OK, so I've got oil leaking from my left front tube, and they have never been serviced. I added a little air a while back and noticed that it seemed to stiffen up the suspension a bit, but I still don't know if the sir system is working properly after 18 years. Still seems to dive excessively under hard braking.


Anyway, I'm looking into fixing them up. After reading on here for a while I've seen a lot of good reviews about the Progressive monotubes. However, I have also seen a few reviews of either clunking or the monotubes being too firm. I'm a light guy (160) and ride one up 90% of the time.

I was also looking at just getting the progressive springs and keeping the existing dampening system along with the air ride.

I'd like to hear your guys' thoughts about different options I have at this point. I'm expecting I need to get new o-rings and such and need to do a complete rebuild while I have the shocks apart.

 

1990 FLHS here, with working air system! If you are suffering from too much dive when braking that could be a number of things. Out of sight there is a rubber hose between your bars and a metal manifold that fits across the tops of the fork legs. So there are several possible sources of air leaks to take a look into. In addition, there is a solenoid operated off the front brake that shuts off the handlebar air reservoir when braking, so if that is disconnected or not working you will get more dive. Mine has been fairly trouble-free for 21 years (bought the bike new) and is worth keeping up IMHO.

However, there is scope to upgrade! The Progressive Monotubes are attractive, but I also am put off them by various reports suggesting they are less than perfect. A simpler solution, which I am doing to my 3 month old SuperLow as I write, is to fit RaceTech springs and Emulators. A friend has already done this to his Sportster and is over the moon with the improved ride! I took the fork legs off only yesterday and will have them rebuilt by a suspension specialist rather than try myself, so the springs are matched to me and the Emulators adjusted by an expert.

Your forks plainly need to come apart, to fix the oil seals, which would be a good time to do any upgrade. As I say whenever commenting on suspension, do not buy in a box off the shelf, get them from someone who knows what they are talking about, so you get springs to suit you personally, not an average anonymous Joe.

In the case of my Glide, I have custom built Ohlins shocks and am waiting for custom built Ohlins forks to be available. Cheap they ain't, but if you would like details just ask!

 

Cost does factor into it. Not terribly, but I'm actually pretty easy to please. I've been riding this bike since new and have never looked at suspension up grades before, so I'm wondering how much of an upgrade just the progressive springs would be for me compared to the old and surly worn at this point stock springs and an oil change. I think for the cost of 54 plus shipping I can fetch them at now, I may just go that route and see how much I like it.

 

What kind of fork oil does everyone prefer with the drop in springs?

 

I put new Progressive springs in mine along with the Ricor Intiminators. With this combination I no longer needed the air suspension/anti-dive. The forks are much stiffer and handling improved considerably. The ride isn't quite as plush, but the improved handling more than makes up for it.

The fork upgrade in concert with an upgrade to the shocks (I used Progressive 440s) and a True Track stabilizer improved the handling so dramatically it's like it's a different bike.

 

Can't be too picky where I live but I always make sure that I use heavier oil than stock. The bike calls for HD E series which is 10 weight. I use either the SE H/D which is 20 weight or a local bike/scooter/atv shop carries Bel Ray 20 weight if the stealer is out. Although it is better, it doesn't make as much of a difference on my Heritage (I think it's time to rebuild the front end anyways) but on my gf's Sportster handling is much better.

 

Now my ride is not the same as yours, but I am also in the quest for upgraded suspension up front. I've done lots of searches and reading. All in all I'm going with Intiminators. They look easy to install and I have not read one complaint about them(other than price). Here's there site
http://www.intiminators.com/
Don't forget to post a before and after no matter what you choose.

Oh almost forgot. I believe that Ricor Intiminator site accepts discount codes. Which I think hdforums is a current vaild code for 20% off.
good luck,
Pete

 

Well, I went with the progressive springs and 20wt oil. I found out my air-ride solenoid was still functioning, but only after about 2 seconds of brake application which didn't help in any way. So I just put plugs in the air-ride holes and dumped the original system. Bike takes bumps so much better than before and doesn't dive as bad as it used to.

Could I have had the same results with replacing the solenoid and putting in heavier oil? Possibly, but this this works nicely and after hearing so much about stiff ride with the full progressive system and not wanting to lay down the cash for the ricor, this works great for me!

 

I am going all Revtech on mine, will probably pick the stuff up this week if the boss man is back at my local indy shop. Gunna go with the spring kit and emulators with no air adjustments. My EGS is not road worthy yet, but I have almost amassed all the parts neeed to fix/modify all the ills that I know off for now.