Little update on the shocks. I was out on a solo ride the other day and in a super hilly section and thought I heard the bike bottom out, even felt it and said ****... So we got to the restaurant for lunch and I decided to take a look checking the tire everything and didn't see a thing. Them I notice my chain guard got pretty mangled. I couldn't straighten, I had to remove it. Not only that I took a look at the other side and my PM brake caliper made contact with the fiberglass backing of my new saddlebags... Caused a little damage but not much.

I know this seems long sorry... When I got home I started to check things out.. I reset spring rate on the shocks. They were down on 1, so I adjusted them to 4. Well see how that does. What actually did happen was that the saddlebag mount on the left side is what hit the chain guard. The bike never really bottomed out as I initially thought...

So yesterday I spaced the bracket out a 1/2" off of the fender supports. Well see how that does.. I will update again when I get a couple more rides in...

Just want you to know that the bike never bottomed out. So far so good....

 

Nothing like real-world experience. Thanks for the update.

 

Why not save your hard earned money, disassemble yout shocks and rechrome the lowers? Pics are from a recently purchased 78 FXE that had been sitting in a barn in Fresno for about 30 years. Chrome pitting on every part of the chrome. Disassembled and cleaned in the second pic. Required a wire wheel to get at the inside of the springs but they cleaned up nicely along with fresh rubber for the bushings that replaced the worn out ones in the pics.







Back on the bike.

 

Nice.

Thanks Panz!

 

 

I just bought a set of Progressive 412-4030C standard shocks for a 1975 FX that I'm currently working on.
I wish I would have seen TwiZteds advice regarding Progressive shocks before I installed them. They seem stiff right out of the box on the lowest setting.
I have not ridden the bike yet, I still have a lot to do to get it road worthy.

One thing I ran across was the upper shock mounts were 1/2" diameter on one side and 5/8" on the opposing side WTF, how does this happen?
The progressive upper mount is 1/2" ID, I pulled the 5/8" stud and turned it to 1/2" to fit the shocks for now.

 

Progressives are ok if your hauling a 300lbs old lady around but solo they are a back breaker. Up side is and this cost's you another $100 and some hassles as there are lighter rate springs available for them. Takes a phone call and somebody on the other end with half a clue on the older bikes. Stock they come with 300lbs rated springs, I've redone them with 240's with decent results.

 

Lol, she's 120lbs thankfully.

 

I waited a long time 100000 miles to put coil over Öhlins on my 07 FLHTC spits a bigger bike yeah. The ride is head and shoulders above stock... pricey yeas but worth it ...Öhlins, Bitubo, Pro Action, Legends etc all make very good products...
Good luck on your search.

 

You've got another follower here. I have a 1980 FXS that I am contemplating what to do about the rear shocks. So I am following this thread closely.

I am glad to hear that you didn't bottom out using the Dyna shocks. But I'm a little confused. Is it possible that the saddle bag mount hit the chain guard because the Dyna shocks weren't stiff enough? What was the reason that the mount hit the chain guard? That shouldn't happen if the travel of the rear end is limited, right? And doesn't the shock limit that travel? So maybe they didn't bottom out, but because they have more travel than the shovel shocks, maybe they allowed the back end to travel so far that the saddle bag mount hit the chain guard? Just thinking out loud and I welcome any corrections to my (mis)understanding.