Progressive drop in
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
Progressive drop in
Doing an air ride system and looking into the drop in kit for the forks. Wonder if anyone can give some feed back on if the drop in kit is an improvement in ride quality. Don't want to improve the rear suspension and worsen the front for the sake of a 1-2".
(edited to add questions) -Does the amount of fork fluid required change when doing this ? Don't see that you can check the level so if it does. how do you know how much?
(edited to add questions) -Does the amount of fork fluid required change when doing this ? Don't see that you can check the level so if it does. how do you know how much?
Last edited by chromedome; Aug 28, 2009 at 09:24 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
I'm looking at ordering the "drop in" kit for my Train.
Did you guys install your own? Was it as easy as the video http://www.progressivesuspension.com/dropin/index.html
S/F
Freefall
Did you guys install your own? Was it as easy as the video http://www.progressivesuspension.com/dropin/index.html
S/F
Freefall
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
I'm looking at ordering the "drop in" kit for my Train.
Did you guys install your own? Was it as easy as the video http://www.progressivesuspension.com/dropin/index.html
S/F
Freefall
Did you guys install your own? Was it as easy as the video http://www.progressivesuspension.com/dropin/index.html
S/F
Freefall
Can't answer your question but curious to know as well. Of course I also wonder how much more work there is an a softail that has a a head light panel and panel brackets. (Do you have to remove all this and headlight )
Reading the posts on the subject, I get the impression that there is an older kit and newer kit and the newer is easier. I don't know if that is the case or my misunderstanding. Also don't know what the difference could possibly be to make one an easier install than the other. Application for my bike on the Progressive site shows part number 10-2003 and describes the dropin kit as new. Just don't know how new that is
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,016
Likes: 1
From: Front Royal, VA
You remove the fluid that is in there and measure the right amount of fluid to put back in. I seem to remember it is the same amount of fluid as stock... if not, I'm sure the instructions has that info.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 41
From: So Cal
I have the "old" kit in my bike and with either you use the factory reccommended amount of fork oil. In my bike it was 12 oz and I changed to the SE heavy when I installed the kit.
The difference with the "Drop In" vs the original is the "Drop In" Kit is a combination of 2 or 3 springs and a spacer that create sag in the forks to lower the bike . If you lift a bike on a jack that has the drop in kit the forks will extend to their original lenght. With the "Old" kit as with the Ness and White Bros kits the forks are shortened to lower the bike by adding springs (1" or 2 ") at the damper to stop them from fully extending, so to install these kits you need to remove your lower fork legs. If you jack up a bike with the original "old" style kit the forks will not extend to the full original lenght.
I like the original "Old" kit because you pick the amount of drop and install the spring spacer and its done, with the drop in kit it sometimes takes a few tries to get the preload correct to create the amount of drop that you want.
The difference with the "Drop In" vs the original is the "Drop In" Kit is a combination of 2 or 3 springs and a spacer that create sag in the forks to lower the bike . If you lift a bike on a jack that has the drop in kit the forks will extend to their original lenght. With the "Old" kit as with the Ness and White Bros kits the forks are shortened to lower the bike by adding springs (1" or 2 ") at the damper to stop them from fully extending, so to install these kits you need to remove your lower fork legs. If you jack up a bike with the original "old" style kit the forks will not extend to the full original lenght.
I like the original "Old" kit because you pick the amount of drop and install the spring spacer and its done, with the drop in kit it sometimes takes a few tries to get the preload correct to create the amount of drop that you want.
Last edited by XARAN; Aug 28, 2009 at 12:23 PM.
Trending Topics
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 2
From: WA - The State
On the Deluxe, at least, the install isn't as simple as the video on their site, but still wasn't hard. You have to lower the forks in the trees to be able to change the springs. It added a little more time to the job, but not much.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,008
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside Ca
On the Deluxe, at least, the install isn't as simple as the video on their site, but still wasn't hard. You have to lower the forks in the trees to be able to change the springs. It added a little more time to the job, but not much.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
Not quite as easy as the Dyna in the video.
S/F
Freefall
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 1
From: The High Desert, SoCal
On the Deluxe, at least, the install isn't as simple as the video on their site, but still wasn't hard. You have to lower the forks in the trees to be able to change the springs. It added a little more time to the job, but not much.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
The ride was kind of soft with stock oil, but after switching to heavy fork oil it brought the ride back to about stock, imo. Not too firm, and not too soft. Kind of vague, but it's a subjective comparison.
Looking at the service manual and can't seem to see what you mean. What prevents the springs from being able to be accessed (like in the progressive video for the dyna) when the slider tube cap bolts are taken off?