Not long ago, I put Progressive fork cartridges and 12.5" rear shocks on my '08 Sportster Custom. Original shocks were lacking something. Progressive suspension was significant in that it made the Sportie feel much more 'flickable'. I could dive into corners and know what the front end would do. Not have to worry about rear shocks flopping around unpredictably.
But.... With 10w fork oil and a light setting on rears, it's just a hair too harsh. Would I do it again? Hell yes. That's the Sportie's appeal: a Friday night bike (even if I drive it for hours on end sometimes).

So when I got a '16 Road Glide w/23k miles on it, I knew I would likely be putting some parts into the suspension. Since I bought without a test ride, I had no idea what to expect. Was I in for an eye opener. The first time I grabbed a handful of front brake, it dove all the way to the end of travel. I was wondering if it had any oil at all. Rear air shocks @ 10psi, was not too bad for solo use. Floating like a mid 70's Cadillac, it wandered just as much. The suspension lacked any communication about the road. Nor did it exude any confidence in the corners.

So a front end was #1 on the list of mods. Problem was, I had no clue which way to go other than Progressive. A week of plowing through forum posts, I was beginning to loose interest in swapping springs, modifying tubes/spacers/whatever, blending various viscosities to make my own secret oil weight. A cartridge is what I decided being my path. Eventually I went with Legend Axeo FLH. Buy once, cry once.

Other than failing to get the seal retainer clip seated 100%, and subsequent repair. I prevailed and got it done in an afternoon. Was I in for a surprise.

The speed bump down the street is no longer a mountain. 20mph instead of 5mph. No more bottoming out upon the other side of it.

No more brake dive. Well it will, but is MUCH slower compressing under braking, and more to my liking.

A 10 mile test drive and I caught myself taking corners much more aggressively than before. I now know what the front end is trying to do. Ripples not noticed. Potholes much less jarring. Not a harsh feeling like the Sportie feels like now.

If there is something I'm not so sure of, it's that stupid curb at the end of my driveway. I have one of those 'less rounded' 3" curved lips to keep rain water in the side of the road. Maybe I'm feeling cocky and entering the driveway faster than I should, but I get the slightest hop as I crest the curb. I'll monitor this in closer detail and follow up.

I've not gotten on the highway as of yet. Stock front end simply floated over everything and lacked feeling connected to the road. I expect this to feel much more responsive and communicate traction better. We'll see...

So I'll follow up in a few hundred miles with more comments. Now to sell the kids, or something, so I can get rear shocks.

 

Its always harder for us to wait for your thoughts, than it is for you to wait and try it

 

I'm running the Legends in the Front and Ohlins in the back. Totally different ride. Is it soft and cushy, no its not. But the ride and handling characteristics are much improved, very planted to the road. I do notice as many other reviews have shown, that the Legends are a bit on the stiff side. For me any way, after some miles they seem to have softened up a bit. I set them up at the "0" pre-load as recommended. Will look to hear some feedback from the OP after some miles.

 

I did Axeo on the front of my 13 CVO Road King. Over 10K miles ago. Still really like them, so much better than stock. Can corner much harder and faster, yet still ride better. Ohlins on the rear.

 

Rear shocks:
Something about remote reservoir shocks on a touring bike just doesn't gel with me. I understand their purpose and value, I just can't get excited about having a remote cylinder to hide.

Currently interested in Super Shox. With them being local, and about same ball park in price, I'm leaning that way.

I hear loads of praise for Ohlins, but given this Covid lock down, haven't been able to look/see/talk with any riders for a good sales pitch. I need to find a good gathering of bikes to scope it out.

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

 

This is the direction I've been leaning toward. The cartridge drop-ins seem to be characteristically, by design, Stiff... Have also been thinking of just a spring replacement and oil wt. change to find that "somewhere in between" spot, since realizing how weak the initial rate on the stock springs are. So now, do you go with another progressive rate spring with a higher initial rate or a linear rate spring?

 

I would be tempted to go progressive rate. I like a more "sporty" suspension.

I am not into the myriad of testing various combo's of a build-it-yourself suspension. If I had more patience, and money I might....

 

First hundred miles: break-in & acclimating.
Mostly highway and rural roads so far. No real corners to test out the suspension. In a word " firm". Some of the smaller lips (like my driveway curb or a 12" long, 4" deep pothole) cause a sharp rap in the grips, but not horrible. It lets you know what the front tire is on without feeling overly stiff.

On/off-ramps is where I am feeling the best improvement. Noticeably more controlled braking dive when a handful of front brakes applied. Both of these allow me to take ramps at rated speed, where as before the air bag like feeling was reason for -10mph ramp speeds. "Communicative and confidence building" when pushing around corners now.

I'm not looking for crotch rocket corner carving for the RG. I do want something better than the floating couch feel it was before.

 

Ohlins are world renowned. You won't be disappointed. I've had premium progressives and mid-tier Ohlins and there was no comparison.

 

Pro-Action