordered heavy duty ones by mistake I contacted Progressive and all they would do was sell me standard duty ones at 10% off. But in all fairness, the spring thing wasn't their fault.
So as the band plays on, the song remains the same. I made some more really careful adjustments yesterday and seemed to get a little more suspension. I'm at three barrel rotations now and may drop it down to two and see what happens. Maybe the lighter springs are setting up a bit.
Thanks for the input.
I have adjusted mine numerous times with little to no avail. I agree on the over priced POS thing.
Yup, every bump. I have them set for maximum ride height and get very little travel. Almost like riding a rigid.
Only thing they did was give me two sets of rubber bushings because they split and squeezed out.
When I found out that the shop that originally got and installed them for me ordered heavy duty ones by mistake I contacted Progressive and all they would do was sell me standard duty ones at 10% off. But in all fairness, the spring thing wasn't their fault.
So as the band plays on, the song remains the same. I made some more really careful adjustments yesterday and seemed to get a little more suspension. I'm at three barrel rotations now and may drop it down to two and see what happens. Maybe the lighter springs are setting up a bit.
Thanks for the input.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4,247
Likes: 3,668
From: Florida
When it all comes down to it, if you can get the proper length (1/2 inch or so won't make much diff
, and can always get shoulder bolts to fit your shocks, the desired smooth ride at normal cruising and stiff enough for added weight and sporty riding would be ideal. Not sure you can get the best of both worlds, but damn, would be nice to get close to that. For the most part a lot of riders do freeway cruising but also enjoy the twistys. Baggers please disregard.
, and can always get shoulder bolts to fit your shocks, the desired smooth ride at normal cruising and stiff enough for added weight and sporty riding would be ideal. Not sure you can get the best of both worlds, but damn, would be nice to get close to that. For the most part a lot of riders do freeway cruising but also enjoy the twistys. Baggers please disregard.
When it’s a softail you need the right year. Travel is precious and even giving up an inch is like 40-50% your travel.
Last edited by Rains2much; Jan 27, 2023 at 12:03 PM. Reason: 11
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 605
Likes: 441
From: BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,042
Likes: 12,326
From: Arkansas
Originally Posted by Rains2much;[url=tel:21043992
21043992[/url]]When its a softail you need the right year. Travel is precious and even giving up an inch is like 40-50% your travel.